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A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care.

Eligibility

Your job

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must:

• be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
• work in an eligible health or social care job
• work for a UK employer that鈥檚 been approved by the Home Office
• have a 鈥榗ertificate of sponsorship鈥� from your employer with information about the role you鈥檝e been offered in the UK
• be paid a minimum salary - how much depends on the type of work you do

Check if your job is eligible.

Knowledge of English

You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You鈥檒l usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

If you鈥檙e not eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa

You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK.

How long you can stay

Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You鈥檒l need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as 鈥榠ndefinite leave to remain鈥�). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you鈥檙e eligible.

How to apply

You must apply online.

How you apply depends on whether you鈥檙e:

• outside the UK and are coming to the UK
• inside the UK and extending your current visa
• inside the UK and switching from a different visa

If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa.

Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your 鈥榙ependants鈥� if they鈥檙e eligible.

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you鈥檒l need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You鈥檒l find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you鈥檝e applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you鈥檒l usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

• pay the application fee
• prove you have enough personal savings

Check how much money you鈥檒l need.

Healthcare surcharge

You - and your partner or children - will not have to pay the healthcare surcharge.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• work in an eligible job
• take on additional work in certain circumstances
• do voluntary work
• study
• bring your partner and children with you as your 鈥榙ependants鈥�, if they鈥檙e eligible
• travel abroad and return to the UK
• apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as 鈥榠ndefinite leave to remain鈥�) if you鈥檝e lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

You cannot:

• apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
• change jobs or employer unless you update your visa

If your application is successful, you鈥檒l get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Health and Care Worker visa.

You must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa:

• you鈥檙e a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
• your job is eligible for this visa
• you鈥檒l be working for a UK health and care sector employer that鈥檚 been approved by the Home Office
• you鈥檒l be paid the minimum salary or the 鈥榞oing rate鈥� for the type of work you鈥檒l be doing - whichever is higher

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

Check if your job is eligible

Before you can find out if your job is eligible, you need to know its 4-digit occupation code.

Look up your job鈥檚 occupation code

If you do not know your code, you can search for your job in the鈥�.

Not every job title is included. If you cannot find your exact job title, try searching for similar jobs.

Make sure the job description matches what you鈥檒l be doing. Some jobs in the same area of practice have different codes, for example dentists and dental hygiene therapists.

Check if an occupation code is eligible for this visa

Your job must be in one of the following occupation codes to qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa:

• 1171: health services and public health managers and directors
• 1231: health care practice managers
• 1232: residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114: physical scientists
• 2211: generalist medical practitioners
• 2212: specialist medical practitioners
• 2221: physiotherapists
• 2222: occupational therapists
• 2223: speech and language therapists
• 2224: psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists
• 2225: clinical psychologists
• 2226: other psychologists
• 2229: therapy professionals not elsewhere classified
• 2231: midwifery nurses
• 2232: registered community nurses
• 2233: registered specialist nurses
• 2234: registered nurse practitioners
• 2235: registered mental health nurses
• 2236: registered children鈥檚 nurses
• 2237: other registered nursing professionals
• 2251: pharmacists
• 2252: optometrists
• 2253: dental practitioners
• 2254: medical radiographers
• 2255: paramedics
• 2256: podiatrists
• 2259: other health professionals not elsewhere classified
• 2461: social workers
• 3111: laboratory technicians
• 3211: dispensing opticians
• 3212: pharmaceutical technicians
• 3213: medical and dental technicians
• 3219: health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
• 6131: nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• 6132: ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
• 6133: dental nurses
• 6135: care workers and home carers
• 6136: senior care workers

Approved UK health and care sector employers

You must have a job offer from an approved UK employer before you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. Approved employers are also known as sponsors, because they are sponsoring you to come to or stay in the UK.

You must have a job offer from:

• the NHS
• an organisation providing medical services to the NHS
• an organisation providing adult social care

Read the guidance to see a full list of eligible employers.

If your employer is not currently approved, they can apply for a sponsor licence if they鈥檙e eligible.

They鈥檒l need to pay a fee - 拢536 for small businesses and charities or 拢1,476 for medium and large organisations. It usually takes around 8 weeks to process a licence application.

If you鈥檙e a care worker or senior care worker

Your employer must be registered with the Care Quality Commission if you鈥檙e a care worker (code 6135) or senior care worker (code 6136) working in England.

.

If you already have a job offer from an approved employer

Your employer - also known as your sponsor - will check that you meet the eligibility requirements. They鈥檒l give you a 鈥榗ertificate of sponsorship鈥� to prove this.

The certificate of sponsorship is an electronic record, not a physical document. It will have a reference number, which you鈥檒l need for your visa application.

You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.

Check which documents you鈥檒l need to apply.

Salary requirements

You鈥檒l usually need to be paid at least 拢23,200.

If the 鈥榞oing rate鈥� for your job is higher than 拢23,200, you鈥檒l usually need to be paid at least the going rate.

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. How you find the going rate depends on your job.

When you need to meet different salary requirements

You鈥檒l need to meet different salary requirements for this visa if your job is in one of the the following occupation codes:

• 1171: health services and public health managers and directors
• 1231: health care practice managers
• 1232: residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114: physical scientists
• 3111: laboratory technicians
• 3211: dispensing opticians
• 3212: pharmaceutical technicians
• 6135: care workers and home carers
• 6136: senior care workers

Find out the going rate if your job is in one of these occupation codes - including when your employer can pay you less.

If you鈥檙e doing any other health and care job

Check how much you need to be paid in the table of national pay scales for eligible healthcare jobs.

Salaries are listed by NHS pay band and area of the UK you鈥檒l be working in. Ask your employer if you鈥檙e not sure what your role or pay band will be.

You鈥檒l need to meet different salary requirements for this visa if your job is in one of the following occupation codes:

• 1171: health services and public health managers and directors
• 1231: health care practice managers
• 1232: residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114: physical scientists
• 3111: laboratory technicians
• 3211: dispensing opticians
• 3212: pharmaceutical technicians
• 6135: care workers and home carers
• 6136: senior care workers

Salary requirements

You鈥檒l usually need to be paid at least 拢29,000 per year, or the lower 鈥榞oing rate鈥� for your job, whichever is higher.聽聽

Example

Each occupation code has its own annual lower going rate. Check the lower going rate for your job in the鈥�going rates table.

When you can be paid less

You might still be able to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa if your job is eligible but your salary is less than 拢29,000 or your job鈥檚 lower 鈥榞oing rate鈥�.

You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the lower going rate for your job if your salary is at least 拢23,200 per year and you meet one of the following criteria:聽

• you鈥檙e under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD level qualification that鈥檚 relevant to your job (if you have a relevant PhD level qualification in any other subject your salary must be at least 拢26,100)
• you have a postdoctoral position in a scientific role

You cannot get a discounted salary rate if your job is on the immigration salary list.

Your job is on the immigration salary list

The immigration salary list is a list of skilled jobs which have lower salary requirements.聽聽

If your job is on the immigration salary list, you need to be paid at least 拢23,200 or your job鈥檚 full going rate, whichever is higher.

View the immigration salary list鈥痶o see how much you鈥檒l need to be paid.

You鈥檙e under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training

You can be paid 70% of your job鈥檚 lower going rate if your salary will be at least 拢23,200 per year and one of the following applies:

• you鈥檙e under 26 on the date you apply
• you鈥檙e currently in the UK on a Student visa studying at bachelor鈥檚 degree level or above - or you have been in the last 2 years, and a Student or visit visa was your most recent visa
• you鈥檒l be working towards a recognised qualification in a UK regulated profession
• you鈥檒l be working towards full registration or chartered status in the job you鈥檙e being sponsored for

If this applies to you, check how much you鈥檒l need to be paid to qualify for this visa.

You have a PhD level qualification that鈥檚 relevant to your job

You can be paid 80% or 90% of the job鈥檚 lower going rate, depending on which subject you are qualified in.聽

If you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) qualification, you can be paid 80% of your job鈥檚 lower going rate, as long as you will still be paid at least 拢23,200 per year.聽

If you have a non-STEM qualification, you can be paid 90% of your job鈥檚 lower going rate, as long as you will still be paid at least 拢26,100 a year.

In both situations, you must:

• have a UK PhD or an equivalent doctorate-level overseas qualification - you鈥檒l need to to check if an overseas qualification is equivalent to a UK PhD
• be able to prove your qualification is relevant to the job you鈥檒l be doing in the UK - your employer can confirm this

View the list of jobs that qualify for a PhD salary discount to see how much you need to be paid.

You have a postdoctoral position in a scientific role

You can be paid 70% of your job鈥檚 lower going rate if your salary will be at least 拢23,200 per year and you鈥檒l be working in a postdoctoral position in either of the following occupation codes:聽

• 2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114: physical scientists

Check how much you鈥檒l need to be paid to qualify for this visa.

You鈥檒l usually need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply, unless you did this in a previous successful visa application.

Level of English

You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the .

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

• passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
• having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18
• having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - if you studied abroad, you鈥檒l need to for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor鈥檚 degree, master鈥檚 degree or PhD

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you鈥檙e a national of one of the following countries or territories:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• the Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• the British overseas territories
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• USA

If you鈥檙e a doctor, dentist, nurse or midwife

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you鈥檝e already passed an English Language assessment that is accepted by the relevant regulated professional body.

When you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa, you鈥檒l need to have enough money to:

• pay the application fee
• support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you鈥檒l usually need to have at least 拢1,270 available (unless you鈥檙e exempt)

You鈥檒l be told how much you need to pay when you apply.

Application fees

The standard application fee depends on whether you鈥檒l be in the UK for:

• up to 3 years - 拢284 per person
• more than 3 years - 拢551 per person

The fee is the same whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least 拢1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You鈥檒l usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

• you鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
• your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they鈥檙e in the UK. Check how much they鈥檒l need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the 鈥榮ponsor certifies maintenance鈥� section on your certificate. This is under 鈥楢dditional data鈥�.

When you apply you鈥檒l need to provide:

• your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this
• proof of your knowledge of English
• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• your job title and annual salary
• your job鈥檚 occupation code
• the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number - this will be on your certificate of sponsorship

Other documents you might need

Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide:

• evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)
• proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they鈥檙e applying with you
• your tuberculosis test results if you鈥檙e from a listed country
• a criminal record certificate - if you鈥檙e working in certain jobs
• your UK PhD certificate, or your unique Ecctis reference number (formerly unique UK NARIC reference number) if your qualification is from outside the UK - you鈥檒l need to

You鈥檒l need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you鈥檙e:

• from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you鈥檒l also need to provide a certified translation.

Criminal record certificate

You鈥檒l need to provide a criminal record certificate if you鈥檙e applying from outside the UK, unless your job is in one of the following occupation codes:

• 2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114: physical scientists
• 3111: laboratory technicians
• 6132: ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)

Check how to apply for criminal records checks.

If you鈥檝e lived in more than one country

You might need to provide a certificate from each country you鈥檝e lived in, depending on your age and how long you stayed in each country.

If you鈥檙e under 28, you鈥檒l need a certificate from any country you鈥檝e stayed in for a total of 12 months or more since you turned 18.

If you鈥檙e 28 or over, you鈥檒l need a certificate from any country you鈥檝e stayed in over the last 10 years.

You must apply online for a Health and Care Worker visa.

Check which documents you鈥檒l need to apply.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application, you鈥檒l need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and what type of passport you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

If you do need an appointment:

• the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application
• you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country)

Apply for a Health and Care Worker visa

Apply for a Skilled Worker visa. You鈥檒l be asked if you鈥檙e applying for a Health and Care Worker visa as part of your application - make sure you choose 鈥榶es鈥�.

Once you鈥檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back in to your application if you鈥檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you鈥檝e applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

You can ask to cancel your application. You鈥檒l only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You鈥檒l get an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your 鈥榙ependants鈥� if they鈥檙e eligible.

If your partner or child鈥檚 application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child鈥檚 parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child鈥檚 visa will end on the earlier date.

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

• your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
• your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
• your child over 18 if they currently have permission (鈥榣eave to enter鈥� or 鈥榣eave to remain鈥�) to be in the UK as your dependant

You鈥檒l need to provide evidence of your relationship to your dependant when you apply.

If you鈥檙e a care worker or senior care worker

Your partner and children cannot apply to join you or stay in the UK as your dependants unless you were employed as a care worker or senior care worker in the UK and on a Health and Care Worker visa before 11 March 2024 and one of the following is true:

• you鈥檙e currently still on a Health and Care Worker visa
• you鈥檙e extending your Health and Care Worker visa with your current employer
• you鈥檙e changing to a new job within the same occupation code while on a Health and Care Worker visa

Your partner

You must be able to prove one of the following:

• you鈥檙e in a civil partnership or marriage that鈥檚 recognised in the UK
• you鈥檝e been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
• you鈥檝e been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you鈥檙e working or studying in different places, or it鈥檚 not accepted in your culture

If you鈥檙e not living together, you鈥檒l need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:

• communicate regularly with each other
• support each other financially
• care for any children you have together
• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

Your child

They must:

• live with you, unless they鈥檙e living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
• not be married or in a civil partnership

You鈥檒l need to provide evidence of their address, such as:

• a bank statement
• credit card bills
• driving licence
• NHS registration document
• an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they鈥檙e in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

• 拢285 for your partner
• 拢315 for one child
• 拢200 for each additional child

You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa.

You鈥檒l usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

• you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
• your employer can cover your family鈥檚 costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they鈥檒l only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than 1 year.

Apply from outside the UK

Each family member will have to pay the application fee. The fee depends on whether they鈥檒l be in the UK for:

• up to 3 years - 拢284 per person
• more than 3 years - 拢551 per person

Your partner and children must either:

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They must apply before they travel to the UK.

They鈥檒l also need your application number - you鈥檒l get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You鈥檒l find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

They can also enter a 鈥榝amily linking code鈥� if you got one when you applied. This will connect your applications.

Proving their identity

As part of an application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity.

They鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan their identity document - they鈥檒l also create or sign into their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre

They鈥檒l be told what they need to do when they apply.

If they do need an appointment:

• the visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application
• they may have to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country)

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they鈥檝e applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)

If you extend or switch your visa, your partner or child鈥檚 current visa will still be valid until its original end date. Your partner or child need to apply to extend or switch their visa, either:

• at the same time as you
• at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

Your partner or children cannot apply to switch to your Health and Care Worker visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK:

• on a visit visa
• on a short-term student visa
• on a Parent of a Child Student visa
• on a seasonal worker visa
• on a domestic worker in a private household visa
• on immigration bail
• because they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

If your partner or child is currently in the UK on a Student visa, they can only switch if they have either:

• completed the course they were sponsored to study
• studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

If you鈥檙e a care worker or senior care worker

Your partner and children cannot apply to join you or stay as your dependants if you switch to a Health and Care Worker visa from another visa.

They can only apply to join you or stay if you were employed as a care worker or senior care worker in the UK and on a Health and Care Worker visa before 11 March 2024 and one of the following is true:

• you鈥檙e currently still on a Health and Care Worker visa
• you鈥檙e extending your Health and Care Worker visa with your current employer
• you鈥檙e changing to a new job within the same occupation code while on a Health and Care Worker visa

How to apply

The application form will tell you if you can include your partner and children in your application or whether they need to apply separately.

If your partner or child apply separately, they鈥檒l need to either:

They鈥檒l need your application number - you鈥檒l get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You鈥檒l find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

They can also enter a 鈥榝amily linking code鈥� if you got one when you applied. This will connect your applications.

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity.

They鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan their identity document - they鈥檒l also create or sign into their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

They鈥檒l be told what they need to do when they apply.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they鈥檝e applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they鈥檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you鈥檙e in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You must apply for your child鈥檚 dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

The form you fill in depends on whether your child is inside or outside the UK. Your child must either:

You鈥檒l need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

What your partner or child can and cannot do

Your partner or child can:

• work, except as a sportsperson or coach
• study
• travel abroad and return to the UK
• apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as 鈥榠ndefinite leave to remain鈥�) if they鈥檝e lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.

If their application is successful, they鈥檒l get a full list of what they can and cannot do.

You can usually apply to extend your Health and Care Worker visa if all of the following are true:

• you have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
• your job is in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
• you鈥檙e still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship
• you still meet the salary requirements

Your partner and children

Your partner or child鈥檚 visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.

They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

If you have a Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa

You鈥檒l have a Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa if either:

• you applied for a Health and Care Worker visa before 1 December 2020
• you had a Tier 2 (General) work visa which you鈥檝e extended as a Health and Care Worker visa

If you have this visa, you may be able to meet different eligibility requirements.

If you got your certificate of sponsorship on or after 24 November 2016

If you apply to extend before 1 December 2026, you will still need to meet the salary requirements, but your salary may also include allowances, such as London weighting. Any allowances must be guaranteed for the length of your stay.

If you鈥檙e a physical scientist

If you were sponsored for your Tier 2 (General) or Health and Care Worker visa before 1 December 2020, the going rate for your job is different.

Occupation code	Going rate for Health and Care Worker visa	90% of going rate (for relevant STEM PhD)	80% of going rate (for relevant non-STEM PhD or immigration salary list occupation)	70% of going rate (for new entrants)
2114 Physical scientists	拢29,000 (拢13.94 per hour)	拢26,100 (拢12.55 per hour)	拢24,750 (拢11.90 per hour)	拢24,750 (拢11.90 per hour)

If you鈥檝e changed job or employer

You鈥檒l need to apply to update your visa instead.

Fees

Check how much it costs for your type of visa.

You鈥檒l need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you鈥檒l need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and the type of passport or resident permit you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to extend your Health and Care Worker visa

Apply for a Skilled Worker visa. You鈥檒l be asked if you鈥檙e applying for a Health and Care Worker visa as part of your application - make sure you choose 鈥榶es鈥�.

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you鈥檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you鈥檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you鈥檝e applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you鈥檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You鈥檒l only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You鈥檒l get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

You鈥檒l need to apply to update your Health and Care Worker visa if:

• you want to change your job and your new job is with a different employer
• your job changes to a different occupation code, and you鈥檙e not in a graduate training programme
• you leave a job that鈥檚 on the聽immigration salary list for a job that is not on the list

The same conditions apply to Tier 2 Health and Care visas issued before 1 December 2020.

If you鈥檒l be doing a different job for your current employer, you only need to update your visa if your new job is in a different occupation code.

Your partner or child鈥檚 visa will not automatically change if you update yours. If they do not update their visa, it will be valid until its original end date. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

If you鈥檙e a care worker or senior care worker

If you change your employer and you鈥檙e working in England, your new employer must be registered聽with the Care Quality Commission.

.

Fees

Check how much it costs for your type of visa.

You鈥檒l need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

Eligibility and documents you鈥檒l need to apply

Your new job must meet the eligibility requirements and you鈥檒l need a new certificate of sponsorship to prove this.

You鈥檒l only need to provide other evidence again if you鈥檝e been in the UK for less than one year.

If you鈥檙e applying to add a second job to your current visa

You must apply to update your visa if you take on additional work that is more than 20 paid hours a week in addition to the job you鈥檙e being sponsored for.

Your second job must meet the eligibility requirements and you鈥檒l need a new certificate of sponsorship to prove this.

You鈥檒l also need to include a letter with your application explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.

Your letter must state:

• your name
• your date of birth
• your current certificate of sponsorship reference number
• the date when your current permission to stay runs out

If your application is successful, you鈥檒l get a new visa giving you permission to do both jobs.

When to apply to update your visa

You can apply to update your visa up to 3 months before the start date of your new job.

You can continue working in your current job while your new application is being considered, or to work out your notice period - as long as you apply before your current visa expires.

You should not start your new job until you鈥檝e got confirmation of your new permission.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you鈥檒l need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and the type of passport you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply. You鈥檒l also be told how to provide your supporting documents if you need to.

Apply to update your visa

You must apply online for a Skilled Worker visa. You鈥檒l be asked if you鈥檙e applying for a Health and Care Worker visa as part of your application - make sure you choose 鈥榶es鈥�.

Once you鈥檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back in to your application if you鈥檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you鈥檝e applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you鈥檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You鈥檒l only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You鈥檒l get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

You might be able to apply to change (鈥榮witch鈥�) to a Health and Care Worker visa if you鈥檙e already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner and children

Your partner or child鈥檚 visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. If they do not switch their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.

They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Eligibility

You must meet the following requirements:

• your job meets the eligibility requirements
• you can speak, read, write and understand English

If you鈥檙e currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet one of the following requirements:

• you have completed the course you were sponsored to study
• your job start date is after your course has finished
• you have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot apply to switch to this visa if you鈥檙e currently in the UK:

• on a visit visa
• on a short-term student visa
• on a Parent of a Child Student visa
• on a seasonal worker visa
• on a domestic worker in a private household visa
• on immigration bail
• because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

You must leave the UK and apply for a Health and Care Worker visa from abroad if you鈥檙e in one of these categories.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for as long as your employer is sponsoring you for, up to 5 years at a time. Your certificate of sponsorship will say how long your employer is sponsoring you for.

Fees

Check how much it costs for your type of visa.

You鈥檒l need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you鈥檒l need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and the type of passport you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to switch to a Health and Care Worker visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Apply for a Skilled Worker visa. You鈥檒l be asked if you鈥檙e applying for a Health and Care Worker visa as part of your application - make sure you choose 鈥榶es鈥�.

Once you鈥檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back in to your application if you鈥檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you鈥檝e applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you鈥檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You鈥檒l only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You鈥檒l get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

You can do additional paid work on a Health and Care Worker visa as long as you鈥檙e still doing the job you鈥檙e being sponsored for. You can also do unpaid voluntary work.

You may need to apply to update your visa to do additional paid work. This will depend on the type of work you鈥檙e doing and the hours you鈥檙e going to work.

Your additional work must be in an eligible Skilled Worker occupation code.

When you need to update your visa

You must update your visa if your additional job is more than 20 hours a week.

You don鈥檛 need to update it if you鈥檙e:

• working overtime in the job you鈥檙e being sponsored for

• working 鈥榖ank shifts鈥� for your NHS sponsor

Apply to update your visa

To apply, you鈥檒l need to:

• get a new certificate of sponsorship from your second employer

• include a letter with your application explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay

Apply to update your visa.