Health and Care Worker visa
Update your visa if you change job or employer
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.
You do not need to apply again if you stay in the same job, but your job is taken off the immigration salary list.
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.
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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.
You do not need to apply to update your visa if you鈥檙e taking on additional work in an eligible occupation code and you鈥檒l be doing less than 20 hours a week.
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.
You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.
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.