How to Get a Health & Care Worker Visa in the UK in 2025
If you’re a healthcare professional aiming to work in the UK, the Health and Care Worker visa remains one of the most accessible and rewarding visa routes in 2025. Designed for qualified healthcare and social care professionals, this visa makes it easier to work with the NHS, adult social care providers or other health-related employers across the UK.
This updated 2025 guide explains how to apply, the latest eligibility criteria, salary thresholds, and recent immigration changes you need to know.
What Is the Health and Care Worker Visa?
The Health and Care Worker visa is a UK work visa specifically for skilled workers in health and care roles. It allows overseas professionals such as nurses, doctors, paramedics, healthcare assistants and senior care workers to live and work in the UK for an extended period, often with lower visa fees and fast-track processing.
This visa is part of the Skilled Worker route and is essential to the UK’s long-term plan to support its health and social care system.
Who Can Apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa in 2025?
To qualify for this visa in 2025, you must meet the following requirements:
1. Eligible Job Role
You must be applying for an eligible role in the health or care sector. Typical eligible occupations include:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Paramedics
- Radiographers
- Physiotherapists
- Healthcare assistants
- Support workers in regulated care services
For a complete list of eligible roles, refer to the list below:
Your job must be in one of the following eligible occupation codes to qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa:
1171: Health services and public health managers and directors
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’s 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
If you’re extending or updating your visa and you got your certificate of sponsorship before 22 July 2025, your job can also be in one of the following ‘medium-skilled’ occupation codes:
1231: Health care practice managers
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
Care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136) will no longer be able to make new applications for Health and Care Worker visas. A transition period is in place until 22 July 2028, which will allow individuals to extend or switch from other visa routes.
2. Job Offer from a Licensed Sponsor
You must have a job offer from a UK employer licensed by the Home Office to sponsor foreign workers. Employers listed on UK Visa Jobs are all licensed sponsors, so it’s best to apply through a trusted platform that filters out non-sponsoring employers.
3. Minimum Salary Threshold
As of July 2025, you generally need to earn at least £25,000 per year (£12.82 per hour). However, your actual required salary depends on:
- The occupation code for your role
- Whether the role qualifies for a shortage occupation discount
- Whether you’re considered a new entrant to the workforce
Note: If your job’s “going rate” is higher than the general threshold, your salary must meet or exceed that going rate.
On UK Visa Jobs, we filtered out jobs that do not meet the salary threshold, so you can just focus on applying.
You can learn more about the general salary requirement here.
4. English Language Requirement
You must prove you can speak, read, write and understand English to at least B1 level on the CEFR scale. You can meet this through:
- A UKVI-approved English test, or
- A degree taught in English, or
- Being a national of a majority English-speaking country
Learn more about the language requirements here.
5. Valid Passport and Documents
You’ll need to submit:
- A valid passport
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- Proof of qualifications
- Proof of English proficiency
- A tuberculosis test result (for certain countries)
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa
Here’s how to apply for your visa in 2025:
Step 1: Find a Sponsored Job
Start by applying for jobs on UK Visa Jobs, which exclusively lists visa-sponsored healthcare roles. These jobs are posted by employers already licensed to sponsor overseas workers.
Step 2: Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Once hired, your employer will issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship with a unique reference number. You’ll need this for your visa application.
Step 3: Apply Online
Visit the official UK Government website to submit your application. You’ll need to enter your personal details, job information and CoS number.
Step 4: Pay Visa Fees
The visa fee is typically £304 for up to 3 years or £590 for more than 3 years. However, most Health and Care Worker applicants are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), saving up to £1,035 per year.
Step 5: Attend a Biometric Appointment
You may be required to attend a visa application centre in your country to provide fingerprints and a photo.
Step 6: Wait for Processing
Visa decisions usually take up to 3 weeks for applicants outside the UK. Some fast-track options may be available.
2025 Policy Updates: What’s New?
1. CQC Registration Requirement
Employers offering care-related roles in England must now be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to sponsor overseas care workers. This ensures a higher standard of care and helps reduce exploitation in the sector.
2. No Dependents for Care Workers
As of 11 March 2024, new care worker visa applicants can no longer bring dependents (spouses or children). This does not affect existing visa holders who applied before this date or workers in other eligible healthcare roles, such as nurses or doctors.
If your job is listed as ‘medium skilled’ (see the list above), your partner and children can only apply as your dependents if you were employed in the UK and on a Health and Care Worker visa or Skilled Worker visa before 22 July 2025.
Key Benefits of the Health and Care Worker Visa
- Lower visa fees than other work visas
- No NHS surcharge – access healthcare in the UK for free
- Fast-track processing – typically under 3 weeks
- Route to permanent residence – apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years
- Work flexibility – switch employers or extend your stay with continued sponsorship
Start Your Application with UK Visa Jobs
Finding a visa-sponsored healthcare job in the UK can be challenging if you don’t know where to look. At UK Visa Jobs, we make it easier. All jobs listed on our platform come from licensed UK sponsors actively hiring foreign healthcare workers.
- Filter by role, location and visa eligibility
- Apply directly to employers ready to sponsor your visa
- Stay updated with changes in UK immigration rules
Final Thoughts
The Health and Care Worker visa in 2025 remains a reliable, streamlined and rewarding option for international healthcare professionals. While recent rule changes may affect dependents and sponsor requirements, the core pathway to working and settling in the UK remains intact.
Start by securing a job offer through UK Visa Jobs and take the first step towards a career that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
