The Government welcomes the vital contributions which doctors, nurses and other health professionals from overseas make to the National Health Service (NHS) and wider Health and Care Sector. The Health and Care Visa is part of the Skilled Worker route. It will ensure individuals working in eligible health occupations with a job offer from the NHS, social care sector or employers and organisations which provide services to the NHS, who have good working English, are incentivised to come to the UK.
There will be fast-track entry, with reduced application fees and dedicated support regarding the application process, for eligible individuals to come to the UK with their families. Those who are eligible to apply for the Health and Care Visa, and their dependents, will also be exempt from having to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. Frontline workers in the health and social care sector who are not eligible for the new Health and Care Visa will pay the Immigration Health Surcharge but will benefit from a reimbursement scheme. Further detail will follow in due course.
Who can apply?
Individuals of all nationalities who have a confirmed job offer, in one of the defined health professions, for a skilled role within the NHS, the social care sector or for NHS commissioned service providers.
The full list of professions, defined by Standard Occupational Classification codes, which would currently qualify for the Health and Care Visa can be found in Annex D. This list reflects the current skills threshold. The list of professions will be updated in line with the launch of the new Skilled Worker route and the expanded skills threshold later this year.
Although eligible applicants will benefit from reduced fees and an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge, both of which will extend to immediate family members, the main applicant must also meet requirements of the Skilled Worker route, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds.
