The Health and Care Worker visa is a work route within the UK’s Skilled Worker system, which supports the NHS, adult social care, and other eligible healthcare providers in recruiting eligible applicants. While the route continues to offer significant advantages over standard work visas, eligibility has narrowed in recent years, particularly for social care roles.
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What is the Health and Care Worker Visa?
The Health and Care Worker visa forms part of the Skilled Worker route but offers reduced application fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
The route is intended to support workforce needs in:
- The NHS
- NHS Service providers
- Adult social care organisations regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Other approved healthcare bodies listed in the Home Office guidance
Applicants must be sponsored and must work in a role that appears on the list of eligible occupation codes for the Health and Care Worker route.
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Who qualifies for a Health and Care Worker Visa in 2026?
To qualify, an applicant must meet all of the following requirements:
- An Eligible Job Role
The applicant must have a confirmed job offer in an eligible health or care occupation, such as:
- Doctors
- Nurses and midwives
- Allied health professionals
- Certain healthcare scientists and technicians
Only roles listed in the Health and Care Worker guidance qualify. Administrative, clerical, and general support roles are usually excluded unless expressly specified.
- An Approved Sponsor
The employer must:
- Hold a valid sponsor licence
- Be an eligible organisation (for example, an NHS body, NHS supplier, or CQC-registered care provider)
- Assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
The Home Office assesses not only the applicant, but also the genuineness of the role.
- What the Employer Must Confirm on the CoS
In addition to the standard requirements of a CoS, the employer must confirm that:
- The role is eligible under the Health and Care Worker route – the job must fall within an approved occupation code and accurately reflect the duties the worker will perform.
- The employment is with an eligible organisation. For example, for care workers, the organisation must be CQC-registered.
The Home Office relies heavily on the CoS when assessing applications. Inconsistencies between the CoS, supporting documents, and the visa application can result in refusal or sponsor compliance action.
- Salary Requirements
Applicants must be paid at least the minimum salary required for the role, which is usually the higher of:
- the general Health and Care Worker salary threshold (currently £25,000), or
- the occupation-specific going rate.
Alternatively, many NHS roles rely on nationally agreed pay scales, which must be correctly calculated and reflected on the CoS.
- English Language Requirement
Applicants must meet the English language requirement at level B2 (CEFR), unless exempt.
This can be met through:
- an approved English language test,
- a degree taught in English, or
- nationality of a majority English-speaking country.
- Genuineness and Suitability
Applicants must genuinely intend to work in the sponsored role and must meet the suitability requirements under the Immigration Rules. This includes checks on immigration history, honesty, and criminality.
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Care workers and social care roles: restrictions
Since July 2025, the Health and Care Worker route has been significantly restricted for care workers and senior care workers.
In summary:
- Overseas recruitment into frontline care worker roles has closed
- Transitional arrangements apply only to limited categories of workers already in the UK
- Dependent eligibility has been restricted for certain care roles
This area is subject to heightened scrutiny, and employers and workers in the care sector should seek advice before proceeding.
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Our comment
The Health and Care Worker visa is governed by detailed and frequently updated Home Office guidance. Employers and applicants should always review the latest official guidance before applying to ensure compliance with current requirements and role-specific restrictions.
The Health and Care Worker visa remains a valuable and cost-effective route for eligible healthcare professionals in 2026. However, eligibility is tightly defined and depends heavily on the role, the sponsor, and the accuracy of the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Careful preparation and early advice can help avoid refusals, delays, and sponsor compliance issues, reach out to our experts for tailored advice.
