There are many skilled professionals around the world who want to work in the United Kingdom. They are constantly looking for such opportunities as this can give them global reach and recognition. The UK Health and Care Worker Visa acts as a gateway to enter the UK job market. In this blog, we will discuss the UK Health and Care Worker Visa in detail and make sure you get to know about all the essentials.

UK Health and Care Worker Visa

The UK government is constantly looking for skilled professionals to come from outside of the UK and work there. Hence, they have provided several facilities such as the United Kingdom Health and Care Worker Visa facility for foreign medical professionals to stay, and work in the United Kingdom. The UK Health and Care Worker Visa is for healthcare professionals like doctors, pharmacists, adult social care workers and nurses. It enables them to go to the United Kingdom, stay there, and do a job with the NHS (National Health Service), some NHS suppliers, or in adult social care. 

How is it different from the Skilled Worker Visa?

The Health and Care Worker Visa and the Skilled Worker Visa are quite similar since both enable skilled professionals from outside of the UK to stay and work there. However, the Health and Care Visa is available only to people from health care and medical background. Additionally, a reduced visa fee has to be paid for the Health and Care Worker Visa. Those carrying this visa are not even required to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge.

What is its validity?

The UK Health and Care Worker Visa is valid for around 5 years. Nevertheless, you can get it renewed every time it is about to expire for as many times as you want as long as you fulfill the eligibility requirements.

UK Health and Care Worker Visa Requirements

In order to be eligible for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa, you must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

• You must be a doctor, health professional, nurse or social care worker who is qualified.
• You must work in a social care or an eligible health care job.
• You must have a job offer from an employer form the UK.
• Your job offer must be in one of the many occupations mentioned in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
• You must work for an employer from the UK. That employer must be one that has been approved by the Home Office and have a license.
• You must have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’. Your employer must issue you this.
• Your ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ must carry clear information about the job role you will be taking up in the UK.
• Your English proficiency must be of at least level B1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
• You must meet the minimum salary threshold prescribed by them. However, the minimum salary may change with your job role. Therefore, you must check according to your job profile.

Certificate of Sponsorship

A Certificate of Sponsorship is a certificate issued by the licensed employer to you. It mentions the details about you and of your work in the UK. While using it to obtain the Health and Care Visa, you must make sure that this Certificate makes a brief mention of the reasons why you meet the Health and Care Worker requirements. Moreover, if your UK employer happens to be some organization providing medical services for the NHS, then the employer may have to give evidence of its contract with the NHS too.

Standard Occupational Classification

The Standard Occupational Classification is an exhaustive list of occupations and job roles which make you eligible under the Health and Care Worker Visa requirements. In this list, every occupation has a separate occupation code. It includes occupations like of Health Services, Biochemists, Psychologists, Pharmacists, Medical Practitioners, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dental Practitioners, Midwives, Nurses, Paramedics, Lab Technicians, Pharmaceutical Technicians, care workers, senior care worker, etc.

How to Apply for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa?

The United Kingdom Health and Care Worker Visa can be applied for from both inside and outside the UK. If you are applying from outside the UK, you will have to do the following:

• You have to apply online on their official portal after creating an account using your valid mail ID.
• Then, you have to apply using the Skilled Worker Visa route.
• After that, you must give a ‘yes’ as an answer when you get asked whether you are applying for the Health and Care Worker Visa as part of the application.
• Next, you can proceed with the application by filling in all the required details and providing all supportive documents.

While making the application, you will be asked to prove your identity. So, based on the country you are from and the kind of passport you carry you can:

• Either visit a visa application center to get your Biometric Residence Permit which is used to confirm your identity.
• Or scan your identity documents using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ App.

What is the Biometric Residence Permit?

The Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is used to confirm your identity. For that, it includes things like your name, photo, fingerprints, date and place of birth, immigration status, conditions of stay, etc.

Required Documents

To apply for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa, you will be required to have the following documents:

• Your valid passport and other related documents to prove your nationality and identity.
• The occupation code, salary and title of your job.
• The proof of your English proficiency. You can get this by either having passed the Secure English Language Test or some degree level academic qualification taught in English.
• The Certificate of Sponsorship issued by your employer. Its reference number along with your employer’s name and sponsor license number will be needed.

All of these are mandatory documents. However, you may be asked to submit some other documents depending on your circumstances. For example, you may be asked to submit the evidence of personal savings, proof of relationship with spouse or children, criminal record certificate, etc. You must check the official website of the UK Government to get the exact details.

UK Health and Care Worker Visa Fees

To apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa you will be required to pay some application fees. The amount is the same for both applicants applying from outside and inside of the UK. The fee is as follows:

Duration of Stay	Application Fee Per Person
Up to 3 years	247 Pounds
More than 3 years	479 Pounds

Apart from this, you will also be required to have a minimum amount of 1270 Pounds in your bank account to show that you can support yourself at least for 28 days in a row. However, you won’t be required to show proof of this if either your employer covers your cost of stay for your 1^st month’s stay in the UK. If the latter happens, you must make sure that it is mentioned in your certificate of sponsorship.

Processing Time

You must apply for the UK Health and Care Visa after you get a job offer from your licensed UK employer. You can apply for it up to three months before your joining date by providing all necessary details and submitting all supporting documents. The UK Health and Care Worker Visa processing time is around 3 weeks. After that, you will get to know the decision regarding your visa application. However, if you want to get the decision even earlier, you can make an additional payment prescribed by them.

UK Health and Care Worker Visa Benefits

If you are applying for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa, you will get the following benefits:

• You will be able to work in the United Kingdom in an eligible job.
• You will be able to study in the UK if it doesn’t interfere with your work.
• You will be able to travel to and fro the United Kingdom.
• You will be able to indulge in voluntary work in the UK.
• If you meet other requirements, you can even apply for permanent residence in the United Kingdom.

These are some of the amazing benefits that you will be able to enjoy with the UK Health and Care Worker Visa. However, there are some things that you cannot do with this visa. For example, if you are thinking of changing your job or your employer, you will have to get your visa updated. You cannot do it without updating the visa.

Conclusion

The UK Health and Care Worker Visa enables health and medical professionals across the world to stay and work in the UK. To apply for this visa, it is necessary that you first get your job offer and then apply for the visa. You must make sure that your UK employer is a licensed employer recognised by the Home Office and that employer must issue you a certificate of sponsorship. Then, you can apply up to 3 months before your joining date. Once you have the visa, it will be applicable for 5 years.

FAQ

Who can apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa UK?

All qualified medical professionals like nurses, doctors and pharmacists can apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa.

Is a job offer necessary to apply for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa?

Yes, you must have a job offer from a licensed UK employer to apply for this visa.

How much time does the Health and Care Worker Visa take to process?

The United Kingdom Health and Care Worker Visa takes about 3 weeks to get processed. You will get to know the decision regarding it within 3 weeks.

What is the UK Health and Care Worker Visa fee?

The fee for the Health and Care Worker Visa is 247 Pounds for 3 years and 479 Pounds for more than 3 years.

Can I get the UK Health and Care Worker Visa before 3 weeks?

According to the official website, you can get the Health and Care Worker Visa earlier but you will have to make an additional payment for that.

EXTRACT

“The UK Health and Care Worker Visa is for healthcare professionals like doctors, pharmacists, adult social care workers and nurses. It enables them to go to the United Kingdom, stay there, and do a job with the NHS (National Health Service), some NHS suppliers, or in adult social care.”