What is the Health and Care Worker Visa?

First introduced in August 2020, the Health and Care Worker Visa has made it less expensive, faster and more straightforward for healthcare professionals to work in the UK.

The Health and Care Worker Visa is open to those individuals who will be working in eligible jobs with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care. The UK health and care sector employer must be approved by the Home Office in such a capacity and you will need to have been issued with a certificate of sponsorship before you can proceed to applying for the visa.

Eligible jobs presently include:

• 2112: biological scientists and biochemists
• 2113: physical scientists
• 2211: medical practitioners
• 2212: psychologists
• 2213: pharmacists
• 2214: ophthalmic opticians
• 2215: dental practitioners
• 2217: medical radiographers
• 2218: podiatrists
• 2219: health professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as audiologists and occupational health advisers
• 2221: physiotherapists
• 2222: occupational therapists
• 2223: speech and language therapists
• 2229: therapy professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as osteopaths and psychotherapists
• 2231: nurses
• 2232: midwives
• 2442: social workers
• 3213: paramedics

Additional eligibility requirements include demonstrating your English language ability and maintenance funds. It is of note that Health and Care Worker Visa applicants are exempt from having to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The initial visa can be applied for from either outside or within the UK, if you are lawfully present in the UK at the time of application. However, you will not be able to switch to a Health and Care Worker Visa from inside the UK if you are currently on a:

• Visit visa;
• Short-term student visa;
• Parent of a Child Student visa;
• Seasonal Worker visa;
• Domestic Worker in a private household visa;
• Immigration Bail; or
• Permission to stay outside of the immigration rules.

This route can lead to settlement after 5 years and applicants can be joined by dependant partners and children under the age of 18 at the date of initial application.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson has extensive experience in all aspects of UK immigration law. If you have any queries relating to the blogs published, or are interested in talking to us about your specific circumstances, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

©Gherson 2021