Are you sponsored by the NHS, an approved NHS supplier, or a registered care home to undertake a skilled role in the UK? If so, you may be eligible to apply for entry clearance under the Health and Care Worker Visa program. Applicants for this visa benefit from waived Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fees and enjoy reduced visa application costs. To qualify, you must meet the criteria outlined in the Immigration Rules, including Appendix Skilled Worker, Appendix Skilled Occupations, and Appendix Shortage Occupations List.

The Health and Care Worker Visa offers several advantages, including priority processing aimed at completing most applications within three weeks of biometric submission. This expedited service extends to your family members, who can also benefit from reduced visa fees and exemption from the IHS.

Additionally, dedicated support is available for sponsors, allowing them to address application or eligibility concerns through UKVI’s specialist NHS team via UKVINHSteam@homeoffice.gov.uk.

At Aden & Co Solicitors, we specialize in providing comprehensive, transparent, and fixed-fee legal advice for Health and Care Worker Visa applications. Trust our experienced team to handle your case with efficiency and professionalism.

Aden & Co Solicitors are renowned UK immigration specialists, offering unparalleled legal services in visa and immigration matters. Our team of fully qualified and experienced immigration solicitors consistently delivers exceptional results, reflected in our 5-star Google Reviews rating, endorsed by 99% of our clients.

Free Immigration Guidance for Health and Care Worker Visa UK
Our dedicated team of immigration solicitors provides complimentary, one-time online advice regarding Health and Care Worker Visa applications in the UK. You can submit your query online to receive expert guidance from our solicitors or schedule an online appointment for comprehensive legal advice and consultation tailored to your application needs.

No Dependants Allowed for Care Workers Under Revised UK Immigration Rules
In a pivotal announcement by the Home Secretary James Cleverly in December 2023, the UK Government revealed forthcoming amendments to the Immigration Rules. Among the proposed changes is a significant restriction barring care workers from bringing dependants under the Health and Care Worker Visa program. These updates are expected to be formalized in a new Statement of Changes.

Eligibility Criteria for the Health and Care Worker Visa

Aspiring applicants for the Health and Care Worker Visa must comply with the Skilled Worker Route as outlined in Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules. To secure this visa, candidates are required to meet the following conditions:

• Professional Qualifications: You must be a certified doctor, nurse, healthcare professional, or adult social care worker.
• Eligible Employment: The role you intend to undertake must fall within the approved health or social care occupations list.
• Point-Based System Compliance:Secure 50 mandatory points from non-tradeable categories.
• Earn at least 20 additional points from tradeable categories.
• Sponsor Licence Requirement: Your employer must possess a valid sponsor licence to sponsor your visa.
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your employer must issue a CoS detailing the job role and its relevance in the UK.
• Minimum Salary Threshold: The salary requirement varies based on the nature of your role and must meet the minimum standard.
• English Language Proficiency: Provide evidence of your command of the English language.
• Financial Sufficiency: Demonstrate adequate savings to sustain yourself in the UK unless maintenance is certified by your employer.
• Travel Eligibility: Show travel capabilities and a record of travel history for the past five years.
• Health Compliance: Submit valid tuberculosis test results if applicable.
• Criminal Record Check: Provide certificates from any country where you resided for 12 months or more in the last decade if your job involves working with vulnerable individuals.

Employer Obligations

Employers sponsoring applicants for the Health and Care Worker Visa must:

• Clearly explain in the Certificate of Sponsorship how the candidate meets visa eligibility criteria.
• Inform candidates of their Health and Care Worker Visa eligibility, enabling accurate application submission.
• Provide evidence of NHS contract arrangements, if applicable, to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for organizations delivering NHS-commissioned services.

Eligible Occupation Codes for the Health and Care Worker Visa

To qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa, your job must fall under one of the following occupation codes:

• 1181: Health services and public health managers and directors
• 1242: Residential, day, and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 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 not elsewhere classified, such as audiologists and occupational health advisers
• 2221: Physiotherapists
• 2222: Occupational therapists
• 2223: Speech and language therapists
• 2229: Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified, including osteopaths and psychotherapists
• 2231: Nurses
• 2232: Midwives
• 2442: Social workers
• 3111: Laboratory technicians
• 3213: Paramedics
• 3216: Dispensing opticians
• 3217: Pharmaceutical technicians
• 3218: Medical and dental technicians
• 3219: Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
• 6141: Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• 6143: Dental nurses
• 6145: Care workers and home carers
• 6146: Senior care workers

Approved Employers in the UK Health and Care Sector

To apply for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must secure a job offer from a recognized UK employer that holds a sponsor licence. Approved employers, also referred to as sponsors, are authorized to support your visa application to work or remain in the UK.

Eligible employers include:

• The NHS
• Organizations providing medical services to the NHS
• Organizations offering adult social care

If your potential employer is not yet approved, they may apply for a sponsor licence, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. Aden & Co Solicitors specializes in assisting employers with sponsor licence applications, ensuring a seamless process.

Mandatory Non-Tradeable Points: Securing 50 Essential Points

Applicants seeking entry clearance under the Health and Care Worker Visa must achieve 50 mandatory non-tradeable points to qualify. The additional 20 points can be earned through tradeable criteria. Below is a breakdown of the non-tradeable characteristics that contribute to this requirement:

Tradeable Points for Health and Care Worker Visa Entry Clearance (20 Points Needed)

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa, applicants must secure 20 tradeable points. These points can only be obtained from one specific option listed in the table below. Aden & Co Solicitors ensures accurate guidance to help applicants navigate these requirements seamlessly.

Salary Requirements for Skilled Worker Visa
Employers with a sponsor licence are required to offer a minimum salary of £20,960 annually, unless the ‘going rate’ for the specific job role exceeds this amount. Each occupation code specifies its unique annual going rate, which varies depending on the profession and occupation code. The going rates also depend on the NHS pay band and the geographic region of the UK where the applicant will be employed.

• Mandatory Financial Requirements for Skilled Worker Visa
  Applicants applying for entry clearance or residing in the UK for less than 12 months must meet specific financial criteria:

•  Personal Funds: The applicant must possess at least £1,270, held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days, as per the requirements outlined in Appendix Finance.
• Sponsor Certification: Alternatively, the sponsor must guarantee financial support, committing to maintain and accommodate the applicant during their first month of employment, covering a minimum of £1,270 if necessary.

Criminal Record Certificate Requirement for Health and Care Worker Visa Applications

When applying for entry clearance and sponsorship for a job in any of the occupations listed below, applicants must submit a criminal record certificate. This certificate must be obtained from the relevant authority of any country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more within the last 10 years (either continuously or in total), and while aged 18 or older.

Applicable Occupation Codes Include:

• 1181: Health Services and Public Health Managers and Directors
• 1184: Social Services Managers and Directors
• 1241: Healthcare Practice Managers
• 1242: Residential, Day, and Domiciliary Care Managers and Proprietors
• 2211: Medical Practitioners
• 2212: Psychologists
• 2213: Pharmacists
• 2214: Ophthalmic Opticians
• 2215: Dental Practitioners
• 2217: Medical Radiographers
• 2218: Podiatrists
• 2219: Health Professionals (not elsewhere classified)
• 2221: Physiotherapists
• 2222: Occupational Therapists
• 2223: Speech and Language Therapists
• 2229: Therapy Professionals (not elsewhere classified)
• 2231: Nurses
• 2232: Midwives
• 2312: Further Education Teaching Professionals
• 2314: Secondary Education Teaching Professionals
• 2315: Primary and Nursery Education Teaching Professionals
• 2316: Special Needs Education Teaching Professionals
• 2317: Senior Professionals of Educational Establishments
• 2318: Education Advisers and School Inspectors
• 2319: Teaching and Other Educational Professionals (not elsewhere classified)
• 2442: Social Workers
• 2443: Probation Officers
• 2449: Welfare Professionals (not elsewhere classified)
• 3213: Paramedics
• 3216: Dispensing Opticians
• 3217: Pharmaceutical Technicians
• 3218: Medical and Dental Technicians
• 3219: Health Associate Professionals (not elsewhere classified)
• 3231: Youth and Community Workers
• 3234: Housing Officers
• 3235: Counsellors
• 3239: Welfare and Housing Associate Professionals (not elsewhere classified)
• 3443: Fitness Instructors
• 3562: Human Resources and Industrial Relations Officers
• 6121: Nursery Nurses and Assistants
• 6122: Childminders and Related Occupations
• 6123: Playworkers
• 6125: Teaching Assistants
• 6126: Educational Support Assistants
• 6141: Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants
• 6143: Dental Nurses
• 6144: Houseparents and Residential Wardens
• 6146: Senior Care Workers

If the applicant is unable to obtain a criminal record certificate from the relevant authorities, they must provide a satisfactory explanation as to why it is not reasonably practicable to do so.

Terms and Conditions for Health and Care Worker Visa Grant

Applicants for the Health and Care Worker Visa will be granted entry clearance until 14 days after the end date specified in their Certificate of Sponsorship. This period may extend up to a maximum of 5 years from the start date of the Certificate of Sponsorship. The grant of this visa is subject to the following conditions:

• The applicant is not entitled to public funds.
• Employment is restricted to the job for which the applicant has been sponsored.
• Supplementary employment is allowed, provided the applicant continues to work in the sponsored role.
• Voluntary work is permitted.
• The applicant may work to fulfill a contractual notice period for a job they were lawfully employed in on the date of application.
• Study is permitted, subject to the conditions outlined in the ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) in Appendix ATAS.
• If applicable under Part 10, the applicant must register with the police.

Priority Service for Health and Care Worker Visa Entry Clearance

Aden & Co Solicitors offer a Priority Service to expedite your Health and Care Worker Visa entry clearance application, ensuring faster decisions.

Priority Service for Decision Within 5 Working Days

If available in your country of application, you may be eligible for a decision on your entry clearance application within 5 working days through the Priority Service. This requires identity verification at a visa application center in your country of residence. Availability of this service will be confirmed when you submit your UK visa application online.

Super Priority Service for Decision by the Next Working Day

If you are eligible for the online ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, you may be able to receive a decision within 24 hours, typically by the end of the next working day.

How Aden & Co Solicitors Can Assist You

Our experienced team of immigration solicitors provides expert legal advice and representation for your entry clearance application, offering a fixed fee service. This fee covers all necessary legal work until the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) makes a decision on your application. The services included in our fixed fee for entry clearance applications include:

Advice on Requirements: Our solicitors will guide you through the specific criteria that must be met to ensure the success of your application.

Document Guidance: Our team will send you a detailed list of required supporting documents needed to substantiate your entry clearance application.

Document Assessment: We will assess your documents to ensure they meet the standards required by the Immigration Rules.

Application Form Completion: Our immigration experts will complete the relevant online application form for your entry clearance.

Priority Service Submission: Where available, we will submit your application via Priority Service to expedite the decision-making process.

Appointment Booking: After submitting your application, we will arrange an appointment at the application center for biometrics enrolment.

Cover Letter Preparation: Our solicitors will draft a detailed cover letter that outlines how your application satisfies all the legal requirements.

Online Document Upload: Prior to your biometrics appointment, we will upload all necessary supporting documents to the online portal for review.

Follow-Up: We will manage all follow-up procedures until the Entry Clearance Officer reaches a decision on your entry clearance application.

Fixed Fees for Health and Care Worker Visa Applications

At Aden & Co Solicitors, we offer transparent, fixed fees for employer-sponsored work visa applications. Below is the breakdown of our fees:

The exact fixed fee will be determined based on the complexity of your application and the volume of casework involved. Please note that in addition to our fixed fee, applicants are also required to pay the Home Office UKVI fees for the application.