If you are a qualified healthcare professional, stay with us till the end, for this is of great value to you, especially if you wish to work in the UK. The UK Home Office, under its new immigration system, has introduced a new visa, encouraging health professionals globally to come and work in the UK Health sector.
What is Health and Care Worker Visa
Health and Care Worker Visa is a part of the immigration system, applicable (from August 4, 2020) for qualified doctors, nurses, and other health professionals trained to a globally recognised standard. Furthermore, this visa is applicable for all medical professionals of all nationalities, except for British and Irish, who wish to work in the UK.
There are certain specifications as to who can sponsor a Health and Care Worker Visa. The sponsoring company must also be an NHS entity or trust, a medical services provider to the NHS, an adult social care organisation, or one of several other medical and social care organisations listed in the official guidance.
Skilled Worker Visa v/s Health and Care Worker Visa
It is important to note that all individuals eligible for a Health and Care Worker Visa are eligible for a visa under the Skilled Worker route. However, not all Skilled Worker Visa applicants qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa. The difference is a set of professions listed under the Standard Occupational Classification Codes (SOC). Each of these professions is identifiable by a unique code, and this list of the eligible occupations can change as well.
Eligibility criteria
You must meet the given requirements to be eligible for Health and Care Worker Visa:
- be a licensed doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care worker
- work in health or social care job
- work for a UK employer approved by the Home Office
- have a Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer detailing the position offered in the UK
- get paid a minimum wage, depending on the nature of work
Language requirements.: You must be fluent in English (speaking, reading, writing, and understanding). When you apply, you will usually be required to demonstrate your command of the English language.
Additional requirements.:
- You must demonstrate your ability to travel and provide your travel history for the previous five years.
- If you are from a listed country, you must have valid tuberculosis test results.
- If you will be working with vulnerable people as a healthcare professional, you must provide a criminal record certificate from any country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last ten years.
- You must also demonstrate that you can financially support yourself by showing that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account. You must have had the funds available for at least 28 consecutive days. Day 28 must fall within the first 31 days of applying for this visa. It is not applicable if you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, or your employer may be able to cover your expenses during your first month in the UK.
Professions listed under the Standard Occupational Classification Codes (SOC):
- 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 (example: audiologists and occupational health advisers)
- 2221 – Physiotherapists
- 2222 – Occupational therapists
- 2223 – Speech and language therapists
- 2229 – Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified (example: 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
Process of application
The application process for a Health and Care Worker Visa is via an online application on the UK Home Office. The process and requirements depend on whether –
- you are applying from the outside of the UK
- from inside the UK and extending your current visa
- from inside the UK and upgrading to a different visa
Once you receive your Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer, you can apply for the visa online via the Home Office Website.
After you have completed all of the required information, the next step in the application process is to pay the applicable fee. You will also be required to submit several documents supporting your application.
When the application is received, the Home Office will review the information and documents and may offer you one of two options:
If it is not possible to reuse any biometrics supplied with a previous application, you will have a biometrics appointment; otherwise, you will be instructed on how to enrol your biometrics using an ID app.
Cost
The costs for a Health and Care worker visa are the same whether you are applying for it from outside the UK or not. You must also note that these charges are the same for the applicant and the dependents. Furthermore, the applicants (employees and the dependents) do not have to pay the additional Immigration Health Surcharge.
In recognition of those who have come to the UK to work during the recent pandemic, frontline workers in the health and social care sectors who are ineligible for the Health and Care Visa will have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. However, they will benefit from the reimbursement scheme.
You will have to pay –
- £232 for Under 3 years and over 3 years
- £232 for Shortage Occupation category under 3 years
- £464 for Shortage Occupation category over 3 years
If you are a citizen of one of the following countries mentioned below, Your application cost will automatically reduce by £55. This reduction is only applicable to the employee.
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey.
Processing Time
Once you have submitted all the necessary documents, including your biometrics, you can expect a decision within 3 weeks.
Do’s and Dont’s
You can do the following things –
- work in an eligible position
- take on extra work in certain circumstances
- take up voluntary work
- study
- Bring your partner and children as ‘dependents’ (if they are eligible)
- travel abroad and back to the UK.
- apply for an ILR
You cannot –
- apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension
- switch jobs or employer unless you update your visa
Note.: You will receive a detailed list of Do’s and Dont’s if and when your application is successful.
Final note
The Health and Care Worker Visa has several benefits such as a fast-track entry into the United Kingdom, reduced visa fees, and exemption from Immigration Healthcare Surcharges. In addition, after 5 years, the applicant and the dependents can also apply for an ILR (indefinite leave to remain) for permanent settlement in the UK.
It is advisable that you go through the nitty-gritty of the requirements and the process. The list of requirements mentioned above is only a general list, and you may need to submit additional documents, depending on the type of application.
