UK Health and Care Worker Visa Checklist — £324/£628, CoS, IHS-Free (2026)
The Health and Care Worker visa is a work route for eligible health and adult social care professionals. It is defined by one big saving — you do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge — and one big document: a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a Home Office approved employer. It costs £324 for up to 3 years or £628 for more than 3 years, and leads to settlement after 5 years. Verified against GOV.UK, September 2026.
Stage A — What you must have
- ☐ An eligible job: doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional, doing a qualifying job.
- ☐ An employer that is a Home Office approved sponsor.
- ☐ A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from that employer.
- ☐ A salary meeting the minimum for the job, and a confirmed job offer before you apply.
- ☐ Evidence of your English — speaking, reading, writing and understanding.
Stage B — Fees and money
- ☐ Fee: £324 per person for up to 3 years, or £628 per person for more than 3 years (same from inside or outside the UK).
- ☐ No IHS — you do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
- ☐ Savings: at least £1,270 held for 28 days, unless your employer certifies your maintenance on the CoS, or you have been in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months.
Stage C — Timings and length
- ☐ Decision time: usually within 3 weeks; paid priority is available.
- ☐ When you can apply: up to 3 months before the start date on your CoS.
- ☐ How long you can stay: up to 5 years, renewable without limit.
- ☐ Settlement: after 5 years you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Stage D — Rules to respect
- ⛔ You cannot claim public funds.
- ⛔ You must not change jobs or employers without updating your visa.
Get it right the first time
- Lock in the CoS first — it drives your start date and your earliest application date.
- Ask your employer to certify maintenance on the CoS if you would rather not tie up £1,270.
- Remember you skip the IHS — but do not forget the savings rule or the English evidence.
- Do not change employer silently — update the visa first.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get a UK Health and Care Worker visa?
An eligible doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional doing a qualifying job, with an employer that is a Home Office approved sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), and a salary meeting the minimum. You apply after you have a confirmed job offer.
How much does the Health and Care Worker visa cost?
£324 per person for up to 3 years, or £628 per person for more than 3 years, applying from inside or outside the UK. You do not pay the IHS surcharge.
Do I need savings for the Health and Care Worker visa?
You need at least £1,270 held for 28 days, unless your employer certifies your maintenance on the CoS, or you have been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months.
How long does the Health and Care Worker visa take?
Usually within 3 weeks. You can apply up to 3 months before the start date on your CoS, and paid priority is available.
How long can I stay and can I settle?
Up to 5 years, and you can renew without limit. After 5 years you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Can I change jobs on a Health and Care Worker visa?
Not without updating your visa first. You must not change jobs or employers without updating your visa, and you cannot claim public funds.
Official source: gov.uk — Health and Care Worker visa and its “how much it costs” page, retrieved 2026-09-27. Confidence A (official pages, quoted verbatim). The exact minimum salary for each job is not given on the pages summarised here — check the “your job” page for your role.
Related: compare with other work routes in the UK visa checklist. Keep your photo and passport ready with the UK passport photo page and the passport photo checker.