UK Health and Care Worker Visa 2026: Rules & Eligibility

A Health and Care Worker visa lets medical professionals come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care. It can last up to 5 years, and it carries a distinctive benefit: no healthcare surcharge. This guide sets out the rules from gov.uk, verified 2026-10-01.

What this visa is for

gov.uk describes the Health and Care Worker visa as the route for medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care. It is a sponsored work route, so it starts with a job rather than with an application: you must have a confirmed job offer before you apply.

Who can apply (eligibility)

To qualify, gov.uk says you must:

• be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional;
• work in an eligible health or social care job;
• work for a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office;
• have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer with information about the role you have been offered in the UK;
• be paid a minimum salary — how much depends on the type of work you do.

You must also prove your knowledge of English: you need to be able to speak, read, write and understand English, and you will usually need to prove it when you apply. If you are not eligible for this route, gov.uk points you to other visa options to work in the UK.

How long you can stay

Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You will need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires, or if you change jobs or employer.

You can apply to extend as many times as you like, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK — also known as indefinite leave to remain — which gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and to apply for benefits if you are eligible.

How to apply

You must apply online. How you apply depends on whether you are:

• outside the UK and coming to the UK;
• inside the UK and extending your current visa; or
• inside the UK and switching from a different visa.

If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa. Your partner and children may be able to apply to join you or stay in the UK as your dependants.

How long it takes

You can apply for the visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK — a date listed on your certificate of sponsorship. As part of the application you prove your identity and provide your documents, and you may need to allow extra time if an appointment is required.

Once you have applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks. You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Cost and the healthcare surcharge

You, your partner and your children will each need to pay the application fee and prove you have enough personal savings. gov.uk links to its cost page for the exact figures, so check the current amounts there rather than relying on a fixed number here.

The headline advantage of this route is the surcharge. You — and your partner or children — will not have to pay the healthcare surcharge, and you can start using the NHS for free from the date your visa starts. You will still pay for some services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• work in an eligible job;
• take on additional work in certain circumstances;
• study;
• bring your partner and children with you as dependants, if you meet the eligibility criteria;
• travel abroad and return to the UK;
• apply to settle permanently if you have lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other requirements;
• do voluntary work — unpaid, and for a registered charity, a voluntary organisation, an associated fundraising body or a statutory body.

You cannot apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension, and you cannot change jobs or employer unless you update your visa.

If you are preparing the documents or a photo for the application, our Health and Care Worker visa documents checklist and the broader UK visa documents checklist cover what to gather; the photo size chart lists formats, the UK passport photo page covers the passport side, and the passport photo checker can test an image against the published figures.

Before you apply — a short check

• Confirm your job is eligible and your employer is Home Office approved.
• Get your certificate of sponsorship (with the role details and start date).
• Be ready to prove your knowledge of English.
• Check the minimum salary for your type of work.
• Apply no more than 3 months before your start date.
• Note the benefit: no healthcare surcharge for you or your dependants.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Health and Care Worker visa for?
It allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care.

Who can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa?
You must be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional; work in an eligible health or social care job; work for a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office; have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer with information about the role; and be paid a minimum salary that depends on the type of work you do. You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply.

Do I need a certificate of sponsorship?
Yes. You must have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer, with information about the role you have been offered in the UK.

Do I need to prove my knowledge of English?
Yes. You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English, and you will usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

How long can I stay on a Health and Care Worker visa?
Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it.

Can I extend the visa?
Yes. You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

Can I settle permanently in the UK?
After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK, also known as indefinite leave to remain.

How long does a decision take?
You can apply up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK, a date listed on your certificate of sponsorship. You will usually get a decision within 3 weeks, and you may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Do I pay the healthcare surcharge?
No. You, and your partner or children, will not have to pay the healthcare surcharge, and you can start using the NHS for free from the date your visa starts. You will still pay for some services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.

What can I not do on a Health and Care Worker visa?
You cannot apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension, and you cannot change jobs or employer unless you update your visa.

Related: the UK Standard Visitor visa guide, UK Graduate visa and post-study work, the UK ETA guide, the Health and Care Worker visa documents checklist, the photo size chart, or browse every guide on the guides page.

All guides →  Documents checklist →

Source: GOV.UK, “Health and Care Worker visa” (gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa), retrieved 2026-10-01. Eligibility, salary thresholds, fees and the healthcare surcharge can change, so confirm the current rules and figures on gov.uk before you apply.