Health and Care Worker Visa Guide 2024

Amidst the current critical shortage of workers in the UK, particularly in the healthcare industry, the Health and Care Visa plays a vital role in your workforce strategy. By obtaining your sponsor licence, you can tap into this extensive talent pool from both overseas and within the UK. This solution not only helps stabilize your workforce and overcome hiring challenges but can also lead to financial savings through government fees reductions. Furthermore, it opens up incredible growth prospects for businesses to expand and reach unprecedented heights of success.

The Borderless platform has been specifically designed for care providers. It is a flexible solution allowing employers to utilize only the parts they need, whether it’s navigating sponsor licence applications, streamlining recruitment efforts, efficiently running the immigration process, fully managing their Sponsor Management System (SMS), or ensuring sponsor licence compliance with the Home Office. Borderless offers a bespoke, end-to-end solution.

The Benefits of the Health and Care Visa for Overseas Workers

Successful candidates under the Health and Care Visa can work in the UK for up to five years. After this period, they can apply to extend their visa and, provided they remain eligible, renew it continuously. Another route for Health and Care visa holders is applying for UK indefinite leave to remain after five years, which frees them from the constraints of UK immigration control. With this status, overseas workers can change their career path and employer without needing additional visas.

Requirements for a Health and Care Worker Visa

To qualify for the Health and Care Worker Visa, an overseas worker must meet the following criteria:

• Be aged 18 or over
• Be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care professional
• Work or plan to work in an eligible health or social care job within the approved Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes
• Have a job offer from a UK health and care sector employer approved by the Home Office
• Possess a valid certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from the employer
• Be competent in English (CEFR Level B1, equivalent to IELTS 4.0)
• Earn at least the minimum salary or the 'going rate' for their role, whichever is higher
• Not rely on public funds and have enough money to support themselves
• Provide a criminal record certificate if working with vulnerable people
• Provide a valid TB certificate if from a listed high-risk country

Eligible Job Codes for the Health and Care Worker Visa

The Health and Care Worker Visa is tailored for professionals within the health and social care sectors. To qualify, applicants must have a job offer in one of the eligible roles listed under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes. Here’s a breakdown of the eligible job codes and their corresponding job titles:

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1. Health Services and Public Health Managers and Directors
   • SOC Code: 1171
   • Job Titles: Health services managers, Public health managers, Directors of healthcare services
2. Health Care Practice Managers
   • SOC Code: 1231
   • Job Titles: Practice managers in healthcare settings
3. Residential, Day, and Domiciliary Care Managers and Proprietors
   • SOC Code: 1232
   • Job Titles: Care home managers, Domiciliary care managers, Day care centre manager
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4. Biochemists and Biomedical Scientists
   • SOC Code: 2113
   • Job Titles: Biochemists, Biomedical scientists
5. Physical Scientists
   • SOC Code: 2114
   • Job Titles: Physical scientists, Laboratory researchers
6. Medical Practitioners
   • Generalist Medical Practitioners (SOC Code: 2211)
   • Specialist Medical Practitioners (SOC Code: 2212)
   • Job Titles: General practitioners (GPs), Specialists in various medical fields
7. Therapy Professionals
   • Physiotherapists (SOC Code: 2221)
   • Occupational Therapists (SOC Code: 2222)
   • Speech and Language Therapists (SOC Code: 2223)
   • Psychotherapists and Cognitive Behaviour Therapists (SOC Code: 2224)
   • Clinical Psychologists (SOC Code: 2225)
   • Other Psychologists (SOC Code: 2226)
   • Therapy Professionals not elsewhere classified (SOC Code: 2229)
8. Nursing Professionals
   • Midwifery Nurses (SOC Code: 2231)
   • Registered Community Nurses (SOC Code: 2232)
   • Registered Specialist Nurses (SOC Code: 2233)
   • Registered Nurse Practitioners (SOC Code: 2234)
   • Registered Mental Health Nurses (SOC Code: 2235)
   • Registered Children’s Nurses (SOC Code: 2236)
   • Other Registered Nursing Professionals (SOC Code: 2237)
9. Pharmacists and Other Health Professionals
   • Pharmacists (SOC Code: 2251)
   • Optometrists (SOC Code: 2252)
   • Dental Practitioners (SOC Code: 2253)
   • Medical Radiographers (SOC Code: 2254)
   • Paramedics (SOC Code: 2255)
   • Podiatrists (SOC Code: 2256)
   • Other Health Professionals not elsewhere classified (SOC Code: 2259)
10. Social Workers
    • SOC Code: 2461
    • Job Titles: Social workers, Family support workers
11. Health Associate Professionals
    • Laboratory Technicians (SOC Code: 3111)
    • Dispensing Opticians (SOC Code: 3211)
    • Pharmaceutical Technicians (SOC Code: 3212)
    • Medical and Dental Technicians (SOC Code: 3213)
    • Health Associate Professionals not elsewhere classified (SOC Code: 3219)
12. Care Workers and Home Carers
    • Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants (SOC Code: 6131)
    • Ambulance Staff (excluding paramedics) (SOC Code: 6132)
    • Dental Nurses (SOC Code: 6133)
    • Care Workers and Home Carers (SOC Code: 6135)
    • Senior Care Workers (SOC Code: 6136)

This is an exhaustive list. You must be taking up a job in one of the above occupations to be eligible for a Health and Care Worker Visa. However, some roles may still be eligible within the general Skilled Worker Visa category.

Applying for the Health and Care Worker Visa

The process for applying for the Health and Care Worker Visa can be complex and may delay the overall progress of sponsoring skilled workers from overseas if not handled professionally. At Borderless, our technology platform and team of experts guide you through each stage of the sponsor licence application to ensure a smooth and simple process.

To apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa, the overseas worker needs to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by their UK sponsor. This unique reference number is used to apply online through the Home Office website. After completing the necessary information, the next step involves paying a fee. During this stage, the Home Office will expect the submission of mandatory supporting documents. Once the application is received, the Home Office will assess the provided information and supporting documentation. The applicant may be required to either book a biometrics appointment or enable biometrics through an ID app, depending on prior submissions.