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All work routes·United Kingdom, Health and Care Worker visa
Work visa check

Check your Health and Care Worker visa application before you apply

This page shows the conditions the Health and Care Worker visa sets, in the official words, with a free check of your answers. Go over what it finds with a solicitor or a regulated immigration adviser before you apply.

Entry Clearance OfficerUK Visas and ImmigrationHealth and Care Worker visa

Go over these findings with a solicitor or a regulated immigration adviser before you apply.

What is being checked

The job offer and the employer’s papers, the pay, the language level, your qualifications, any money you must hold, police and health papers, and your past visas.

Why applications fail

Pay below the lowest figure the route sets, missing papers from the employer, or papers that do not match each other.

What our software does

The free check reads your answers against these conditions and shows where they usually fall short. It does not say whether you qualify. Paid work checks are not open yet.

01
Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.2(d) and SW 5.1 to SW 5.7

Certificate of sponsorship and the sponsor

The applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are planning to do

What the decision maker looks at: Whether your certificate of sponsorship was issued no more than 3 months before you applied, has not been used in an earlier granted or refused application, has a start date no more than 3 months after you applied, and comes from an employer licensed for this job. It also looks at whether the job is real.

Your employer must hold a licence from the Home Office to sponsor workers, and must give you a certificate of sponsorship. This is an electronic record with a reference number. The caseworker can refuse if they think the job does not exist, is fake, or was made up only to get you a visa. Whether a sponsor licence is still valid, and whether a job is real, are judgements, so a solicitor or regulated adviser should look at them.

Where this comes from 6 official sources
  • (d) the applicant must have a certificate of sponsorship that was issued to them by their sponsor no more than 3 months

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 1.2(d)

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • SW 5.1. The applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are planning to do; which to be valid must:

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 5.1

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • (c) include a start date, stated by the sponsor, which is no more than 3 months after the date of application; and (d) not have been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 5.1(c) and (d)

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • SW 5.3. The sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 5.3

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • SW 5.5. The decision maker must not have reasonable grounds to believe the job the applicant is being sponsored to do: (a) does not exist; or (b) is a sham; or (c) has been created mainly so the applicant can apply for entry clearance or permission to stay.

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 5.5

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.

    Health and Care Worker visa: Your job, If you already have a job offer

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • Your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer
  • Your written job offer and contract, with the job title, pay and hours
  • The employer's name and sponsor licence number, as shown on the certificate
  • A check that the employer appears on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors
02
Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 6.1 to SW 6.4, SW 6.1B and SW 14A.1

Eligible health or care job, employer and registration

The sponsor must choose an appropriate SOC 2020 occupation code

What the decision maker looks at: Whether the job's 4-digit occupation code is one the route lists for an application from outside the UK, whether the employer is an NHS body, an NHS supplier or an adult social care provider, whether you have the skills for the job, and whether you hold or are working towards the professional registration the job needs.

Only some health and care jobs count. Each job has a 4-digit code, and your employer picks it. Since 22 July 2025, care workers (6135) and senior care workers (6136) can only use this route from inside the UK, so a new job in those codes cannot be applied for from Nigeria. Care worker employers in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and similar jobs need registration with the UK body for that job. Whether the code fits the job, and whether your skills fit, are judgements, so a solicitor or regulated adviser should look at them.

Where this comes from 9 official sources
  • SW 6.1B. If the applicant is being sponsored in the SOC 2020 occupation code “6135 Care workers and home carers” or “6136 Senior care workers”, the application must be for permission to stay, and either:

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 6.1B

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • (ii) the date of application must be before 22 July 2028; or

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 6.1B(a)

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • From 22 July 2025, the UK immigration route for care workers and senior care workers closed to new applications from overseas. This means employers can no longer sponsor new care workers or senior care workers from abroad.

    Part 1: applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad, The Health and Care Worker visa

    Updated 20 August 2025 · dated 20 August 2025 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • SW 6.2. The sponsor must choose an appropriate SOC 2020 occupation code

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 6.2 and SW 6.3(b)

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • (b) whether the applicant has the appropriate skills, qualifications and experience needed to do the job as described; and

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 6.3(b)

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You must have a job offer from: the NHS an organisation providing medical services to the NHS an organisation providing adult social care

    Health and Care Worker visa: Your job, Health and care sector employers

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • Your employer must be registered with the Care Quality Commission if you’re a care worker (code 6135) or senior care worker (code 6136) working in England.

    Health and Care Worker visa: Your job, If you're a care worker or senior care worker

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You need to register with a professional regulator to work as a: dentist doctor healthcare scientist midwife nurse nursing associate (England only) pharmacist allied health professional

    Part 1: applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad, Registration with a professional regulator

    Updated 20 August 2025 · dated 20 August 2025 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • (a) genuinely intend, and be able, to undertake the role for which they are being sponsored; and

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14A.1

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The job's 4-digit occupation code and job description from your employer
  • Certificates and transcripts for your professional training
  • Your registration, or proof of the steps you have passed, with the UK body for your job (for a nurse, the Nursing and Midwifery Council)
  • Proof of past work in the same kind of job
03
Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 4.2, option K, SW 13.1 to SW 13.3 and SW 14.3

Salary

The applicant is being sponsored for a job in a listed health or education occupation and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £25,000 per year; and • the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

What the decision maker looks at: Whether the pay on your certificate of sponsorship is at least £25,000 a year and at least the going rate for the job code, whichever is higher, or at least £31,300 and the lower going rate for the codes that use different rules, counting no more than 48 hours a week.

For most health jobs the pay must be at least £25,000 a year, or the going rate for the job if that is higher. For NHS-type jobs the going rate comes from the national pay scales, by pay band and area. Some codes, such as health managers and lab technicians, use a higher floor of £31,300. A nurse still waiting for full registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council can be paid less for up to 8 months, if the rules for that are met. Whether the pay meets the going rate for your code is a judgement, so a solicitor or regulated adviser should look at it.

Where this comes from 5 official sources
  • The applicant is being sponsored for a job in a listed health or education occupation and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £25,000 per year; and • the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, Option K, table following SW 4.4

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You’ll usually need to be paid at least £25,000. If the ‘going rate’ for your job is higher than £25,000, you’ll usually need to be paid at least the going rate.

    Health and Care Worker visa: Your job, Salary requirements

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You’ll usually need to be paid at least £31,300 per year, or the lower ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.

    Health and Care Worker visa: If you'll need to meet different salary requirements, Salary requirements

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • their salary may be temporarily (for up to 8 months) less than the £25,000 per year required under points option K in either of the following circumstances:

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 13.2

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • only the salary for the first 48 hours a week will be considered towards the salary thresholds

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.3

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The pay and hours shown on your certificate of sponsorship
  • Your contract or offer letter showing yearly pay and weekly hours
  • The NHS pay band for the job, if it is an NHS-type role
04
Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 4.1 and SW 7.1 to SW 7.3

English language

An applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening)

What the decision maker looks at: Whether you show English at level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening, by a way the rules accept: a Secure English Language Test, a degree taught in English (checked by Ecctis if from outside the UK), being from a listed English-speaking country, or, for a doctor, dentist, nurse or midwife, the English test the UK regulator accepted.

A new applicant from outside the UK needs English at level B2. A degree from Nigeria taught in English can count, but only with an Ecctis check. If you are a doctor, dentist, nurse or midwife, the English test you passed for your UK registration can count, but you must have the scores before you apply. Nigeria is not on the list of countries that do not need to prove English.

Where this comes from 6 official sources
  • English language skills at level B2 or, where the applicant’s most recent permission was as a Skilled Worker and which was granted subject to a requirement at level B1, level B1

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 4.1

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • SW 7.1. An applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) to at least the level specified by SW 4.1.

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 7.1

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

    Health and Care Worker visa: Knowledge of English, Passing an English test

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • If your degree was taught in English and was not awarded by a UK institution, you’ll need to apply for an assessment from Ecctis.

    Health and Care Worker visa: Knowledge of English, If you have a degree from an institution outside the UK

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve already passed an English Language assessment that is accepted by the relevant regulated professional body.

    Health and Care Worker visa: Knowledge of English, If you're a doctor, dentist, nurse or midwife

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • you must have achieved the required scores in your English language test before you apply for your visa.

    Part 1: applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad, English language tests

    Updated 20 August 2025 · dated 20 August 2025 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • A Secure English Language Test result at B2, with its reference number
  • Or an Ecctis reference showing your degree was taught in English
  • Or, for a doctor, dentist, nurse or midwife, the English test the UK regulator accepted
05
Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 15.1 to SW 15.3, and Appendix Finance

Money to support yourself

the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270

What the decision maker looks at: Whether you held at least £1,270 for 28 days in a row, with day 28 no more than 31 days before you applied, or whether your certificate of sponsorship shows that an A-rated sponsor will cover your first month.

You need at least £1,270 in your bank account. It must stay there for 28 days in a row, and the last of those days must be within 31 days of your application. You do not need this if your employer fills in the part of the certificate that says it will support you for your first month. Ask your employer which applies.

Where this comes from 4 official sources
  • (a) the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270; or (b) the applicant’s A-rated sponsor must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment, to an amount of at least £1,270.

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 15.2

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • SW 15.3. If SW 15.2.(a) applies, the applicant must show that they have held the required funds for a 28-day period and as specified in Appendix Finance.

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 15.3

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

    Health and Care Worker visa: How much it costs, Money to support yourself

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • up to 3 years - £324 per person more than 3 years - £628 per person

    Health and Care Worker visa: How much it costs, Application fees

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • Bank statements in your name covering 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of the application
  • Or the certificate of sponsorship showing the sponsor certifies maintenance
06
Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 3.2 and SW 16.1 to SW 16.2

TB test and criminal record certificate

A person applying for entry clearance as a Skilled Worker must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.

What the decision maker looks at: Whether you included a valid TB test certificate, since Nigeria, Ghana and India are on the list of countries that need one, and a criminal record certificate from each country the rules name, where your job needs one.

If you have lived in Nigeria, you need a TB test from a clinic the Home Office accepts. The certificate lasts 6 months from the date of the x-ray. Most Health and Care Worker jobs also need a criminal record certificate when you apply from outside the UK. You may need one from each country you have lived in, depending on your age and how long you stayed.

Where this comes from 6 official sources
  • SW 3.2. A person applying for entry clearance as a Skilled Worker must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 3.2

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You’ll need to have a tuberculosis (TB) test if all of the following are true: you’re coming to the UK for 6 months or more you’ve lived in any of these listed countries for 6 months or more you were living there (or another listed country) within the last 6 months

    Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants, Check if you need a TB test

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • If your test shows that you do not have TB, you’ll be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months from the date of your x-ray.

    Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants, How you'll be tested

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • Nepal Niger (get tested in another country) Nigeria

    Countries where you need a TB test for your UK visa application, N (Nigeria is listed)

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • You’ll need to provide a criminal record certificate if you’re applying from outside the UK, unless your job is in one of the following occupation codes:

    Health and Care Worker visa: Documents you'll need to apply, Criminal record certificate

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • they must provide a criminal record certificate from the relevant authority in any country in which they have been present for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the 10 years before the date of application, and while aged 18 or over:

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 16.1

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • A TB test certificate from a clinic on the Home Office list, less than 6 months old
  • A police criminal record certificate from Nigeria, and from any other country the rules name
07
Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 2.1, and Part Suitability, SUI 9.1 and SUI 10.1

False documents, false information or facts left out

The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part Suitability.

What the decision maker looks at: Whether anything in the application was untrue or fake, such as a bank statement, an English test, a qualification or a job offer, or an important fact was left out, such as an earlier refusal, and whether that was deception.

Health and care workers face the same honesty rules as everyone else. If the caseworker decides you lied on purpose, the application must be refused, and it can stop future UK visas for years. Even false information you did not know about can lead to a refusal. Fake job offers sold by agents are a known risk on this route. Tell the truth about any past refusal. This is a serious finding, so a solicitor or regulated adviser should look at it before you apply.

Where this comes from 4 official sources
  • SW 2.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part Suitability.

    Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 2.1

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • SUI 9.1. An application for entry clearance or permission must be refused where the decision maker is satisfied that the applicant used deception by:

    Immigration Rules, Part Suitability, SUI 9.1

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • (a) made false representations or provided false documents or false information in relation to the application (whether or not relevant to the application, and whether or not to the applicant’s knowledge); or (b) did not disclose relevant facts in relation to the application.

    Immigration Rules, Part Suitability, SUI 10.1

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • If you see a job offer which seems too good to be true, it probably is.

    Part 1: applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad, You are offered a job which is not real or based on false promises

    Updated 20 August 2025 · dated 20 August 2025 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • Previous passports and any earlier refusal letters
  • Original documents that the issuer can confirm

The Health and Care Worker visa is a work visa for doctors, nurses, other health workers and some adult social care workers. It is part of the Skilled Worker route, so the rules are in Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, and Part Suitability applies too. Two people take part. First the employer, who must hold a sponsor licence, offers you a job and gives you a certificate of sponsorship. Then you, the worker, apply online. A UK Visas and Immigration caseworker decides. The steps go in this order: get a real job offer from an eligible health or care employer, get your certificate of sponsorship, get your English proof, a TB test and a criminal record certificate if you need them, hold the money for 28 days unless your employer covers you, then apply within 3 months of getting the certificate. Since 22 July 2025, new care workers (code 6135) and senior care workers (code 6136) cannot come from outside the UK on this route. The official pages list what the application must show and what the rules say leads to refusal, and these grounds are built from those words. The paragraph numbers on your refusal letter are the ones that count. Go over these findings with a solicitor or a regulated immigration adviser before you apply.

Free check

Where does your work visa application stand?

A few questions, read against the conditions above. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

  1. 1 Where are you with the job?

    Most work routes start with a real job offer, and some need a paper from the employer before you can apply.

  2. 2 How does the pay compare with the lowest pay the route allows?

    Many routes set a lowest salary. The figure is on this page, from the official rules.

  3. 3 Is the employer allowed to hire people from abroad?

    Some routes only allow employers on an official list, or with an official licence.

  4. 4 How will you show the language the route asks for?

    Some routes set a level in English or in the country’s own language.

  5. 5 Are your qualifications ready to show?

    Some routes need your degree or licence to be recognised, checked or registered in that country first.

  6. 6 Can you show the money the route asks you to hold?

    Some routes ask you to hold money for living costs for a set time, unless the employer covers it.

  7. 7 Do you have the health and police papers the route asks for?

    Some routes ask for a police certificate, a TB test or a medical check.

  8. 8 What is your visa history?

    A past refusal for any country has to be told about and answered.

Answer all 8 questions to see the result. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

Paid work checks

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