What is the Health and Care Worker visa? Who can apply, salary, the health surcharge exemption and limits for care workers
Published: Last checked: October 20265 min read
Short answer
The Health and Care Worker visa is for doctors, nurses and other health professionals with an eligible job in the NHS, an NHS supplier or adult social care. The fee is £324 or £628 and families pay no health surcharge. Care worker roles closed to overseas applicants in July 2025.
In short
- This post is general information; it does not assess anyone's own situation. It is based on GOV.UK's Health and Care Worker pages as they were on 17 October 2026.
- This visa is for doctors, nurses, other health professionals and adult social care professionals working in an eligible job in the NHS, for an NHS supplier or in adult social care.
- You need a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a Home Office approved employer.
- The application fee is lower than for other work visas (£324 or £628), and applicants and their families do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Care worker and senior care worker roles have been closed to new applications from overseas since 22 July 2025.
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Official sources
This answer is based on the pages below. Check the source yourself before you decide.
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker, your job
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker, your partner and children
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker, how much it costs
- GOV.UK: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad
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