🇬🇧 UK Health & Care Worker Visa 2026
The Health and Care Worker visa route changed significantly in 2025-2026 — the care worker route closed to new applicants, while nursing, medical, and allied health roles remain open. Here's what's actually still available.
Care Worker Route: Closed to New Applicants
New overseas applications for care worker and senior care worker roles (SOC codes 6135/6136) under the Health and Care Worker visa closed specifically on 22 July 2025. Only existing visa holders (those with a Certificate of Sponsorship issued before that date, or already employed by the same UK sponsor for at least 3 months) qualify for transitional extensions or switches, running through 22 July 2028 — this closure came after widespread reports of exploitation and sponsor licence abuse in the care sector.
A separate, sooner deadline applies to two specific roles: SOC 1232 (residential/day/domiciliary care managers) and SOC 6131 (nursing auxiliaries and assistants) are scheduled for removal from the eligible occupation lists on 31 December 2026 — don't assume the general 2028 date applies to every care-sector role.
What's Still Open
Nurses, doctors, allied health professionals (physiotherapists, radiographers, paramedics), and other regulated healthcare roles remain fully open under the Health and Care Worker visa, which is a variant of the Skilled Worker route with two key advantages over standard Skilled Worker sponsorship:
- No Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are exempt from the IHS entirely — a saving of £1,035/year per adult compared to standard Skilled Worker visas.
- Reduced application fees compared to the standard Skilled Worker route.
- Fast processing — decisions typically within 3 weeks of biometrics for applications from outside the UK.
Salary Thresholds
Health and Care Worker visa salary requirements follow the same general structure as Skilled Worker: a general threshold with role-specific "going rate" minimums by NHS Agenda for Change band or equivalent. Entry-level NHS clinical roles commonly clear the going rate at salaries from roughly £25,000 to £31,300, though the exact figure depends on the specific occupation code and banding.
Sponsorship Must Come From an Approved Employer
Only NHS trusts, adult social care providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (in England) or equivalent regulators elsewhere in the UK, and organisations providing services to the NHS can sponsor this route — a private, non-healthcare employer cannot use the Health and Care Worker visa even for a role that involves care work.
Common Mistakes
- Applying for a new care worker visa in 2026. This route has been closed to new applicants since July 2025 — only nursing, medical, and allied health roles remain open.
- Assuming any healthcare-adjacent employer can sponsor. Only NHS trusts, CQC-registered care providers, and NHS-services organisations qualify as sponsors under this specific route.
- Forgetting to check the IHS exemption applies automatically. Health and Care Worker visa holders don't pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, unlike standard Skilled Worker applicants — make sure your fee calculation reflects this.
- Confusing this route with the standard Skilled Worker visa. While similar, the Health and Care Worker visa has its own approved sponsor list, fee structure, and occupation restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply for a UK care worker visa in 2026?
No, not as a new applicant. The care worker and senior care worker route (SOC 6135/6136) closed to new applications in July 2025. Only existing visa holders have transitional extension options through 2028.
Do Health and Care Worker visa holders pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
No, this is one of the route's key advantages — Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are exempt from the IHS entirely, unlike standard Skilled Worker visa applicants who pay £1,035/year per adult.
Which healthcare roles are still open under this visa?
Nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals (physiotherapists, radiographers, paramedics, and similar regulated roles) remain open, sponsored by NHS trusts, CQC-registered care providers, or organisations providing NHS services.
Do all care-sector roles have the same 2028 transitional deadline?
No — two specific roles have an earlier cutoff: care managers (SOC 1232) and nursing auxiliaries/assistants (SOC 6131) are scheduled for removal from eligible occupation lists on 31 December 2026, well before the general care worker route's 2028 transitional deadline. Always check the specific SOC code for your role rather than assuming the later date applies.