Health and Care Worker Visa for Care Workers in 2026
The Health and Care Worker visa is a specialised category of the Skilled Worker visa. 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. Care Workers may qualify under the Health and Care Worker visa.
What Is the Health and Care Worker Visa?
The Health and Care Worker visa is part of the Skilled Worker route and applies where:
The applicant has a job offer in an eligible health or social care occupation
The employer holds a valid Home Office sponsor licence
The role meets the required skill and salary thresholds
🌟See our article on Skilled Worker visas.
This route offers certain benefits compared to the standard Skilled Worker visa, including reduced application fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. The visa applictation fees are currently as follows:
Inside the UK:
Up to 3 years on the Health and Care visa: £304
More than 3 years on the Health and Care visa: £590
Outside the UK:
Up to 3 years on the Health and Care visa: £304
More than 3 years on the Health and Care visa: £590
As part of wider reform, the UK Government raised the skill threshold for most Skilled Worker jobs to Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 6 (degree level). Many health professions, such as registered nurses, remain clearly eligible under this route. However, it reduces access for roles considered “lower skilled,” such as care workers.
Care Workers and Senior Care Workers: the requirements and restrictions in 2026
Care Workers and Senior Care Workers are currently eligible occupations under the Skilled Worker system, but strict requirements apply.
💡As a care provider, you must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to sponsor the visa of care workers. You are responsible for ensuring your roles meet CQC standards, that your staff are properly trained and supervised, and that your organisation remains compliant with CQC regulations throughout the sponsorship period.
1. New Applications Restricted
New visa applications from outside the UK for Care Workers (SOC code 6135) and Senior Care Workers (SOC 6136) were closed in mid-2025. It is no longer possible to sponsor care workers from outside the UK.
For applicants from inside the UK, there is transition period in which existing workers in the UK can extend or switch visas until 22 July 2028. Applicants must have been working for the sponsor for at least 3 months if switching from a different route, unless they were already a care worker.
🚫 New applications from 22 July 2025: No longer accepted from outside the UK.
✅Applicants already in the UK before 22 July 2028: Extensions and switches accepted, subject to being already on a care worker visa OR having been working for the new sponsor for at least 3 months.
2. Dependant Restrictions
Separate from general Skilled Worker policy, Care Workers (SOC code 6135) and Senior Care Workers (SOC 6136) cannot bring dependants unless the worker was already on a care worker visa before 11 March 2024.
🚫 New applications from 11 March 2024: Cannot bring dependants if CoS issued after 11 March 2024.
✅ Care workers granted visas before 11 March 2024:
If the care worker:
· Was granted their Skilled Worker/Health and Care visa before 11 March 2024, and
· Already had dependants as part of their leave (or was eligible under the old rules),
Then dependants may still be able to apply from overseas, provided:
· The main worker continues to hold valid leave
· The dependant applies under the same Skilled Worker dependant category
· Financial and relationship requirements are met
The dependant restriction applies specifically to care worker and senior care worker occupation codes. Other health professionals (such as nurses, paramedics, doctors, therapists) can still bring dependants under the Skilled Worker route.
3. Salary Increases
The minimum salary requirement for care workers increased in mid-2025 from £25,000 per year (£12.82 per hour) to £33,400 per year (£17.13 per hour). There are transitional arrangements for those who were already in the route before 4 April 2024 meaning they may be able to qualify for the lower rate.
🚫 New applications from 22 July 2025: Minimum salary requirement of £33,400 per year (£17.13 per hour).
✅ Care workers granted visas before 4 April 2024: May still qualify under the lower salary rate of £25,000 per year (£12.82 per hour).
What This Means for Care Workers and Employers
For Care Workers:
You can still work in the UK if you are already here on a care worker visa and your sponsor continues to employ you.
New entry visas for care worker roles from abroad are no longer accepted.
You cannot bring family members if your job is classified as a care worker or senior care worker, unless you were a care worker before 11 March 2024.
For Employers:
Recruiting care workers from overseas under current rules is restricted, so focus is shifting toward domestic recruitment and utilising the transition period for existing care workers in the UK.
Sponsors must comply with stricter licence rules, ensure they pay appropriate salaries and demonstrate genuine job vacancies.
Strategic workforce planning is essential as changes to salary thresholds and skill criteria continue.
How We Can Help at Outpost
The UK immigration system is complex and evolving fast. Care workers and employers face multiple compliance requirements, from correct occupation coding and salary criteria to understanding transition arrangements and dependant rights.
🌟At Outpost, we can help you by:
Checking if your job or vacancy still qualifies under current rules
Verifying salary thresholds and dependant eligibility
Preparing and submitting compliant visa applications
Advising on your pathway to ILR/Settlement and visa conditions
Assisting care providers with sponsor licence compliance