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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The UK Health and Care Worker visa is a faster, lower-cost Skilled Worker sub-route for the NHS, NHS suppliers and CQC-registered care providers, with fees from £304 and no Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Eligibility hinges on the role’s SOC code: most degree-level (RQF 6) clinical roles are open to new overseas hires, while care workers and senior care workers (SOC 6135 and 6136) are closed to overseas recruitment and limited to in-country switches until 22 July 2028.
- Employers must hold a valid sponsor licence, be CQC-registered for care roles in England, and meet the £25,000 (or going-rate) salary floor.
- Non-compliance is costly as civil penalties reach up to £60,000 per worker so accurate SOC coding and right-to-work checks are essential. Jobbatical automates sponsorship compliance and relocation to reduce that risk.
This guide provides a complete list of eligible SOC codes for the UK Health and Care Worker visa (also called the Health and Care visa) in 2026. It explains which healthcare roles allow dependants and whether positions are open to new overseas hires or restricted to in-country applicants.
Following the July 2025 UK immigration rule changes, selecting the correct SOC code is essential for HR and global mobility teams. While many NHS roles remain open for international recruitment, positions like care workers are now restricted. Verifying route eligibility before issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship ensures compliance and prevents non-refundable visa application refusals.
Below is our updated table of eligible UK healthcare roles, employer salary requirements, and active transitional arrangements.
Related Read:
For the full end-to-end process, costs, timelines and settlement, see our UK Health and Care Worker Visa Guide for Businesses 2026.
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UK Health and Care Worker visa overview
As a sub-category of the UK Skilled Worker visa, the Health and Care route targets medical professionals working for the NHS, approved suppliers, and CQC-registered care providers. It covers doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, though adult social care roles now largely fall under restricted transitional rules.
This route offers major advantages compared to the standard Skilled Worker visa:
- Zero Immigration Health Surcharge: Saves applicants around £1,035 annually.
- Lower visa application fees: Costs start at £304 for up to three years and £590 for longer periods.
- Faster processing times: Decisions typically arrive within three weeks and offer a five-year route to UK settlement.
To qualify for this UK healthcare visa, candidates need a confirmed job offer, English language proficiency at CEFR level B1, and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship. Employers must hold an active Home Office sponsor licence to recruit international healthcare talent.
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Key eligibility criteria for healthcare roles
Eligibility depends on the role matching a specific SOC 2020 occupation code and sitting at the required skill level. Roles must be genuine, skilled positions, with no self-employment.
For applicants
- Qualifications: a qualified professional with credentials recognised in the UK (for example GMC, NMC or HCPC registration where required).
- Salary: at least £25,000 a year or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher, pro-rated for part-time hours. Check the current NHS Agenda for Change band and the going rate on gov.uk.
- Job duration: at least three months, at full-time hours or the part-time equivalent.
For employers
- Sponsor licence: your organisation must hold a Home Office-approved licence. A new licence application takes roughly eight weeks.
- CQC registration: care provider roles in England must be sponsored by a CQC-registered employer.
- CoS issuance: assign the correct SOC code, keep supporting evidence such as the job description, and submit the application within three months of the CoS being issued.
Tip: use the ONS CASCOT tool to match job titles to SOC codes precisely a mismatch is a common cause of refusal.
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UK Health and Care Worker visa SOC codes: full list of eligible roles
The table below lists all SOC codes UK that are eligible under the Health and Care Worker visa, with the role, whether dependants are allowed, and the current route status. Codes are ordered numerically for quick lookup.
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Restricted and closed SOC codes (in-country switches only)
Two groups of roles are no longer open to new overseas recruitment:
- Care workers and senior care workers (SOC 6135 and 6136). Overseas entry clearance closed on 22 July 2025. Care workers already in the UK can extend or switch employer under transitional rules until 22 July 2028, but only where they have been on the sponsor’s payroll for at least three continuous months. Dependants are not permitted (a ban in force since 11 March 2024), and the sponsoring employer in England must be CQC-registered.
- Other below-degree (RQF 3–5) support roles. From 22 July 2025 the Skilled Worker skills threshold rose back to RQF 6 (degree level). Sub-degree health roles uch as nursing auxiliaries, dental nurses, pharmaceutical technicians and healthcare practice managers are now closed to new overseas hires unless the role sits on the Temporary Shortage List (currently to 31 December 2026). In-country extensions or switches may still be possible where the worker held a CoS before 22 July 2025.
Because these lists are reviewed regularly, confirm the current status of any sub-degree role against the Home Office Appendix Skilled Occupations before issuing a CoS.
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Salary, sponsorship and compliance essentials for employers
Salaries must meet or exceed the general threshold of £25,000 a year, or the going rate for the SOC code, whichever is higher. Going rates vary widely by role, so check the current figure for each occupation rather than relying on the floor.
As a sponsor, your ongoing duties include:
- Issuing the CoS through the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
- Reporting relevant changes, such as absences over 10 working days, within the required timeframe.
- Keeping right-to-work and document checks up to date.
The stakes for getting this wrong are high: the civil penalty for employing someone without the right to work is now up to £60,000 per worker for a repeat breach (£45,000 for a first breach), on top of possible sponsor licence suspension or revocation. Compliant right-to-work checks give you a statutory excuse, which is why many mid-sized teams automate CoS tracking and compliance.
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How Jobbatical streamlines UK healthcare visa hiring
Matching SOC codes, holding a sponsor licence and managing relocations shouldn’t stretch your HR team. Jobbatical connects mid-sized organisations with pre-vetted global healthcare talent, handles the visa paperwork, and manages relocation end to end.
- Talent matching for eligible roles such as registered nurses and physiotherapists.
- Visa expertise: advisors keep every step compliant, from CoS to settlement.
- Relocation support covering housing, onboarding and family integration.
Ready to sponsor your next healthcare hire? Explore our UK Health and Care Worker visa services.
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Disclaimer: Immigration rules change quite frequently; please verify with official sources or contact us for the latest info before making any decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions About UK Health and Care Worker Visa Eligible Roles
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