Health and Care Worker requires an eligible occupation, approved employer, valid CoS and applicable salary and English evidence. Care-worker/senior-care-worker overseas recruitment is closed; remaining in-country options have specific rules. Family eligibility depends on occupation, history and child/location exceptions. Eligible applicants and dependants do not pay IHS. Check current dated fees and evidence exemptions.
GOV.UK: £324 per person for up to 3 years; £628 for longer. Eligible Health and Care applicants and dependants pay no IHS. Maintenance evidence is conditional on the applicable exemptions or actual CoS certification.≈ $411
GOV.UK: you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks.
Check if you're eligible for this pathway
Get an AI-powered eligibility analysis personalized to your profile — see your match score, gaps, and next steps.
- Personalized eligibility score
- Gap analysis
Source-backed requirements
Eligibility
(1)English Language Proficiency
DocumentMandatoryNew applications and switches from other routes generally require CEFR B2 in all four skills. Holders before 8 January 2026 extending/updating may use the B1 transition without fresh proof. Check permitted prior proof or transfer between the two work routes, qualifications/Ecctis, nationality, regulated-profession evidence or approved SELT; a new test is not universal.
Verified official
Qualification
(2)Personal Savings
ConditionalUsually provide £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, with day 28 within 31 days of application. Permission to stay after at least 12 months of lawful UK permission can satisfy the requirement without funds evidence; an A-rated sponsor’s actual CoS maintenance certification is another route. Assess each dependant separately; a budget is not bank evidence.
Verified officialCertificate of Sponsorship
MandatoryUse an approved sponsor and an eligible actual occupation with the required pay and skill conditions. The CoS is an electronic record with a valid reference; a job offer or invented paper certificate is not sufficient. Medium-skilled access and care-worker options have specific date, list and location rules.
Verified official
Preparation
(2)Tuberculosis Test Results
DocumentConditionalFor this work route, a TB test is generally required when coming for at least 6 months, having lived in a listed country for at least 6 months, and having lived there or in another listed country within the last 6 months. Check actual history, exemptions and approved clinics. Children need clinician assessment, not an automatic x-ray; obtain a real certificate where required.
Verified officialCriminal Record Certificate
DocumentConditionalFor entry clearance in occupations listed in SW16.1, provide certificates for countries with at least 12 months’ total presence in the preceding 10 years while aged 18 or over. SOC6132 is included for CoS assigned on or after 8 October 2024. A satisfactory explanation may excuse certificates not reasonably practicable to obtain. Entry-clearance partners follow SW34.1–34.2; dependent children are excluded.
Verified official
Application
(1)Dependant eligibility
ConditionalFamily admission is conditional. Care-worker rules use continuity before 11 March 2024; medium-skilled rules use continuity before 22 July 2025, with specific child and location exceptions. Check actual occupation, visa/employment history, relationship and whether applying inside or outside the UK; neither family admission nor an exception is automatic.
Verified official
Steps marked with a document icon require physical documents. Generate your checklist to track them.
Immigration Documents & Forms
Source citations
Health and Care Worker — partner/children restrictions
UK Home Office
Care-worker dependant restrictions with continuitybefore11March2024 andactualchildexceptions; medium-skilled continuitybefore22July2025 andinsideUKchildexceptions. Actualoccupation/location/historyeachcase; notfamilyyesforall.
UK TB — conditional clinic evidence
Home Office — UK Visas and Immigration
TB requirement depends on listed-country residence history, intended duration and specific route/exemptions, not just passport nationality. Actual approved clinic certificate required when applicable.
Skilled Worker sponsor guidance — overseas criminal record certificates (SK10)
UK Home Office
Selected SK10.1–SK10.3 sections: entry-clearance workers in listed occupations need country certificates for at least12months cumulative presence during preceding10years while18+. SOC6132 included for CoS assigned on/after8Oct2024. Satisfactory impracticability explanation may be accepted. Partners covered, dependent children not. Cross-checked AppendixSkilledWorker SW16.1–2 and SW34.1–2.
Health and Care Worker — fees and maintenance alternatives
UK Home Office
324GBPupto3years/628GBPmorethan3years,currentmaintenance1270/28days/day28within31days;12monthslawfulUKpermissionoractualCoScertifiedmaintenancealternatives. Notunconditionalbankevidenceforall.
Health and Care Worker — English evidence and transition
UK Home Office
B2currentnew/other-route-switch requirement; holdersbefore8January2026extension/updateB1andnoreproof; permittedpreviousproof/crossSkilledWorker,qualification/Ecctis,SELT,nationality/regulatoracceptedexceptions. NotblanketB1.
UK Health and Care — current eligible jobs
Home Office — UK Visas and Immigration
Eligibleoccupation and employer/salary requirements differ.6135/6136care occupations restricted to applicable extension/update/switchcases, not newoverseasentry.
Official links
Share this pathway
Found this useful? Share the official requirements and your research with friends, family, or your network.