2024 Guide – Apply for the Health & Care worker visa for UK care industry

by UK Immigration Law Firm in India

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In this article we have covered these important points:

Overview: The Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry

  • The Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry is for medical professionals to travel to or remain in the UK to work in adult social Care, the National Health Surcharge (NHS), or one of its suppliers
  • The HealthCare sector in the UK has many opportunities for foreign professionals, and the Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry is the perfect route for it
  • Britain especially has an increasing demand for elderly Care assignments in UK for foreigners
  • There are many Care Worker assignments in UK for foreigners too and this Visa makes it possible for you to make the most of those opportunities
  • The Tier 2 Health and Care Visa not only allows Care Worker assignments in UK for foreigners but also solves Britain’s need for Caregiving professionals
  • The UK Health & Care Worker Visa is one of the rare routes that do not require the applicant or their dependants to pay for the Health Surcharge, saving a lot of money

According to recent data…

  • The number of UK Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) granted to migrant Health and social Care professionals reached a record high in the first quarter of 2021
  • Applicants for sponsored skilled work Visas in the fields of human Health and social work have nearly tripled (+188%) since 2018 when they made up just 17% of all applications
  • As per the UK Home Office, 11,171 CoS were issued in the first quarter of 2021, a significant increase from the 3,370 CoS issued in the same period in 2018

What is the eligibility for Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry?

If you are someone looking for jobs in the healthcare sector in the UK, you must know the eligibility for the visa category.
You must:

  • Be a licenced physician, nurse, Health Care provider, or adult social Worker; work in an appropriate Health or social Care position, and work for a UK business that has received Home Office approval
  • Possess a valid “Certificate of Sponsorship” from your employer detailing the job offer you received in the UK
  • Receive a minimum wage; the amount depends on the work you accomplish

Please Note

You must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer before you apply for this visa

How to apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa?

  • To apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa, go online
  • You will have to provide the necessary paperwork *mentioned below*
  • If you are looking to extend or switch to a Visa, it depends on whether you are applying from within or outside the UK
  • You must update your Visa if you want to change jobs or employers
  • If your partner and children are qualified, you can include them in your application to remain in the UK

When applying for a Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry, remember these important points!

  • It is adVisable you apply up to 3 months before your date of employment
  • Your sponsorship certificate will include this date
  • As per the UK Care Worker Visa 2024, it is necessary to present the supporting documentation as part of your application, like –
    1. Bank statements to prove you can meet the financial requirement
    2. Certificate of Sponsorship by your UK-based employer (Job offer)
    3. Proof you can meet the English language requirement
    4. Your job title and salary
    5. Your employer’s sponsor licence number (you can find this on the certificate of sponsorship)
    6. Proof of relationship with your partner and/or children; if they are applying

Getting a decision after you apply for a Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry

  • A decision on your Visa is typically made within 3 weeks of your online application, identification verification, and submission of your supporting papers
  • You might be able to pay to receive a decision sooner
  • Priority processing depends on whether you’re inside the UK or outside the UK

What is the UK Health and Care Visa fee?

When applying for a Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry, you will need to

  • Pay the application fee
    1. If you are going to stay in the UK for up to 3 years, your application fee is £247
    2. If you are going to stay in the UK for more than 3 years, your application fee is £479
    3. Whether you apply from inside or outside the UK, the application fee amount remains the same
  • You also need to have £1,270 as your personal savings in your back account, to support yourself once you arrive in the UK
  • You will have to hold these funds for at least 28 days in a row

For how long can you stay in the UK on a UK Health Care Worker Visa?

  • The UK Tier 2 Health and Care Visa is valid for up to 5 years
  • You can extend it before your current visa expires
  • You will also have to renew or amend your current visa if you change your employer or employment
  • If you wish to continue living in the UK, you can extend your Visa.
  • You can also apply for an “Indefinite Leave to Remain” ILR in the UK after 5 years
  • You will not only have the freedom to stay in this country as long as you wish, but also work, study, and if you qualify, ask for benefits

If you wish to continue living in the UK (longer than your current visa allows you to)

According to the UK Care Worker Visa 2022, if you continue to meet the requirements, you can extend your visa.
You can also apply for an “indefinite leave to remain” in the UK after 5 years. You will not only have the freedom to stay in this country as long as you wish, but also work, study, and if you qualify, ask for benefits.

What is permitted and prohibited while on a Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry?

You can

  • Work at a job that qualifies; take on additional employment under specific conditions; volunteer work; and study
  • Bring your spouse and kids along as your “dependents,” and if they qualify, have them leave the country and come back to the UK
  • Submit an application for indefinite leave to remain (commonly known as permanent residency) in the UK. if you have been in the UK for five years and are otherwise eligible

You cannot

  • Change occupations or employers
  • Apply for the majority of benefits (public funds)
  • Or get the State Pension without first updating your Visa

Once your application is approved, you will receive a complete description of everything you can and cannot do with a Health and Care Worker Visa.

Summary – Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry

  • Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry has not only made it possible for Healthcare professionals and caregivers to enter the UK but has also helped Britain to employ many foreign professionals and control the Health and Care Worker crisis.
  • With this Visa, you can also extend your stay in the UK and apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement), if you qualify

How The SmartMove2UK can help you in your UK Health Care Worker Visa application?

  • The SmartMove2UK has UK Health & Care Worker Visa experts who have helped clients understand the various UK Visa routes, find the right category for our clients and make successful applications
  • We have a team of UK immigration lawyers with knowledge and expertise in the many UK Business, Family, Investor, Entrepreneur, Health & Care Worker, Student and other Visa routes
  • Our team is based in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru but has been advising clients from all around the globe via Zoom & Skype
  • Book your first consultation online and you can meet with our advisors online or at our offices in Mumbai and Delhi

FAQ’s : Health & Care Worker Visa for UK Care industry

  • To get the Health & Care worker visa for UK care industry, you will have to meet all the necessary eligibility and requirements.
  • You must be a medical, health and care or other professional.
  • Your job must be on the list of occupations and your salary must also meet the requirement for qualifying for the UK Health & Care Worker visa.
  • Click here to read more on the occupational codes and list of approved jobs.
  • The Health & Care Worker visa for the UK is not the same as the UK Skilled Worker visa.
  • While the UK Skilled Worker visa allows you to work for an employer in the UK; the UK Health & Care Worker visa allows you to only work in a particular field, i.e. Health & Care.
To successfully apply for a UK Health & Care worker visa, you will need a successful UK VI IELTS certificate.
The application fee is £247 if you are going to live there for up to 3 years and £479 for more than 3 years.

You must have £1,270 to support yourself when you’re in the UK

  • You must either be a licenced physician, nurse, health care provider, or adult social worker; work in an appropriate health or social care position, and work for a UK business that has received Home Office approval.
  • You must also have a valid ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ to be eligible for the visa.
  • You can read more on the eligibility in the blog above.

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