Health & Care Worker visa — what changed in 2025–2026
Health & Care Worker visa is a subcategory of Skilled Worker with benefits (£25,000–£31,300 minimum, exempt from IHS). From 22 July 2025 new applications for care worker and senior care worker from outside the UK are completely closed. People already in the UK on this visa can extend or switch inside the country until 22 July 2028 — but they need 3+ months on the sponsor's payroll. The closure is linked to mass revocations (470+ care companies, ~28,000 displaced).
You have 60 days to find a new sponsor. According to Work Rights Centre, only 3.4% of displaced workers find new sponsorship in this window. Contact an IAA-registered consultant immediately: portal.immigrationadviceauthority.gov.uk
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What is the Health & Care Worker visa
The Health & Care Worker visa is a subcategory of the Skilled Worker visa with three key benefits compared to the normal Skilled Worker route:
- Lower salary floor — £31,300 (standard) or £25,000 (NHS pay scale and some transitional cases) instead of £41,700
- Exemption from IHS — the main applicant and all dependants do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (saving £3,105 for 3 years, £5,175 for 5 years for one adult)
- Lower visa fee — £324 (≤3 years) / £628 (>3 years) vs £819 / £1,618 for standard SW
This route applies to: nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, paramedics, dentists, pharmacists, and (until 22 July 2025) care workers / senior care workers.
The sponsor must be: an NHS organisation, an NHS supplier, or a CQC-registered care provider (in England).
Timeline of key changes 2024–2026
Current salary requirements
| Category | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Standard H&C (normal) | £31,300 OR lower going rate (whichever is higher) |
| NHS Pay Scale (lower) | £25,000 |
| STEM PhD discount | £25,000 (70–90% of going rate, not less) |
Health & Care visa exempt from Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035/year for an adult). Saving: £3,105 for 3 years or £5,175 for 5 years for one person (not counting dependants).
Transitional period until 22 July 2028
This information is for reference only. For your individual situation, contact an IAA-registered consultant.
Who is eligible under the transitional period: a care worker already in the UK on a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa lawfully and employed by a licensed sponsor.
- The new sponsor must have CQC registration for the role in England.
- Dependants are not allowed on new applications for care worker / senior care worker (rule from March 2024).
- These rules may change — this page is published for information, not for personal action.
If your sponsor lost their licence — factual information
- The Home Office sends a curtailment notice — you have 60 days to find a new sponsor.
- A care provider with a revoked licence cannot issue new CoS, but your existing visa remains valid until the curtailment period ends.
- DHSC £16M support programme — regional hubs for displaced workers, help finding new sponsorship. More details through your local authority or NHS regional team.
- Work Rights Centre (2025): out of ~28,000 displaced workers, only 3.4% found a new sponsor within the 60-day window.
Find a regulated consultant: portal.immigrationadviceauthority.gov.uk
Hotspot regions — where revocations were widespread
According to investigations in 2024–2025, the revocation rate in these regions was 86%+ higher than the national average:
If someone offers you a care position in these regions in 2024–2026 — check the sponsor carefully: how to check a sponsor →