The Health and Care Worker visa is the single most cost-effective sponsorship route in the UK immigration system. It is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker visa, designed specifically for healthcare roles, and it comes with two benefits that change the economics of hiring: exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (saving £3,000–£5,000 per hire) and reduced visa application fees. For UK care providers, NHS trusts, nursing homes and homecare companies, this route is the backbone of international recruitment in 2026.
What Is the Health and Care Worker Visa?
It is not a separate visa — it is a specific route within the Skilled Worker visa framework, with additional benefits. The employer still needs a Sponsor Licence, still assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship, and still pays the ISC. But the worker benefits from reduced fees and faster processing.
Who Qualifies for the H&C Route?
Eligible Roles
• Registered nurses, midwives and nursing associates
• Medical practitioners (doctors, dentists)
• Allied health professionals (physiotherapists, OTs, radiographers, paramedics)
• Care workers and home carers (SOC 6135)
• Senior care workers (SOC 6136)
• Certain healthcare managers and social workers
The employer must be a CQC-registered provider (in England), or the equivalent regulator in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. NHS bodies automatically qualify.
The Cost Advantage — H&C vs Standard Skilled Worker
The IHS exemption alone saves the worker (or the employer, if you cover it) over £3,000 on a 3-year visa. On a 5-year visa, the saving exceeds £5,000. This makes the H&C route dramatically cheaper than standard sponsorship.
Salary Thresholds for H&C Worker Roles
H&C Worker route roles benefit from reduced salary thresholds compared to the general Skilled Worker route:
2026 Salary Rules
• The minimum is the higher of the going rate for the SOC code and the applicable salary floor
• For care workers (SOC 6135): going rate £23,200. With ISL/H&C discounts the floor is £23,200
• For registered nurses (SOC 2231): going rate £29,970
These thresholds are significantly lower than the standard £38,700 general threshold, which is why care sector sponsorship is viable when other sectors struggle with the salary floor.
CQC Registration Requirement
Your organisation must hold CQC registration (or the equivalent devolved regulator) to use the H&C route. A care company that is not CQC-registered must use the standard Skilled Worker route — which means the IHS exemption and reduced visa fees do not apply. If you are in the process of registering, wait until registration is confirmed before sponsoring on the H&C route.
Source Countries for UK Healthcare
Strongest Pools
India (particularly Kerala) — largest single source of nurses for the UK. Strong English, familiar with Commonwealth clinical practice.
Philippines — second-largest nursing source globally. Excellent English, strong care culture.
Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya — established nursing pipelines into the UK. Processing times from Africa can be longer.
Nepal, Sri Lanka — growing sources for care workers and nursing assistants.
NMC Registration for Nurses
All international nurses must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) before practising in the UK. The process includes a Computer Based Test (CBT) and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Processing typically takes 3–6 months from initial application to PIN registration. Many nurses complete the CBT in their home country and the OSCE after arrival.
Timeline for a Healthcare Hire
Retention — The Real Challenge in UK Care
Why H&C Workers Leave
• Pay at the floor — care workers on £23,200–£25,000 struggle with UK cost of living
• Accommodation costs consuming 40–60% of take-home pay
• Competing offers from NHS trusts at higher salaries once NMC registration is complete
• Family separation — H&C workers can bring dependants, but accommodation costs double
What High-Retention Providers Do
• Subsidised or employer-provided accommodation for the first 6 months
• Clear career progression pathway (care worker → senior care worker → team leader)
• Support NMC OSCE preparation with study time and materials
• Annual salary reviews benchmarked against local market, not the visa threshold
How Recruitroo Supports UK Healthcare Recruitment
Recruitroo sources NMC-eligible nurses and qualified care workers for UK care providers, nursing homes and NHS-adjacent organisations. We handle the full H&C Worker route — sourcing, NMC coordination, CoS, visa and relocation — on a platform that tracks every milestone from offer to PIN registration.
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Get a QuoteSee Client StoriesThis guide reflects UK Health and Care Worker visa rules as of May 2026. CQC requirements, NMC processes and salary thresholds are subject to change.