Asylum-seeking doctors, nurses and other health professionals granted right to work

The change, set out in the Spring Statement of Changes, reinstates the right to work for asylum seekers who have been waiting for a year or longer for an initial asylum decision.

This policy shift marks an important step for widening access to skilled employment and enabling the NHS to benefit from the expertise of professionals already living in the UK, including doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and a wide range of other regulated health professionals.

What is changing?

Under the current policy, asylum seekers who are granted permission to work can only take up roles on the Immigration Salary List, which does not include most health professions.

From 26 March 2026, this restriction will be replaced with a new criterion:

Asylum seekers who have waited 12 months or more will be allowed to work in any occupation listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations at RQF level 6 (graduate level) or above.

This includes a broad range of high skilled roles across many sectors. For the NHS, the list of eligible health occupations at RQF6+ includes:

• Medical practitioners
• Nurses
• Dentists
• Pharmacists
• Allied health professionals
• Health services and public health managers
• Specialist health roles listed in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations

The full occupation list is set out in the Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Occupations.

What NHS employers need to know

• The new work rights apply only after 12 months have passed since an asylum seeker submitted their initial asylum claim.
• Roles must be skilled to RQF level 6 or higher and included in the Appendix Skilled Occupations.
• Employers will still need to complete standard right to work checks.

We will update the right to work checks standard once the legislation is passed and Home Office guidance is published.