This route includes the health and care visa which applies to qualified doctors, nurses and allied professionals working in either health or social care. The minimum skill level is RQF level 3 (A-level equivalent).
The certificates of sponsorship (CoS) cap has been suspended which means there will be no limit to the number of eligible skilled workers wishing to come to the UK unless this is reinstated. The resident labour market test no longer applies.
Applications are fast-tracked by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and the aim is to process them within three weeks, providing biometric information has been made available.
Existing Tier 2 (General) sponsors will have been automatically granted a new Skilled Worker licence, with an expiry date consistent with their current licence, and receive an appropriate allocation of CoS. The Home Office is asking employers to ensure they update the PAYE details on any outstanding COS where the applicant is intending to apply under the new skilled worker route.
Eligibility
A full list of eligible professions for the health and care visa and their standard occupational classification (SOC) code can be found in the UK Points-Based Immigration System: further details document. This list was recently updated in February 2021 to include additional professions, such as healthcare and nursing assistants, so please refer to the UKVI guidance for the most up to date list of eligible professions for the health and care visa.
The health and care visa requires applicants to have certain characteristics, three of which are fixed, and six which are tradeable however 70 points in total is required.
Individuals will need to attract the following three fixed characteristics:
- a job offer from an approved employer sponsor
- a job at the appropriate skill level (RQF 3 or above – A-level equivalent)
- the ability to speak English to the level set appropriate to the role.
In order to reach 70 points, they will also need to:
- attract 20 points from the other tradable characteristics.
This table outlines the characteristics, whether they are tradable or fixed and the number of points allocated to each:
| Characteristic |
Tradable |
Points allocated |
| Job offer by approved sponsor |
No |
20 |
| Job at the appropriate skill level (RQF 3 and above) |
No |
20 |
| Speaks English at the required level |
No |
10 |
| All of the above are required. May score one entry from each section below: |
|
|
| SALARY: |
|
|
| Salary of £20,480 but in listed health/education job that meets the relevant national pay scale* |
Yes |
20 |
| Salary of £20,480 (minimum) to £23,039 |
Yes |
0 |
| Salary of £23,040 to £25,599 |
Yes |
10 |
| Salary of £25,600 or above |
Yes |
20 |
| OTHER: |
|
|
| Job in a shortage occupation |
Yes |
20 |
| Education qualification: PhD in subject relevant to the job |
Yes |
10 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job |
Yes |
20 |
| Applicant is a new entrant to the job market |
Yes |
20 |
*The £25,600 threshold outlined above will not be applied for 24 health / public sector roles, with national pay scales used to determine the appropriate salary. More detail can be found in the UK points-based immigration system: further details statement, including a comprehensive list of eligible professions in table 28.
Case studies outlining different eligibility scenarios can also be found in the government’s UK points-based immigration system: further details statement from page 19.
Eligibility checklist
- valid certificate of sponsorship
- job which meets the appropriate skill level
- evidence of knowledge of English language
- one or more of the other tradable characteristics to reach the 70 points
- demonstrate ability to travel and travel history over the preceding five years
- valid tuberculosis test results (if from a listed country)
- a criminal record certificate from any country where the migrant has lived for 12 months or more in the last ten years, if working with vulnerable people
- £1,270 in savings (main applicant).
Fee
Health and care visa applicants pay a lower application fee and this reduction will also apply to partners and dependents. A visa for under three years for a profession on the shortage occupation list for example, is now reduced from £464 to £232 for those qualifying for the health and care visa. The cost is reduced by £55 for applicants from EU countries. Full Information including pricing is available on the GOV.UK website.
Immigration health surcharge exemption - no longer applies
Applicants applying for the health and care visa and their immediate family are exempt from having to pay the immigration health surcharge. Family is classed as those who are dependents of the applicant who is eligible for the health and care visa. It does not cover extended family or anyone living independently of the applicant.
Information on how individuals can claim a reimbursement for immigration health surcharge fees paid after 31 March 2020 is available from the Department of Health and Social Care on the GOV.UK website.
Switching
Switching visas is streamlined under the new system and most migrants will be able to apply to switch from one immigration route to another without having to leave the UK. This will help to support the retention of talented staff and prevent unnecessary travel.