UK Health and Care Visa Changes Implemented for 2025-26 Cycle
Are you a nurse, doctor, social worker, or allied health professional dreaming of working in the UK? The UK Health and Care Visa is your fast-track route to making that dream a reality—and it now comes with big benefits for new applicants in 2025–2026.
This comprehensive guide walks you through what’s in it for you, who’s eligible, and how to apply without an agent.
What’s in It for New Applicants?
As a new applicant for the UK Health and Care Visa, here’s what you’ll get:
1# Fast-Track Processing
Your application will be prioritized. Most visa decisions are made within 3 weeks, compared to the usual 8–20 weeks for other visas.
2# Reduced Visa Fees
You and your eligible dependents will pay less than regular Skilled Worker applicants. The fee reduction is automatically applied if your employer confirms your Health and Care Visa eligibility in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
3# No Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
You’re exempt from paying the IHS, which can otherwise cost up to £1,035 per person per year. Your partner and children are also exempt.
4# Bring Your Family (Important Update)
You can bring your partner and children—except if you’re applying under SOC code 6135 (Care Workers and Home Carers) or 6136 (Senior Care Workers) and your visa was issued after 11 March 2024.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify, you must:
- Be applying for a Skilled Worker visa
- Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a Home Office-licensed UK employer
- Be taking up a job in one of the eligible healthcare or social care occupations listed under Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes.
Examples of Eligible Roles (SOC Codes):
- 2211: General medical practitioners
- 2235: Mental health nurses
- 2251: Pharmacists
- 2461: Social workers
- 6131: Nursing assistants
- 2254: Medical radiographers
- 2221: Physiotherapists
- 6135: Care workers and home careers (restrictions apply for dependents).
New Application Process (2025 Update)
Follow this updated step-by-step process for a smooth Health and Care Visa application as per new changes (Ref):
Step 1: Secure a Job Offer: Get hired by a UK employer that is:
- Approved by the Home Office, and
- Involved in health or social care (e.g. NHS, local authorities, CQC-registered institutions)
Step 2: Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your employer issues a CoS that must:
- Clearly confirm Health and Care Visa eligibility
- Include job title and SOC code
- Mention contract details and work location
Step 3: Prepare Your Documents: You’ll need:
- Passport
- CoS number
- Proof of English proficiency
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if required)
- Proof of funds (if not exempt)
- Letter from employer (if dependents are applying separately)
Step 4: Apply Online
Go to: https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa
Fill out the Skilled Worker visa form and check the Health and Care Visa box to activate benefits (fee reduction + IHS exemption).
Step 5: Biometrics Appointment: Attend your visa center appointment to submit biometrics and supporting documents.
Step 6: Wait for a Decision: Most applications are processed within 3 weeks after biometrics.
Additional Guidance for Employers as Per New Changes for 2026
Your sponsor must:
- Add a short statement in the CoS explaining how the role qualifies for the Health and Care Visa.
- Provide a letter or email to dependants applying separately (if the main visa holder arrived before 4 August 2020).
The new guidance applies from 22 July 2025 onward, and applications are open year-round. Just make sure your sponsor is ready and eligible.
⚠️ Important Note About Care Workers (SOC 6135, 6136)
If you’re applying as a:
- Care Worker or Home Carer, or
- Senior Care Worker,
And your application is after 11 March 2024, you cannot bring dependents unless:
- You already had a visa before 11 March 2024 and have remained under the same route.
- You’re applying for a child born in the UK.
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