United KingdomSkilled Worker visa, and how it relates to the Health and Care Worker visa
Definition
The Skilled Worker visa is the main UK work visa for people with a job offer in an eligible occupation from a Home Office licensed sponsor. The Health and Care Worker visa is a version of it for eligible health and care jobs with the NHS, NHS suppliers and adult social care, with lower fees and no Immigration Health Surcharge.
Also called: Skilled Worker visa, UK Skilled Worker visa, Tier 2 visa, skilled worker vs health and care worker visa, sponsored work visa UK
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What is the Skilled Worker visa?
GOV.UK says a Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. You need a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor, a job with an eligible occupation code, a salary at or above the minimum, and English at the required level. The visa can last up to 5 years before you extend it, and GOV.UK says that after 5 years you may be able to apply to settle through indefinite leave to remain.
How it relates to the Health and Care Worker visa
The Health and Care Worker visa sits inside the Skilled Worker rules. GOV.UK says doctors, nurses and people working in health or adult social care may be eligible for it instead, and that it is cheaper to apply for and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge. The difference is the employer and the job:
- Health and Care Worker visa: an eligible health or care occupation code, with the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, or adult social care. The usual minimum salary is £25,000 or the going rate if higher.
- Skilled Worker visa: any other eligible job, including a health role with a private employer that does not supply the NHS. The general minimum is the higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate, although healthcare going rates are based on national pay scales.
What it costs and how long it takes
GOV.UK sets these Skilled Worker application fees per person:
- outside the UK: £819 for up to 3 years, £1,618 for more than 3 years
- inside the UK: £943 for up to 3 years, £1,865 for more than 3 years
- jobs on the immigration salary list: £628 for up to 3 years, £1,235 for more than 3 years
On top, each applicant pays the health surcharge of £1,035 a year, and unless your sponsor certifies maintenance you need £1,270 held for 28 days in a row. By comparison, the Health and Care Worker fee is £324 for up to 3 years or £628 for more than 3 years, with no surcharge. GOV.UK says you will usually get a Skilled Worker decision within 3 weeks from outside the UK or 8 weeks from inside.
Common problems
- Applying on the wrong route. If your job qualifies for the Health and Care Worker visa, the Skilled Worker route costs you and your family far more.
- Medium-skilled roles. Since 22 July 2025, GOV.UK limits new applications for many medium-skilled codes to jobs on the immigration salary list or temporary shortage list, or to people already sponsored before that date.
- Salary below the threshold for the code and route.
- Changing jobs without a new certificate. A new employer or occupation code means a new application.
Use the sponsorship salary checker and visa cost calculator, and read our Health and Care Worker visa guide.
Questions
It is a version of it with its own eligibility list. GOV.UK says doctors, nurses and health and adult social care workers may be eligible for it instead, and it is cheaper with no Immigration Health Surcharge.
Usually the Health and Care Worker visa, because the job and employer are eligible. Your employer chooses the route when it assigns your certificate of sponsorship.
When the employer is not the NHS, an NHS supplier or adult social care, for example some private clinics, or when the job's occupation code is not on the Health and Care Worker list.
GOV.UK says the higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the occupation code, with different rules for healthcare and education where going rates are based on national pay scales.
GOV.UK sets £819 for up to 3 years or £1,618 for longer from outside the UK, plus the £1,035 yearly health surcharge for each applicant.
GOV.UK says that after 5 years you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you meet the requirements.