Switch to Health and Care Visa
You can apply for Switch to Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK if you are already in the UK under a visa category which allows you to switch your immigration status to Health and Care Worker visa category. You must meet all the relevant requirements including any conditions with regards to switching from your current visa status to the Health and Care Worker visa category. For switching into Health and Care Worker visa, you must be sponsored by NHS, an NHS supplier or a care home to do an eligible job in the UK. Those applying for the Health and Care visa are exempt from having to pay the Immigration Health Charge and have lower visa application fees.
Our expert team of Health and Care Worker visa solicitors are specialists in applications for switching into Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK. As one of the best Health and Care Worker visa solicitors in London , our Health and Care Worker visa solicitors have wealth of knowledge and experience to provide high quality fixed fee legal services for switching into Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK. Ask a question to our expert Health and Care Worker visa lawyers for free immigration advice concerning your application for switching into Health and Care Worker visa from within the UK.
Eligibility Requirements For Switching Into Health and Care Worker Visa
To be eligible for switching into Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK, you need to:
- be in the UK with leave to enter or remain from which switching into Health and Care Worker visa is permitted by the Immigration Rules;
- score 50 points from mandatory non-tradable points;
- score at least 20 points from tradable points;
- have have funds for maintenance in the UK or your Health and Care Worker sponsor has certified your maintenance as per requirements of Appendix C of the Immigration Rules;
- meet the suitability criteria and not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.
The employer is required to include a brief explanation in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) setting out how the employee meets the Health and Care Visa eligibility requirement. The employer will also be responsible for informing the applicant they are eligible for the Health and Care Visa so the applicant can correctly complete the visa application form. Where an employer is an organization that provides services commissioned by the NHS, evidence of the contract arrangements with the NHS may need to be provided to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as proof that applicants are eligible to apply for a Health and Care Visa.
Mandatory Non-Tradable Points (50 Points Required)
The applicant must score 50 mandatory non-tradable points to succeed in an application for switching into Health and Care Worker visa and the remaining 20 can be scored from tradable points. The mandatory non-tradable points are given in the table below:
| Characteristics | Points |
| Offer of job by approved sponsor | 20 |
| Job at appropriate skill level | 20 |
| Speaks English at required level | 10 |
Tradable Points (20 Points Required )
The applicant must score at least 20 points from the tradable points. The applicant may only score from one entry from each of the two sections of tradable points as given below:
Salary Section
| General Salary Threshold | Going Rate | Points |
| Salary of at least £20,480 | At least 80% of the going rate for the profession (70% if a new entrant). | 0 |
| Salary of at least £23,040 | At least 90% of the going rate for the profession. | 10 |
| Salary of at least £25,600 | At least the going rate for the profession. | 20 |
| Salary of at least £20,480 | Listed health/education job and meets the relevant national pay scale | 20 |
Other Section
| Characteristics | Points |
| Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job (Points can only be awarded for academic PhDs) | 10 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job ((Points can only be awarded for academic PhDs) | 20 |
| Job in a shortage occupation (as designated by the MAC) | 20 |
| Applicant is a new entrant to the labour market (as designated by the MAC) | 20 |
Who Cannot Switch Into Health and Care Worker Visa From Inside The UK?
You cannot apply to switch to Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK if you are currently in the UK:
- on a visit visa
- on a short-term student visa
- on a Parent of a Child Student visa
- on a seasonal worker visa
- on a domestic worker in a private household visa
- on immigration bail
- because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds
You must leave the UK and apply for a Health and Care Worker visa from abroad if you’re in one of these categories.
Super Priority Service (Decision Within 24 Hours) For Switching Into Health and Care Worker Visa
As the expert immigration solicitors based in London , we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Super Priority Service (SPS) for your application whereby decision on your application will be made by the Home Office UKVI within 24 hours of the enrolment of biometrics at a designated service Centre.
Our immigration solicitors can prepare and submit your application to the Home Office, UKVI through Super Priority Service (SPS) and get decision on your immigration application within 24 hours. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your application for months (sometimes years).
Occupation Codes For Health and Care Visa
Your job must be in one of the following occupation codes to qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa:
2112: biological scientists and biochemists
2113: physical scientists
2211: medical practitioners
2212: psychologists
2213: pharmacists
2214: ophthalmic opticians
2215: dental practitioners
2217: medical radiographers
2218: podiatrists
2219: health professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as audiologists and occupational health advisers
2221: physiotherapists
2222: occupational therapists
2223: speech and language therapists
2229: therapy professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as osteopaths and psychotherapists
2231: nurses
2232: midwives
2442: social workers
3213: paramedics
Approved UK Health and Care Sector Employers
You must have a job offer from an approved UK employer holding sponsor license before you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. Approved employers are also known as sponsors, because they are sponsoring you to come to or stay in the UK.
You must have a job offer from:
- the NHS
- an organization providing medical services to the NHS
- an organization providing adult social care
If your employer is not currently approved, they can apply for a sponsor licence if they are eligible. Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can help your employer with an application for sponsor license.
Salary Requirements
Your employer with sponsor license need to pay you a salary of at least £20,480 per year unless the ‘going rate’ for your job is higher than this. Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. How you find the going rate depends on your job and occupation code. Salaries are listed by NHS pay band and area of the UK you’ll be working in.
Reduced Visa Fee
Health and Care Visa applicants will pay the reduced application fees. The visa fee reduction applies to partners and dependents of Health and Care Visa applicants. In addition to the reduced visa fee, applicants applying for the Health and Care Visa, and their family are exempt from having to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Fast Track Service
The Home Office UKVI will priorities Health and Care Visa applications, with the aim that the vast majority are processed within three weeks from the point the applicant has provided their biometric information.
Dedicated NHS Support and Visa Processing Team
There is dedicated support available, enabling Health and Care Visa sponsors to contact UKVI’s specialist team if they have any issues with the application process or eligibility for the health and Care Visa. Sponsors can contact UKVI’s dedicated NHS team at the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How Can We Help For Switching Into Health and Care Worker Visa?
Our specialist team of Health and Care Worker visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee legal services for your application for switching into Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK. As your appointed legal representatives for Health and Care Worker visa application from inside the UK, our work can include the following:
- assessing your eligibility for switching into Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK by considering all the relevant eligibility requirements;
- assisting your prospective Health and Care Worker sponsor with correctly assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to you;
- advising on relevant documents to be submitted in support of the application;
- assessing the documentary evidence including the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to ensure that the documents are in line with the Home Office UKVI requirements for switching into Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK;
- completing online application form for switching into Health and Care Worker visa from inside the UK;
- preparing a detailed cover letter in support of your application to explain in detail how all the relevant requirements for switching into Health and Care Worker visa have been satisfied by the applicant;
- submitting the Health and Care Worker application online, paying the Home Office UKVI fees for Health and Care Worker visa application and booking applicant’s appointment with the UKVCAS application Centre;
- uploading all the supporting documents online in support of the Health and Care Worker application;
- doing all the follow up work including responding to any queries raised by the Home Office UKVI until decision is reached on your Health and Care Worker application.
