Sponsoring health and care workers – In 2025, the UK’s Skilled Worker visa route continues to shine a spotlight on the Health and Care Visa, a pathway that not only strengthens our care sector but also opens doors for dedicated professionals from around the world. At its heart, this scheme is about people – connecting compassion with opportunity, and ensuring that those who have chosen a career in care can make a meaningful difference where it’s needed most.
For employers, sponsoring health and care workers is more than just filling vacancies – it’s about building teams who bring energy, kindness, and skills into homes, hospitals, and communities across the UK. For applicants, it represents more than a job – it’s a fresh chapter, a chance to belong, and an opportunity to use their talents in roles that truly change lives.
There’s a sense of optimism in this pathway too: it demonstrates how the immigration system, often seen as a maze of paperwork and rules, can also be a bridge that connects people across borders with purpose, dignity, and hope. Whether you’re an organisation eager to bring in much-needed talent or an individual dreaming of contributing your care skills in the UK, this route offers a door that feels genuinely welcoming.
What Is the Health and Care Visa?
The Health and Care Visa falls within the broader Skilled Worker route and is specifically tailored for professionals in the health and social care sector, including both medical and social care roles. It offers key benefits:
- Reduced application fees, compared to standard Skilled Worker visa fees.
- Exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for both visa holders and their dependants.
- Fast-track entry and dedicated support for NHS and social care roles.
This visa supports professions ranging from qualified healthcare professionals to adult social care workers, as long as they meet the relevant occupation codes and employment conditions.
Lower Salary Thresholds & Fee Reductions
a) Lower Salary Thresholds: Immigration Salary List
Many roles in health and care qualify for lower salary rates, at 80% of the standard going rates, if listed on the Immigration Salary List. For example:
- Residential, day, and domiciliary care managers: reduced from £33,400 to £25,000 per year.
Additionally, applicants with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued before 4 April 2024, and who’ve continuously held Skilled Worker status, may qualify for even lower thresholds until 2030.
b) Visa Fees
Visa application costs are linked to the duration of your stay. In other words, the longer your visa term in the UK, the higher the standard fee you’ll need to pay:
- Up to 3 years: £304
- More than 3 years: £590
These fees apply to both main applicants and dependants.
c) IHS Exemption
Health and Care Visa holders (and their dependants) are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge, a substantial saving that applies directly at the application stage.
Examples of Qualifying Roles
Roles eligible for the Health and Care Visa include, but are not limited to:
- NHS roles, NHS suppliers, and adult social care professionals.
- Certain social care roles for current visa holders under transition rules.
- Other roles like healthcare practice managers, dispensing opticians, medical and dental technicians, ambulance staff (excluding paramedics), dental nurses, and more—if the first CoS was held before 22 July 2025 and continuous skilled worker status is maintained.
Sector-Specific Compliance & Safeguarding Requirements
Sponsoring health and care workers carries additional duties:
- CQC registration and oversight are required for social care providers, ensuring standards of care and safety.
- Safeguarding responsibilities, given the vulnerable nature of care recipients, employers must follow DBS checks and approved training.
- Sponsors must adhere to recruitment protocols, such as prioritising care workers already in the UK, especially since 9 April 2025. Recruitment from overseas is conditional on first demonstrating that no suitable UK-based candidates are available.
Why These Changes Matter: Context and Impact?
The Health and Care Visa has played an important role in strengthening the UK’s care sector, but it hasn’t been without its difficulties. Issues such as unfair treatment, low pay, and misuse of the system eventually led to major shifts in how the route is managed. By 2025, new rules reshaped the way overseas recruitment in care roles is handled, with a stronger focus on protecting workers and tightening employer responsibilities.
For employers, this means the need to stay informed and fully aligned with care worker sponsorship rules UK has never been greater. Careful compliance is now central to ensuring that sponsorship remains fair, transparent, and sustainable for everyone involved.
Compliance Checklist for Sponsoring Care Workers
| Requirement | Action to Take (GOV.UK-aligned) |
| Health and Care Visa benefits | Use reduced application fees for Health & Care applications and confirm IHS exemption on the Certificate of Sponsorship/application (Health & Care visa guidance). |
| Salary thresholds | Check whether the role appears on the Immigration Salary List (lower threshold = 80% of the usual going rate for listed jobs) and whether the applicant benefits from pre-4 April 2024 transitional salary rules (if applicable). |
| Eligible roles | Confirm the job’s SOC code is eligible under the Skilled Worker / Health & Care lists and check transitional provisions (some roles retain extension rights for existing holders under changes introduced in 2025). |
| Recruitment requirement | For employers in England, follow the updated recruitment priority expectations (showing attempts to recruit UK-based care workers first where required). Note: the precise wording and operative dates changed in 2025 — check Sponsor guidance and Home Office announcements for CoS assigned on/after relevant dates. |
| Safety and regulation | Maintain valid CQC registration (where required), carry out DBS checks and safeguarding, and follow sector-specific regulatory rules as part of sponsorship duties. |
What Employers Should Do Now?
- Review Your Candidate Pool – explore existing UK-based skilled care workers in need of sponsorship before considering new applicants.
- Refresh Sponsor Processes – ensure you follow the right CoS protocols and document recruitment efforts for transparency.
- Leverage Financial Benefits – factor in lower visa fees and IHS exemption for Health and Care applications in your budgeting.
- Prioritise Compliance – keep CQC registration, safeguarding, and compliance fundamentals strong.
- Stay Informed – With policy shifting rapidly, stay updated with reputable sources to avoid surprises.
Final Word!
Sponsoring health and care professionals isn’t just about compliance—it’s about shaping the future of care in the UK. Employers who step up to sponsor through the Health and Care Visa route enjoy real benefits: lower costs, faster processing, and the satisfaction of helping dedicated staff deliver life-changing support.
Yes, the care worker sponsorship rules in the UK are evolving quickly, but with the right guidance, you can still move forward with confidence. By staying proactive, embracing compliance, and keeping informed, you’ll continue to make a genuine difference to both your workforce and the communities you serve.
For clear, practical updates on every policy change, keep following Sponsor Licence Hub—your trusted partner in navigating sponsorship with clarity and confidence.
