Many Nepalis work in the NHS and UK care sector - this visa route has specific benefits, but rules around care workers and dependants have changed significantly.
The Health and Care Worker visa is a route within the Skilled Worker system designed specifically for people working in eligible health and social care roles. Many Nepalis in the UK work in the NHS and the care sector, and this visa has historically offered advantages over the standard Skilled Worker visa - including lower application fees and an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. However, the rules around this route - particularly for care workers and their dependants - have changed significantly, and the route is now closed to care workers applying from outside the UK. Read the section immediately below before anything else, and always check the current official guidance before you apply or advise others.
Important: care workers can no longer apply from outside the UK
Since 22 July 2025, care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136) cannot make a new application for this visa from outside the UK. The route was closed to overseas recruitment for these roles. If you are in Nepal and someone offers to arrange a UK care job and a Certificate of Sponsorship for you, the route they are describing does not exist - treat it as a scam.
People already in the UK on an eligible visa can still, during a transition period currently running to 22 July 2028, apply to switch into or extend a care worker role from inside the UK. That transition is under review and could be shortened. Clinical roles such as doctors, nurses and allied health professionals are not affected by this closure and can still be sponsored from overseas.
Confirm the current position at gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa before making any plan or paying anyone anything.
Who the visa is for
The Health and Care Worker visa is available to people who have a job offer in an eligible role with a Home Office licensed sponsor. Eligible roles include doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, plus adult social care roles subject to the overseas restriction described above. Not every job in a hospital or care home qualifies - the role must appear on the eligible occupations list, and the employer must hold a valid sponsor licence. Confirm both on GOV.UK before assuming you qualify: gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa.
Key benefits - and important caveats
- Reduced visa fees - the application fee is lower than the standard Skilled Worker visa fee, as a guide. The exact amounts change when the Home Office updates its fee schedule, so check the current figures during the online application.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) exemption - eligible Health and Care Worker visa holders (and their dependants) have been exempt from paying the IHS, which represents a significant saving. However, this exemption has been subject to policy changes in the past - verify at the time of your application that the exemption still applies to your role.
- Faster processing - priority services may be available, subject to current processing arrangements.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Before you can apply, your employer must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This is a reference number, not a physical certificate, which your employer generates through the Home Office sponsorship management system. Without a valid CoS from a licensed sponsor, you cannot apply for this visa. Your employer is responsible for ensuring they hold a valid Health and Care Worker sponsor licence - check the Home Office register of licensed sponsors if you have any doubt.
Salary and skill level
You must be paid at least the minimum salary threshold for your occupation code, or the “going rate” for that role, whichever is higher. These figures are set by the Home Office and are updated periodically - as a guide, check the current salary requirements for your specific occupation code at gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa rather than relying on figures in community groups or older articles.
English language
You must prove English to CEFR level B2. Level B1 now applies only if you held this visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it. If you are applying for the first time, or switching from another visa, the requirement is B2. Check the current position at gov.uk – knowledge of English.
Care workers and dependants - recent rule changes
The rules around care workers bringing dependants to the UK have changed considerably. From 11 March 2024, care workers (those in social care roles rather than clinical NHS roles) have been prevented from bringing dependants on this route. Separately, since 22 July 2025 the route is closed to care workers applying from outside the UK at all - see the warning at the top of this guide. These restrictions have been controversial and have affected many Nepali families. The rules in this area have been subject to further review and may change again - check the very latest position at gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa before you make any decisions about your family’s plans. If you are already in the UK and your dependant’s situation is uncertain, seek advice from an OISC-regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.
Beware of sponsorship scams
Unfortunately, fraudulent operators advertise “sponsorship for sale” - promising a Certificate of Sponsorship or a care job in exchange for large upfront payments. This is illegal. Genuine employers do not charge workers for sponsorship. If someone asks you to pay for a CoS, a job placement, or a visa arrangement, it is almost certainly a scam. You could lose your money, be prevented from working in the UK, and face immigration consequences. Report suspected fraud to gov.uk/report-immigration-crime.
Rules change - always check GOV.UK
This is one of the most actively changing immigration routes in the UK. If you are planning to apply, switch to this route, or bring family members, confirm every detail on the official page: gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa. For complex cases, consult an OISC-regulated immigration adviser.
महत्त्वपूर्ण: केयर वर्करले अब बेलायत बाहिरबाट आवेदन दिन सक्दैनन्
२२ जुलाई २०२५ देखि, care worker र senior care worker (occupation code 6135 र 6136) ले बेलायत बाहिरबाट यो भिसाका लागि नयाँ आवेदन दिन सक्दैनन्। यी भूमिकाका लागि यो रुट विदेशी भर्नाका लागि बन्द गरिएको छ। तपाईं नेपालमा हुनुहुन्छ र कसैले बेलायतको केयर जागिर र Certificate of Sponsorship मिलाइदिने प्रस्ताव गर्छ भने, उसले भनेको बाटो अहिले अस्तित्वमै छैन — कागजात जतिसुकै विश्वसनीय देखिए पनि यसलाई ठगी नै ठान्नुहोस्।
पहिले नै बेलायतमा योग्य भिसामा रहनुभएकाहरूले हाल २२ जुलाई २०२८ सम्म चल्ने संक्रमणकालीन अवधिभित्र बेलायतभित्रैबाट केयर वर्कर भूमिकामा switch गर्न वा अवधि थप्न आवेदन दिन सक्छन्। यो संक्रमणकाल पुनरावलोकनमा छ र छोटो हुन सक्छ। डाक्टर, नर्स र allied health professional जस्ता क्लिनिकल भूमिकाहरूलाई यो बन्दले असर गर्दैन र तिनलाई अझै विदेशबाट sponsor गर्न सकिन्छ।
कुनै योजना बनाउनुअघि वा कसैलाई पैसा तिर्नुअघि gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa मा हालको अवस्था पुष्टि गर्नुहोस्।
Health and Care Worker visa भनेको Skilled Worker प्रणालीभित्रको एउटा रुट हो, जुन योग्य स्वास्थ्य र सामाजिक हेरचाह भूमिकामा काम गर्ने मानिसहरूका लागि विशेष रूपमा बनाइएको हो। बेलायतका धेरै नेपाली NHS र केयर क्षेत्रमा काम गर्छन्, र यो भिसाले परम्परागत रूपमा मानक Skilled Worker भिसाभन्दा फाइदा दिँदै आएको छ — कम आवेदन शुल्क र Immigration Health Surcharge बाट छुट सहित। तर, यो रुटका नियम — विशेष गरी केयर वर्कर र उनीहरूका आश्रितका लागि — हालका वर्षमा निकै परिवर्तन भएका छन् र फेरि परिवर्तन हुन सक्छन्। आवेदन दिनुअघि वा अरूलाई सल्लाह दिनुअघि सधैं वर्तमान आधिकारिक मार्गदर्शन जाँच्नुहोस्।
यो भिसा कसका लागि हो
Health and Care Worker visa Home Office लाइसेन्स प्राप्त sponsor सँग योग्य भूमिकामा जागिरको प्रस्ताव भएका मानिसका लागि उपलब्ध छ। योग्य भूमिकामा डाक्टर, नर्स, allied health professional, र केही वयस्क सामाजिक हेरचाह भूमिका पर्छन्। अस्पताल वा केयर होमको हरेक जागिर योग्य हुँदैन — भूमिका योग्य occupations सूचीमा हुनुपर्छ, र रोजगारदातासँग वैध sponsor licence हुनुपर्छ। तपाईं योग्य हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने मान्नुअघि GOV.UK मा दुवै पुष्टि गर्नुहोस्: gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa।
मुख्य फाइदा — र महत्त्वपूर्ण सावधानी
- घटाइएको भिसा शुल्क — मार्गदर्शनका रूपमा, आवेदन शुल्क मानक Skilled Worker भिसा शुल्कभन्दा कम हुन्छ। Home Office ले शुल्क तालिका अद्यावधिक गर्दा ठ्याक्कै रकम परिवर्तन हुने भएकाले, अनलाइन आवेदनको क्रममा वर्तमान रकम जाँच्नुहोस्।
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) छुट — योग्य Health and Care Worker visa धारक (र उनीहरूका आश्रित) IHS तिर्नबाट छुट पाउँदै आएका छन्, जुन ठूलो बचत हो। तर, यो छुट विगतमा नीतिगत परिवर्तनको विषय बनेको छ — आवेदन दिने बेला तपाईंको भूमिकालाई छुट अझै लागू हुन्छ कि पुष्टि गर्नुहोस्।
- छिटो प्रशोधन — वर्तमान प्रशोधन व्यवस्थाअनुसार, priority सेवा उपलब्ध हुन सक्छ।
Certificate of Sponsorship
तपाईंले आवेदन दिनुअघि, तपाईंको रोजगारदाताले तपाईंलाई Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) जारी गर्नुपर्छ। यो भौतिक प्रमाणपत्र होइन, एउटा सन्दर्भ नम्बर हो, जुन तपाईंको रोजगारदाताले Home Office को sponsorship management system मार्फत बनाउँछन्। लाइसेन्स प्राप्त sponsor बाट वैध CoS नभई, तपाईं यो भिसाका लागि आवेदन दिन सक्नुहुन्न। आफूसँग वैध Health and Care Worker sponsor licence छ भनेर सुनिश्चित गर्ने जिम्मेवारी तपाईंको रोजगारदाताको हो — कुनै शङ्का भए Home Office को लाइसेन्स प्राप्त sponsor को रजिस्टर जाँच्नुहोस्।
तलब र सीप स्तर
तपाईंलाई आफ्नो occupation code का लागि न्यूनतम तलब सीमा, वा त्यो भूमिकाको “going rate” — जुन बढी हुन्छ — कम्तीमा त्यति तिरिनुपर्छ। यी रकम Home Office ले तोक्छ र समय-समयमा अद्यावधिक गर्छ — मार्गदर्शनका रूपमा, समुदाय समूह वा पुराना लेखका रकममा भर पर्नुको सट्टा आफ्नो विशिष्ट occupation code का लागि वर्तमान तलब आवश्यकता gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa मा जाँच्नुहोस्।
अंग्रेजी भाषा
तपाईंले CEFR level B2 स्तरको अंग्रेजी प्रमाणित गर्नुपर्छ। B1 स्तर अब तपाईंले ८ जनवरी २०२६ अघि यो भिसा लिइसकेको र त्यसको म्याद थप गर्दै वा अद्यावधिक गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ भने मात्र लागू हुन्छ। तपाईं पहिलो पटक आवेदन दिँदै हुनुहुन्छ, वा अर्को भिसाबाट स्विच गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ भने, आवश्यकता B2 नै हो। वर्तमान अवस्था gov.uk – knowledge of English मा जाँच्नुहोस्।
केयर वर्कर र आश्रित — हालका नियम परिवर्तन
केयर वर्करले आश्रित ल्याउने सम्बन्धी नियम निकै परिवर्तन भएका छन्। २०२४ को सुरुदेखि, केयर वर्कर (clinical NHS भूमिकाभन्दा सामाजिक हेरचाह भूमिकामा भएका) लाई यो रुटमा आश्रित ल्याउनबाट प्रायः रोकियो। यी प्रतिबन्ध विवादास्पद रहेका छन् र धेरै नेपाली परिवारलाई असर गरेका छन्। यस क्षेत्रका नियम थप पुनरावलोकनको विषय रहेका छन् र फेरि परिवर्तन हुन सक्छन् — आफ्नो परिवारको योजनाबारे कुनै निर्णय गर्नुअघि gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa मा सबैभन्दा पछिल्लो अवस्था जाँच्नुहोस्। तपाईं पहिले नै बेलायतमा हुनुहुन्छ र तपाईंको आश्रितको अवस्था अनिश्चित छ भने, OISC-नियमन गरिएको इमिग्रेसन सल्लाहकार वा solicitor बाट सल्लाह लिनुहोस्।
Sponsorship ठगीबाट सतर्क रहनुहोस्
दुर्भाग्यवश, ठगहरूले “sponsorship बिक्री” को विज्ञापन गर्छन् — ठूलो अग्रिम भुक्तानीको बदलामा Certificate of Sponsorship वा केयर जागिरको वाचा गर्दै। यो अवैध हो। साँचो रोजगारदाताले worker बाट sponsorship का लागि शुल्क लिँदैनन्। कसैले तपाईंलाई CoS, जागिर placement, वा भिसा व्यवस्थाका लागि तिर्न भन्छ भने, त्यो प्रायः निश्चित रूपमा ठगी हो। तपाईंले आफ्नो पैसा गुमाउन, बेलायतमा काम गर्न नपाउन, र इमिग्रेसन परिणाम भोग्न सक्नुहुन्छ। शङ्कास्पद ठगी gov.uk/report-immigration-crime मा रिपोर्ट गर्नुहोस्।
नियम परिवर्तन हुन्छन् — सधैं GOV.UK जाँच्नुहोस्
यो बेलायतका सबैभन्दा सक्रिय रूपमा परिवर्तन हुने इमिग्रेसन रुटमध्ये एक हो। तपाईं आवेदन दिने, यो रुटमा स्विच गर्ने, वा परिवारका सदस्य ल्याउने योजनामा हुनुहुन्छ भने, हरेक विवरण आधिकारिक पृष्ठमा पुष्टि गर्नुहोस्: gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa। जटिल केसका लागि, OISC-नियमन गरिएको इमिग्रेसन सल्लाहकारसँग परामर्श गर्नुहोस्।
