The UK's work visa for nurses, doctors and therapists
A UK health employer sponsors you, the fee is £324 (about $429), and you skip the health surcharge most visas charge.
The job offer comes first, then registration with the UK body that licenses your profession. Once your employer sponsors you, most visa decisions arrive within three weeks.
The numbers at a glance
£324
Visa fee for up to 3 years
about $429; £628 (about $832) for longer
£25,000
Usual minimum salary
about $33,100, or the job's going rate if higher
3 weeks
Usual decision time
when you apply from outside the UK
5 years
Until you can apply to settle
under the rules in force, September 2026
Who it fits
For people whose paycheck will come from UK healthcare
Registered nurses, doctors, physical and occupational therapists, paramedics, pharmacists and social workers are the core of this route. Your employer has to be approved by the Home Office to sponsor you.
It works like the Skilled Worker visa at a discount: £324 instead of £943 for up to three years.
Care worker jobs are closed to new hires from abroad
Since July 2025, UK employers can't sponsor care workers or senior care workers from overseas. People already in the UK on the route can extend or switch until July 2028. If you work as a caregiver in the U.S. without a nursing license, this visa won't get you in.
Before the visa
Get licensed in the UK, then apply
Nurses
The Nursing and Midwifery Council needs an English test, a computer-based test and a practical exam called the OSCE, in any order. You can start work as a pre-registration nurse, but you have to pass every OSCE station within eight months of your visa start. A resit costs £397 (about $526).
NHS Band 5 pay runs £32,073 to £39,043 in 2026/27 (about $42,500 to $51,700). Entry in inner London is £38,488.
Doctors
The General Medical Council lists two U.S. board certifications as acceptable: anesthesiology and diagnostic radiology. They have to be recent (within three years) or backed by recent practice. Other specialists should run the GMC's application finder before job hunting.
Therapists, paramedics and radiographers
You apply to the Health and Care Professions Council as an international applicant. Have certified copies of your documents ready first, since missing paperwork is what slows files down.
What you'll pay, and what you won't
Visa fee
£324 per person for up to three years, £628 for longer (about $429 or $832, September 2026). Same fee inside or outside the UK.
No health surcharge
You, your partner and your children don't pay the immigration health surcharge that most UK visas add on.
Savings proof
£1,270 (about $1,680) held 28 days in a row, unless your employer certifies that it will cover your first month.
Family
Your partner and kids under 18 can join you, and your partner can work. They show £285 for a partner, £315 for one child and £200 per extra child.
Your employer's side
The sponsor pays a £525 certificate of sponsorship fee, and large employers pay a £1,320 skills charge for the first year.
Settling later
Indefinite leave to remain costs £3,226 (about $4,270) per person, as of April 2026.
The process
From job offer to landing at Heathrow
Americans don't need an English test for the visa itself. Changing jobs or employers later means updating your visa first.
- Get an offer from a Home Office approved sponsor and start your UK registration.
- Your employer assigns a certificate of sponsorship. Apply within 3 months of getting it.
- Keep your savings in the account for 28 straight days, unless your employer certifies maintenance.
- Apply online up to 3 months before your start date and verify your identity (some people need an appointment).
- Expect a decision within about 3 weeks. A paid faster decision may be offered.
People who can help with a UK move
Clearview Relocation
UK Relocation
Clearview Relocation runs relocation, immigration and removal teams for people and companies moving to the UK.
Aury Lambert
Attorney Relocation Guide
Aury Lambert is a New York-licensed lawyer living in the UK who advises regulated professionals on licensing and practicing abroad.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
MyExpatTaxes prepares U.S. tax returns for Americans living overseas.
Simon Conn
International Mortgage Lending
Simon Conn sources residential mortgages for buyers purchasing property outside their home country.
Marshmallow
Auto Insurance in the UK
Marshmallow offers car insurance built for people who are new to the UK.
The long game
Five years to settle, and a proposal to watch
After five years, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, up to 28 days early. Stay under 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months and pass the Life in the UK test.
The government has proposed stretching settlement to 10 years, with a shorter wait for NHS and public service roles. As of August 2026, it wasn't law. It's unclear whether it would touch people already on the route.
Health and Care Worker visa questions
Can I become a British citizen and keep my U.S. citizenship?
Yes. The UK allows dual citizenship. You can usually apply for British citizenship once you've lived in the UK for 12 months after getting indefinite leave to remain.
How long does the Health and Care Worker visa take?
Applying from outside the UK, you'll usually get a decision within three weeks. You can apply up to three months before your start date. Professional registration with the NMC, GMC or HCPC is a separate step and often the slower one.
Does the Health and Care Worker visa lead to permanent residence in the UK?
Yes, under the rules in force as of August 2026. After five years you can apply for indefinite leave to remain if you've stayed under 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months and passed the Life in the UK test. The fee is £3,226 (about $4,270). The government has proposed a longer 10-year baseline, with shorter waits for NHS roles.
Can I change employers on a Health and Care Worker visa?
Only by updating your visa. Your new employer has to be an approved sponsor and assign you a new certificate of sponsorship before you switch jobs.
Do I still pay U.S. taxes while working in the UK?
You still file a U.S. return. For 2026, the foreign earned income exclusion lets you exclude up to $132,900 of foreign earnings. Under the U.S.-UK totalization agreement, UK work credits can help you qualify for a partial U.S. Social Security benefit if you have at least six U.S. credits.
Can I move to the UK as a care worker from the U.S.?
Not on this visa. Since July 2025, employers can't sponsor care workers or senior care workers from outside the UK. Registered nurses, doctors and licensed allied health professionals can still be sponsored.
Do Americans need an English test for the UK Health and Care Worker visa?
No. U.S. nationals are on the list of countries exempt from proving English for this visa. Your professional regulator, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, sets its own registration rules, so check those separately.
How much does the UK Health and Care Worker visa cost?
The fee is £324 per person for a visa of up to three years and £628 for longer, about $429 and $832 as of September 2026. You don't pay the immigration health surcharge. You also need £1,270 (about $1,680) in savings held for 28 days unless your employer certifies your maintenance.
Weighing the UK against other countries?
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