The UK government has released updated guidelines on the minimum salary requirements for foreign nationals seeking to work in the country's health and care sector. According to the Home Office, applicants must earn at least £31,300 per year, or the going rate attached to their specific occupation code, whichever figure is greater. This requirement is part of the UK's efforts to ensure that foreign workers in the health and care sector are fairly compensated.
The UK government has also introduced lower thresholds for shortage roles, which appear on the official immigration salary list. For these roles, the minimum annual salary drops to £25,000, or the full going rate for that particular role, whichever is higher. This provision aims to give sponsoring employers in sectors with staff shortages some additional flexibility on pay. Prospective applicants are expected to verify the pay benchmarks for their occupation code against the government's official pay tables before applying.
Some applicants may still qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa at a reduced salary rate, between 70% and 90% of their occupation's lower going rate, provided their salary does not fall below £25,000 annually. This concession applies to workers who are under 26, currently studying, recent graduates, or in professional training, as well as those holding a STEM PhD relevant to their job or occupying a postdoctoral scientific position.
Workers who are younger than 26 at the time of application are eligible for 70% of their occupation's lower going rate, subject to the £25,000 earnings floor. The same concession is extended to individuals who hold or recently held a Student visa at bachelor's degree level or above, as well as those working towards chartered or regulated professional qualifications.
However, qualifying under any of these reduced-salary categories comes with a significant restriction. Applicants in this group may not remain in the UK under this route for more than four years in total, including any time previously spent on a Tier 2 (General) work visa. Additionally, roles appearing on the immigration salary list cannot be combined with the discounted rates designed for younger workers or graduates.
The UK government's updated guidelines also build on previous announcements regarding Skilled Worker visas. Eligible applicants for this visa include those under 26, recent graduates, STEM PhD holders, and postdoctoral researchers in science or higher education. Workers qualifying under the reduced rates are required to earn between 70% and 90% of their occupation's going rate.
The new minimum salary requirements for Health and Care Worker visas are now published under Home Office guidance, providing clarity for prospective applicants and sponsoring employers. The guidelines aim to balance the UK's need for skilled workers in the health and care sector with the requirement to ensure fair compensation for these workers.
Key points
- The UK government has outlined a minimum salary requirement of £31,300 per year for Health and Care Worker visa applicants.
- Lower thresholds apply to shortage roles, with a minimum annual salary of £25,000.
- Reduced salary rates are available for certain applicants, including those under 26 and recent graduates.
