The UK government has released the official list of 31 occupations eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa in 2026. This visa is available to qualified professionals who secure jobs with employers approved by the Home Office and meet the required salary conditions. The eligible roles are in recognized health, medical, or adult social care sectors covered by the visa scheme. Applicants must confirm their specific job falls under one of the approved occupation codes before applying.
To qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa, applicants must work for an employer approved by the Home Office and meet the required minimum salary threshold. Their salary must meet either the required minimum threshold or the standard “going rate” for the occupation, whichever is higher. The UK government warned that visa applications will be refused if an employer fails to pay at least the national minimum wage or breaches UK working-hour rules.
The Health and Care Worker visa supports workers taking up roles in the National Health Service and the wider social care sector. The scheme has continued to attract health professionals from Nigeria and other countries. Eligible occupations include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, social workers, and laboratory technicians. These professionals play a crucial role in the UK's healthcare system.
The UK government has provided a full list of eligible occupations, which includes 31 approved occupation codes and job roles. These codes range from health services and public health managers and directors to laboratory technicians and nursing auxiliaries and assistants. Applicants can find the complete breakdown of eligible occupations and requirements on the UK government’s Health and Care Worker visa page.
Some of the eligible occupations include generalist medical practitioners, specialist medical practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists. Other eligible roles are midwifery nurses, registered community nurses, registered specialist nurses, and registered nurse practitioners. These professionals are in high demand in the UK's healthcare sector.
The UK's Health and Care Worker visa scheme is not the only option for healthcare professionals looking to work abroad. Other countries, such as Australia, offer similar visa schemes. Australia’s Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa allows skilled workers to live, work, and study in designated regional areas for up to five years.
Key points about the Health and Care Worker visa include:
Key points
- Applicants must have an eligible job and work for an employer approved by the Home Office.
- The applicant’s salary must meet the required minimum threshold or the standard “going rate” for the occupation.
- The visa supports workers in the National Health Service and the wider social care sector.
