Health and Care Worker visa
Extend your visa
You can usually apply to extend your Health and Care Worker visa if all of the following are true:
- you have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
- your job is in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
- you’re still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship
- you still meet the salary requirements
You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.
Your partner and children
Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.
They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
If you’re a care worker or senior care worker, your partner and children may not be able to stay in the UK as your dependants when you extend your visa.
If you have a Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa
You’ll have a Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa if either:
- you applied for a Health and Care Worker visa before 1 December 2020
- you had a Tier 2 (General) work visa which you’ve extended as a Health and Care Worker visa
If you have this visa, you may be able to meet different eligibility requirements.
If you got your certificate of sponsorship on or after 24 November 2016
If you apply to extend before 1 December 2026, you will still need to meet the salary requirements, but your salary may also include allowances, such as London weighting. Any allowances must be guaranteed for the length of your stay.
If you’re a physical scientist
If you were sponsored for your Tier 2 (General) or Health and Care Worker visa before 1 December 2020, the going rate for your job is different.
| Occupation code | Going rate for Health and Care Worker visa | 90% of going rate (for relevant STEM PhD) | 80% of going rate (for relevant non-STEM PhD or immigration salary list occupation) | 70% of going rate (for new entrants) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2114 Physical scientists | £29,000 (£13.94 per hour) | £26,100 (£12.55 per hour) | £24,750 (£11.90 per hour) | £24,750 (£11.90 per hour) |
If you’ve changed job or employer
You’ll need to apply to update your visa instead.
Fees
Check how much it costs for your type of visa.
You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there’s no fee for this.
Proving your identity and providing supporting documents
As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport or resident permit you have.
You’ll either:
- use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
- have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point
You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.
Apply to extend your Health and Care Worker visa
Apply for a Skilled Worker visa. You’ll be asked if you’re applying for a Health and Care Worker visa as part of your application - make sure you choose ‘yes’.
You must apply online before your current visa expires.
Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.
Continue your application
You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it.
Find out how to sign in to your account.
How long it takes to get a decision
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.
You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:
- your supporting documents need to be verified
- you need to attend an interview
- of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
After you apply
If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.
You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.