How to Get a Health and Care Worker Visa in UK (2026 Update)
Do you work in the healthcare sector in Pakistan or India and want to work in the NHS or adult social care sector in the UK in 2026? The rules have changed. In line with the 2025 Immigration White Paper, the UK has come up with salaries floors and language requirements that are quite strict and it hence becomes crucial to possess the most updated roadmap.
What’s New in 2026? The Critical Updates
The new IRCC/Home Office Care Visa Regulations 2026 will concentrate on the three primary pillars of care positions, including higher remuneration, greater English language abilities, and limited family limits.
New Salary Thresholds 2026
Your employment offer must be in line with the Health and Care Visa Salary Threshold 2026 in order to be qualified.
- National Pay Scale Roles (NHS): It is now at the minimum of 25,000 per year (or 12.82 per hour). This includes the majority of the nurses and midwives in the NHS Agenda on Change bands.
- Non-Pay Scale Roles: In case your position is not in a national pay scale, the overall limit has increased to 31,300.
- Immigration Salary List (ISL): Occupations on ISL (such as some lab technologists) can also be eligible at a discounted rate of £25,000, but the ISL will be subject to large scale review by the end of 2026.
B2 English Requirement (As of Jan 8, 2026)
The language level is possibly the most significant challenge in 2026.
- New Standard: New candidates should demonstrate the knowledge of B2 CEFR level (Upper Intermediate).
- Comparison: It is an improvement over the B1 (Intermediate) requirement of the former. The minimum required UKVI score in all the components is very likely to be 5.5 or 6.5.
Dependent Restrictions Does Your Family Accompanied You?
The regulations on your family members will solely depend on your occupation code (soc) in 2026.
- Exempt (Can bring family): Doctor, Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are allowed to bring family members like partners and children as dependants.
- Restricted (Cannot bring family): When you are applying to work as a Care Worker (SOC 6135) or Senior Care Worker (SOC 6136), you are not usually permitted to bring dependants unless you were already on the route before March 2024.
India/Pakistan Step-by-Step Guide to Applying
The 2026-compliant workflow to Apply to UK Health and Care Visa in Pakistan/India is:
Obtaining an Eligible Job and CoS
You have to have a job offer by the A-rated sponsor. In the case of adult social care, the employer should be an active CQC Registration (Care Quality Commission).
Request your employer to issue you with a Defined Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Clear the “Health Checks”
- TB Test: Indian and Pakistan applicants will be required to supply a certificate of Tuberculosis (TB test) at an approved clinic located in the UK (usually the IOM).
- PCC: You should submit a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) of all the countries you have stayed longer than 12 months during the past 10 years.
Financial Requirements
You have to demonstrate Maintenance Funds to demonstrate that you are able to support yourself:
- Primary Applicant: 28 consecutive days in a bank account of £1,270.
- Note: You do not have to provide this bank statement in case your sponsor certifies maintenance on your CoS.
Economic Gains of the Health and Care Route
Although the salary requirements are stiffer, this visa is the most affordable to use to relocate to the UK:
- IHS Exemption: Your family and you do not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge and so you save more than £1,035 per person per year.
- Low Visa Charges: The standard visa costs are less than the normal Skilled Worker scheme (around 247 pounds up to 3 years).
- Fast-Track Processing: The majority of the applications are determined in 3 weeks of the biometrics appointment.
FAQs
Which are the qualified jobs in the Health and Care Visa UK?
Services that are eligible are Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Pharmacists, Social Workers and Care Workers. Compare your SOC 4-digit number with the Home Office “Appendix Skilled Occupations.”
Will I be able to apply provided my only English certificate is B1?
You will have to fulfill the B2 level in case you apply after January 8, 2026. You might be able to remain on B1 level, in case you are already in the UK, and extending your visa.
Which country should I make my appointment in Pakistan or India?
You should go to a VFS Global center. These are in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi in Pakistan. In India, they are located in such metropolitan cities as Delhi, Bangalore, and Chandigarh.
Final Thoughts
The UK Health and Care Worker Visa 2026 is a golden ticket to medical professionals, yet the new B2 English and a salary of 25,000 threshold need to be prepared better than it has been in the past years. Work on finding a job with an employer registered with CQC and make sure your language is on the new upper-intermediate level.
Disclosure
This paper is informative and educative, not a research work. It is recommended that the reader should not rely on untrusted sources and should confirm information on a reliable source, say the formal GOV.UK site or on a regulated UK immigration advisor.