medical workers wanting to work in the UK. Image credit: AdobeStock
Good news for overseas medical workers wanting to work in the UK
(Partner Content) Are you a medical worker interested in working in the UK? Here is how to qualify for the Health and Care Visa.
medical workers wanting to work in the UK. Image credit: AdobeStock
From 4 August 2020, a new health and care visa will be available to overseas medical workers who want to live and work in the UK. The new health and care visa will have many advantages to encourage more skilled medical workers to come to the UK. It will also be possible for the spouse or partner and dependents of the medical worker to join him/her in the UK.
Unfortunately, contrary to what was first believed, it would not be possible for care home workers to make use of the new health and medical visa.
How to qualify for the Health and Care Visa
The Health and Care Visa will not operate as a new migration route but will be part of the current Tier 2 (General) visa route.
To qualify, the overseas medical worker must receive a job offer from the National Health Service (NHS) or a health board or a medical and social care organisation specified by the Home Office.
The applicant will have to fulfil all the normal Tier 2 (General) visa criteria. The criteria will include; fulfilling the English language requirement, fulfilling the relevant salary threshold, having sufficient personal savings, and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
The Home Office has published the list of medical jobs that are eligible for the new health and care visa;
2112 – Biological scientists and biochemists
2113 – Physical Scientists
2211 – Medical Practitioners
2212 – Psychologists
2213 – Pharmacists
2214 – Ophthalmic Opticians
2215 – Dental practitioners
2217 – Medical Radiographers
2218 – Podiatrists
2219 – Health Professionals not elsewhere classified
2221 – Physiotherapists
2222 – Occupational Therapists
2223 – Speech and Language Therapists
2229 – Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified
2231 – Nurses
2232 – Midwives
2442 – Social Workers
3213 – Paramedics
Advantages of the Health and Medical Visa
The UK Government has tried its best to make the medical visa as appealing as possible to attract more medical workers to the UK labour market. Some of the benefits of the new health visa include;
- The applicants for the Health and Care visa do not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. This exemption is also applicable to all dependents of the main applicant.
- The visa application fee for the visa is significantly lower than for other visa types. There will also be a reduced visa fee for the partners and dependents of the main applicants.
- The visa will be fast-tracked. The Home Office said that it would provide a decision on an application within three weeks.
How Breytenbachs can help you
Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants have a dedicated team of consultants that specifically deal with Tier 2 applications and sponsorship licenses. If you are interested in applying for this new Health and Medical Visa, or which to find out more, you are welcome to email them at PointsBased@bic-immigration.com
Please note that the information in this article does not constitute professional advice. It is provided for general information purposes, without giving any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.
