Health and Care Worker Visa Extension

Health and Care Worker visa holders must apply to extend their Health and Care visa before it expires to continue their employment with the same sponsor.

For legal assistance with your Health and Care Worker visa extension application, contact our UK work visa solicitors in London at 0203 959 7755. Alternatively, fill in our online contact form to discuss your case.

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What is the Health and Care Worker visa?

The Health and Care Worker visa lets qualified healthcare and social care professionals live and work in the UK with a job offer from the NHS, an approved NHS supplier, or in adult social care. It offers fast-track, lower-cost processing with no Immigration Health Surcharge, though care workers cannot bring dependents unless they held a visa before 11 March 2024.

What is the Health and Care Worker visa extension?

Applying for an extension before your current Health and Care Worker visa expires is essential to maintain your legal status in the UK and avoid any complications or disruptions in your employment.

The Health and Care Worker visa extension allows you to extend your stay in the UK if you are currently on a Health and Care Worker visa and wish to continue working in an eligible role with the same employer. 

Holders of the Health and Care Worker visa may also have a path to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK after 5 years of continuous and lawful residence, provided they meet all the necessary criteria, including minimum salary requirements and absence limits from the UK.

When should you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa extension?

It is advisable to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa extension before your current visa expires. Ideally, you should begin the application process at least 2-3 months before the expiration date.

Requirements for extending a Health and Care Worker visa

To extend a Health and Care Worker visa, you must:

• hold a valid Health and Care Worker visa at the time of your application.
• apply for the extension before your current visa expires.
• be employed by a Home Office-approved sponsor.
• continue working in an eligible occupation.
• have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
• meet the salary threshold.
• enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds.
• demonstrate proficiency in English.
• not have any serious criminal convictions that could affect your visa status.

Minimum salary for a Health and Care Worker visa

As of March 2026, the minimum salary for a Health and Care Worker visa is generally £31,300 per year or the "going rate" for your specific job, whichever is higher. Each occupation code has a specific lower going rate, so check the going rates table for your role.

For example: If your salary is £32,000 per year but the lower going rate for your job is £33,000, you do not meet the usual salary requirement for this visa.

The salary must be the applicant's basic gross pay (before taxes) and cannot include allowances, bonuses, or any other additional payments. This is to ensure that the applicant is guaranteed a stable income that meets the minimum threshold.

When You Can Earn Below the Standard Salary

Even if your salary is below £31,300 or your job's lower going rate, you may still qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa if your role is eligible. You can earn between 70% and 90% of the lower going rate, as long as your salary is at least £25,000 per year and you meet certain criteria.

1. Young workers, students, recent graduates, or those in professional training

You can receive 70% of the lower going rate if:

• You're under 26 when applying
• You're currently studying in the UK at bachelor's level or above, or studied in the last 2 years
• You're working towards a recognised UK professional qualification or full registration/chartered status

Note: Your total stay under this reduced rate cannot exceed 4 years, including any time spent on a previous Tier 2 (General) visa.

2. PhD-level qualifications

You may get 80–90% of the lower going rate, depending on your subject:

• STEM PhDs: 80% of the lower going rate, minimum £25,000 per year
• Non-STEM PhDs: 90% of the lower going rate, minimum £28,200 per year

You must have a UK PhD or equivalent (assessed by Ecctis if from outside the UK) and prove your qualification is relevant to your role.

3. Postdoctoral scientific roles

You can earn 70% of the lower going rate if you're in a postdoctoral position in:

• Biochemistry or biomedical sciences (code 2113)
• Physical sciences (code 2114)

Again, your salary must be at least £25,000 per year, and the total stay at this rate cannot exceed 4 years.

4. Jobs on the immigration salary list

If your job is on the immigration salary list, you cannot get a discounted rate. You must be paid at least £25,000 or the full going rate for your role.

Required documents for extending a Health and Care Worker visa

You must include all the necessary documents in the correct format when applying to extend or renew your Health and Care Worker visa. The Home Office requires specific documentation to assess your eligibility and determine if you meet the requirements for the visa.

When you apply, you'll need to provide:

• Your valid passport
• Proof of job offer from an approved UK employer
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number
• Your job title, occupation code and annual salary
• The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number
• Evidence of relevant qualifications for the Healthcare Sector
• Proof of English language proficiency
• Financial documents to show you can support yourself

How to extend a Health and Care Worker visa?

To apply for a UK Health and Care Worker visa extension, the applicant will need to submit an online visa application along with all the supporting documentation and visa fees.

Please refer to the following steps to apply for the renewal or extension of your Health and Care Worker visa:

• Step 1: Initial consultation and assessment of your eligibility.
• Step 2: Get a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your UK employer
• Step 3: Gathering the required documentation.
• Step 4: Complete the visa application form online.
• Step 5: Submit your visa application supporting documents, and pay relevant fees.
• Step 6: Book and attend the biometric appointment
• Step 7: Monitoring the progress of your application.
• Step 8: Receiving a decision on your application.

To begin your Health and Care Worker visa extension application process, contact us at Moeen & Co. Solicitors today at 0203 959 7755. Our dedicated team is ready to provide you with expert legal assistance and ensure that your application is handled with utmost professionalism and care.

How long does it take for a Health and Care Worker visa extension?

The standard processing time for a Health and Care Worker visa extension application is typically 8 weeks. However, you may be eligible to use priority service to get a faster decision.

How much does it cost to extend a Health and Care Worker visa?

The application fee is £304 per person for visas up to 3 years, or £590 for more than 3 years. This applies whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.

Extending a Health and Care Worker visa requires paying the extension application fee and showing you can support yourself in the UK. The fee depends on your length of stay, and you may not need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, making it a lower-cost option.

Your partner and children (dependents)

Your partner and children cannot apply to join you or remain in the UK as your dependants unless you were employed as a care worker or senior care worker in the UK on a Health and Care Worker visa before 11 March 2024, and one of the following conditions is met:

• you're currently still on a Health and Care Worker visa
• you're extending your Health and Care Worker visa with your current employer
• you're changing to a new job within the same occupation code while on a Health and Care Worker visa

How our immigration solicitors can help

Need assistance with your Health and Care Worker visa?

For legal advice or help with your Health and Care Worker visa extension application, call our specialist immigration solicitors in London at 0203 959 7755. Alternatively, you can fill in our online contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.