Health and Care Worker visa vs Skilled Worker visa: what is the difference?
Checked against official sources, October 2026
Both are UK work visas that need a sponsoring employer and a certificate of sponsorship, but the Health and Care Worker visa is for eligible jobs with the NHS, NHS suppliers and adult social care. GOV.UK says it is cheaper to apply for, and you do not pay the immigration health surcharge.
Who this is for
Health and care professionals deciding which UK route fits their job offer.
What the official guidance says
- The Skilled Worker visa is for an eligible job with any Home Office-approved employer; it replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.
- The Health and Care Worker visa is for eligible jobs with the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, or an organisation providing adult social care.
- GOV.UK tells doctors, nurses and people working in health or adult social care to check whether they are eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, because it is cheaper to apply for and you do not need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.
- Skilled Worker applicants, and their partner or children, pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of their stay.
- Both visas can last up to 5 years before you need to extend, need a confirmed job offer and certificate of sponsorship, and may lead to indefinite leave to remain after 5 years if you meet the other requirements.
- Decision times: usually within 3 weeks for the Health and Care Worker visa; for the Skilled Worker visa, usually 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside the UK.
What it does not mean
- You do not choose the route by preference alone. Your employer and occupation code decide which one you are eligible for.
- A healthcare job with a private employer that does not provide NHS services or adult social care may not qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa.
- Neither visa removes the need for professional registration where your job requires it.
What to do next
- 01Ask your employer for the job’s occupation code and whether they are an approved sponsor.
- 02Check the code against the Health and Care Worker eligible list on GOV.UK.
- 03If it qualifies, use the Health and Care Worker route; otherwise check the Skilled Worker eligible occupations.
Questions
Do Skilled Worker visa holders pay the immigration health surcharge?
Yes. GOV.UK says Skilled Worker applicants and their partner or children pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of their stay.
Which visa leads to settlement faster?
GOV.UK says both may let you apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years if you meet the other requirements. Check the current settlement rules before planning around them.
Official sources
Checked October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
Plan the whole route, not just the visa
Your Migo plan for the UK links both visa guides at the visa stage and asks you to check them against your own job offer. You can ask the free AI assistant to explain the difference for your situation, and an expert add-on is available if you want someone to review your route.
Related guides
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.