With a well-established private sector and the public healthcare behemoth that is the National Health Service (NHS), there are plenty of opportunities for doctors looking to take up practice in the UK. Doctors across the full range of disciplines and specialties should be able to find a position in either the public or private sector which would enable them to qualify for either a Health and Care Worker Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa.
Health and Care Worker Visa
The Health and Care Worker Visa was designed primarily as a visa type intended to support recruitment to the UK public healthcare system, the NHS. In order to be eligible for this visa, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have received a job offer either from the NHS itself, an NHS supplier or a provider of adult social care.
In addition to being a qualified doctor with a suitable job offer, applicants for a Health and Care Worker Visa will also need to ensure that they can demonstrate that they have sufficient English language ability and that they will meet the current minimum income requirement for this visa.
Health and Care Worker Visas are valid for up to five years and can be extended providing that the holder still meets the visa’s eligibility requirements. Application fees start from £284 for a three-year visa, rising to £551 for a five-year visa. It is possible to bring your partner and/or children to the UK as dependants, but they must submit their own applications alongside yours.
Skilled Worker Visa
Doctors who do not intend to work for the NHS or one of its suppliers may instead find the Skilled Worker Visa to be a better fit for their specific circumstances. Applicants for this visa must still demonstrate that they have a job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor, that they speak and understand English to at least B1 on the CEFR scale, and that they will meet the current minimum income requirement for a Skilled Worker Visa.
NB: Income requirements for doctors and other medical professionals may differ from those for other applicants for Skilled Worker Visas.
Skilled Worker Visas are issued for an initial period of up to five years and may be extended as many times as needed providing the holder still meets the visa’s eligibilty requirements. Depending on your specific circumstances, an application for a Skilled Worker Visa will cost between £719 and £1500. Successful applicants will also need to pay the UK’s healthcare surcharge, which is usually around £624 per year that the visa will be valid.
Permanent Residence
Time accrued living and working in the UK on a Health and Care Worker Visa or Skilled Worker Visa counts towards the residency requirement for an application for UK citizenship or permanent residence (known as Indefinite Leave to Remain).
Tailored visa advice for medical professionals
VisaEnvoy is a truly international migration firm, with a long track record of working with both companies and private individuals to understand their personal circumstances and visa needs, and helping them get the right visa for them as quickly and hassle-free as possible.
We understand that the key to a successful visa application is understanding both our clients and the immigration systems with which we work. A critical part of that work is keeping on top of the frequent changes to the immigration systems and visa categories of the countries in which we operate.
Our friendly, professional team of migration agents and immigration solicitors work with trusted partners in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Canada and the United States.
If you would like to know more about VisaEnvoy, our agents or the services we offer, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Alternatively, you can book an appointment with a member of our team to discuss the needs of you or your company.
Demetris Demetriou
Demetris is a dual-qualified lawyer in the UK (Solicitor) and Cyprus (Advocate) with 10+ years of experience in UK immigration. He completed his legal studies at University College London and City University London. Over the course of his career, he held key roles as Head of Immigration at Legal 500 firms and within the Big4, overseeing teams of 15+ fee earners handling 2000+ applications annually.
Demetris went on to co-establish his firm in London and continues to offer innovative solutions and strategic immigration planning to multinationals, SMEs, and private clients.
He personally represented 1500+ clients in 30+ visa routes including investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, sole representatives, students, family visas, global talent, UK ancestry, administrative reviews and appeals. Demetris has managed corporate relocations, conducted immigration law training and implemented post-Brexit immigration policies for corporate clients.
Demetris has been featured in various events and publications focusing on UK immigration, notably at the Cambridge Network, the Westminster Policy Forum and most recently at DGEMS, a global mobility summit hosted by Forbes India.
If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.
Tatiani Preifelt
Tatiani has a wealth of expertise in global mobility and corporate immigration. Her ample skills were acquired within leading immigration practices including three out of the Big4 firms in both the UK and Sweden. Tatiani went on to co-establish her firm in London where she continues to advise clients predominantly in corporate, business and skilled work migration.
Having personally relocated to 10 different countries, Tatiani understands the importance of an expedient and successful immigration process and takes pride in delivering a seamless experience to her clients as well.
Over the course of her career, she has assisted over 500 individuals and businesses to obtain the appropriate visa permits in the UK.
Her awarded academic work at The University of Oxford, The London School of Economics, and at The Geneva University is in the fields of Political Science, International Human Rights Law, and Global Migration Governance.
She regularly provides immigration training and has recently participated as a speaker and panellist at DGEMS 2023, a global mobility summit hosted by Forbes India.
If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.