What is the minimum salary for a Health and Care Worker visa?

The Health and Care Worker visa has a lower salary threshold than the general Skilled Worker route. The exact minimum depends on the specific role and its SOC code. Care workers have a different threshold from nurses, who have a different threshold from doctors. Check the current going rates on GOV.UK.

Are care workers paid enough to meet the visa threshold?

The salary threshold for care workers has been set to reflect the realities of the sector, with rates lower than the general Skilled Worker threshold. However, care workers must still be paid at least the national minimum wage and the visa going rate for their role.

Does NHS pay automatically meet the visa salary requirement?

NHS Agenda for Change pay bands generally meet or exceed the Health and Care Worker visa salary thresholds. However, this depends on the band and role. Employers should verify the specific going rate for the SOC code against the employee's actual salary.

Health and Care Worker Visa Salary Requirements 2026

The Health and Care Worker visa has lower salary thresholds than the general Skilled Worker route, reflecting the pay structures in the NHS and social care sector. The minimum salary depends on the specific role and its SOC code. NHS Agenda for Change pay bands generally meet the requirements, but care sector employers should check going rates carefully.

How Salary Thresholds Work

The Health and Care Worker visa is part of the Skilled Worker visa system but with its own salary rules. Applicants must be paid at least the going rate for their specific occupation, as determined by the SOC code.

The going rate for each eligible health and care occupation is listed in the Immigration Rules on GOV.UK. The going rate is based on the 25th percentile of earnings data for that occupation. See our going rate guide for how this system works.

Salary Rates by Role Type

Different health and care roles have different going rates. While specific figures change with each update to the Immigration Rules, the general pattern is:

Doctors and consultants: Higher going rates reflecting medical salaries. Typically well above the general Skilled Worker threshold.
Nurses and midwives: Going rates aligned with NHS Band 5 and above. Generally meet the threshold comfortably.
Allied health professionals: Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and similar roles. Going rates aligned with NHS Band 5-7.
Care workers and home carers: The lowest going rates in the Health and Care Worker category. These rates have been set to reflect the lower pay in the social care sector.

Always check the current going rate for the specific SOC code before applying. Rates can change when the Immigration Rules are updated.

What Counts Towards Salary

Only certain types of pay count towards the salary threshold:

Base salary: The core annual salary always counts.
Guaranteed allowances: Such as London weighting or high-cost area supplements, if they are guaranteed for the visa duration.
Does not count: Overtime pay, unsocial hours payments, on-call allowances, bonuses, tips, and benefits in kind.

For NHS employees, this means the base salary from the Agenda for Change band is the primary figure used. Enhancements for unsocial hours (common in nursing and care roles) do not count.

NHS Agenda for Change Pay Bands

Most NHS roles use the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. The pay bands are published annually by NHS Employers. For Health and Care Worker visa purposes:

Band 3 roles: May meet the care worker going rate.
Band 5 roles: Typically meet the nurse going rate.
Band 6 and above: Comfortably above the going rate for most roles.

Private sector employers (care homes, home care agencies) set their own salaries but must meet at least the going rate for the relevant SOC code.

Part-Time Workers

If you work part-time, the going rate is pro-rated based on your hours compared to full-time hours for the occupation. For example, if the going rate assumes 37.5 hours per week and you work 30 hours, the minimum salary is reduced proportionally.

However, the annualised salary must still meet minimum levels. Part-time working is permitted on the Health and Care Worker visa but the employer must ensure the pro-rated salary meets the requirements.

For Employers

Key points for employers sponsoring health and care workers:

Verify the going rate for the specific SOC code before assigning a certificate of sponsorship.
Ensure the salary offered meets or exceeds the going rate at each visa extension.
Be aware that going rates can change between Immigration Rules updates.
See our health care sponsorship guide for the full process.

Path to ILR

After 5 years on a Health and Care Worker visa, you can apply for ILR. At the ILR stage, your salary must still meet the going rate for your role. If your salary has fallen below the threshold (for example, due to changes in the going rate), this could affect your ILR application.