Skilled Worker Visa for Nurses
What you need to know
- •Nurses use the Health and Care Worker visa route.
- •NMC registration requires an English test, a CBT, and an OSCE assessment.
- •IHS exemption applies, saving thousands of pounds.
- •NHS Agenda for Change pay scales generally meet salary requirements.
- •Midwives and specialist nursing roles follow a similar route.
- •The path from visa to ILR to citizenship is well-established for nurses.
Overseas nurses can work in the UK through the Health and Care Worker visa, which offers reduced fees and IHS exemption. NMC registration is mandatory, requiring an English language test, a computer-based test, and an OSCE. The NHS provides structured career development for international nurses.
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The Health and Care Worker Route
Nurses come to the UK through the Health and Care Worker visa, a variant of the Skilled Worker visa with specific benefits:
- Reduced application fees compared to the standard Skilled Worker visa.
- Exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Lower salary threshold.
NHS Trusts, private hospitals, and care providers with a sponsor licence can sponsor overseas nurses.
NMC Registration
Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is mandatory before you can practise as a nurse in the UK. The process involves:
- Eligibility check: Confirm your nursing qualification is recognised by the NMC. See our guide on recognition of foreign qualifications.
- English language: Pass an approved English language test (IELTS Academic or OET) with the required scores.
- Computer-based test (CBT): A multiple-choice exam covering nursing knowledge. It can be taken at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide.
- OSCE: A practical assessment taken in the UK that tests clinical skills, communication, and professional values. It is taken at an NMC test centre.
- Registration: After passing both tests, apply for NMC registration and receive your PIN.
The entire process can take 3 to 6 months from start to registration. Many NHS employers support nurses through the process, including paying for OSCE preparation and providing supervised practice.
English Language Requirement for Nurses
You must prove your English to two different bodies. The NMC sets an English requirement for registration. The Home Office sets an English requirement for the visa. Meeting the NMC standard normally covers the visa standard as well.
The NMC accepts two main tests. One is IELTS Academic. The other is the Occupational English Test (OET), which is built around healthcare situations. You can read more in our guide to English language tests for UK visas.
- IELTS Academic: The NMC generally asks for an overall score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in listening, reading, and speaking, and at least 6.5 in writing.
- OET: The NMC generally asks for at least grade B in listening, reading, and speaking, and at least grade C+ in writing.
These scores are the NMC requirement and the visa requirement combined into one step. Check the current NMC scores on the NMC website before you book a test, because the requirements can change.
OSCE and CBT in Detail
NMC registration uses a two-part test of competence. You take the computer-based test (CBT) first, then the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
The CBT is a multiple-choice exam. It checks your nursing knowledge and your clinical decision-making. You take it at a Pearson VUE test centre, and these centres exist in many countries, so you can usually sit the CBT before you travel to the UK. Many candidates pay around 130 pounds for the CBT.
The OSCE is a practical exam. You move through a series of stations that copy real clinical situations. The OSCE tests your clinical skills, your communication, your record-keeping, and your professional values. You take the OSCE at an approved test centre in the UK, so most nurses sit it after arrival. The OSCE costs several hundred pounds, and a resit costs less because you only repeat the failed stations.
Many NHS employers support you through both tests. This support can include study time, OSCE preparation courses, supervised practice, and paying the OSCE fees. You should ask each employer what support they offer before you accept a job.
Costs and IHS Exemption
The Health and Care Worker visa is cheaper than the standard Skilled Worker visa in two ways.
- Reduced application fee: The visa application fee is lower than the standard Skilled Worker fee.
- IHS exemption: You do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). On other routes the IHS is over 1,000 pounds per person for each year of the visa. Over a five-year visa, and across a family, this saves several thousand pounds.
The exemption applies to you and to your dependants on the same route. You do not have to claim it, because the visa system applies it automatically. For the current fee and IHS figures, check the Health and Care Worker visa pages on GOV.UK.
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Salary and Career Progression
NHS nurses are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scale:
- Band 5: Newly qualified nurses. Starting salary approximately 29,000 pounds.
- Band 6: Specialist nurses and senior staff nurses. Approximately 36,000 to 44,000 pounds.
- Band 7: Ward managers and advanced practitioners. Approximately 44,000 to 51,000 pounds.
- Band 8+: Senior management and consultant nurse roles.
These figures are national rates. London and some other areas have additional high-cost-area supplements. Unsocial hours payments (nights, weekends) are additional. The salary calculation for visa purposes uses your basic pay.
Midwives and Other Nursing Roles
This route is not only for general nurses. Midwives and specialist nursing roles follow a similar path. You still register with the NMC, you still meet the English requirement, and you still use the Health and Care Worker visa.
- Midwives (SOC 2222): Midwives register with the NMC in the same way as nurses. The test of competence is tailored to midwifery practice.
- Specialist nurses:Roles such as mental health nurses, learning disability nurses, and children's nurses use the same visa route and NMC registration.
Other registered healthcare professionals, such as doctors, use closely related routes. See our guide for skilled worker doctors for that pathway.
Ethical Recruitment
The UK follows the Code of Practice for International Recruitment of health and social care personnel. This means:
- Employers must not charge nurses for their recruitment.
- Active recruitment should not target countries on the WHO health workforce safeguard list without government-to-government agreements.
- Nurses should receive support with integration, accommodation, and professional development.
Path to Settlement
After 5 years on the Health and Care Worker route, nurses can apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain). Many nurses successfully settle in the UK and go on to British citizenship.
During the 5-year qualifying period, keep tracking your absences and ensure you meet all ILR requirements.
Dependants
You can bring your dependants (spouse/partner and children under 18). They can generally work without restriction in the UK. Note that policy changes have affected dependant rules for some care worker categories, so check the latest position.
Next Steps
Start the NMC registration process as early as possible. Book your CBT and prepare for the OSCE. Identify NHS employers with sponsor licences who are actively recruiting overseas nurses.
Related guides:
This guide is general immigration information, not immigration advice under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Immigration rules change frequently. For advice on your specific situation, consult an IAA-authorised adviser or an SRA-regulated immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.
Related guides
Preparing a UK visa application?
Get the exact document list and step-by-step timeline — £179, paid once.