Dependants of Health and Care visa applicants – limitations
The Health and Care Visa was launched on 4 August 2020 and it forms part of the Skilled Worker visa route. The Health and Care visa is only available to specified professions: qualified doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who have been trained to a recognised standard and who have good working English. The scope of the visa was extended to include eligible persons working in the social care sector.
In addition to the reduced visa fee, applicants applying for the Health and Care Visa, and their family are exempt from having to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. Family is defined as the partner or dependant child of the person applying for the Health and Care Visa. It does not cover wider family or those living independently of the health and Care visa applicant.
Visa restrictions on dependants of Health and Care visa holders
If you submit your Health and Care Visa application from 11 March 2024 with a Certificate of Sponsorship for 6145 – Care workers and home carers, or 6146 – Senior Care Workers, you will be unable to include your partner or child in your visa to come to or stay in the UK.
This restriction will not apply to Skilled Worker or Health and Care visa holders with visas issued for applications submitted before 11 March 2024, or if the dependent is a child born in the UK.
What the relevant immigration rule says:
SW 29.1A. In SW 29.1(a) and (b), P must not have (or be applying for) entry clearance or permission as a Skilled Worker sponsored for a job in:
(a) the SOC 2020 occupation code “6135 Care workers and home carers” or “6136 Senior care workers”, or
(b) the SOC 2010 occupation code “6145 Care workers and home carers” or “6146 Senior care workers”,
unless P:
(i) was (or is being) granted entry clearance or permission as a Skilled Worker, sponsored in the SOC 2010 occupation code “6145 Care workers and home carers” or “6146 Senior care workers”, under the Rules in force before 11 March 2024; and
(ii) since the grant of entry clearance or permission in (a), P has continuously had permission as a Skilled Worker, sponsored in one or more of these SOC 2010 occupation codes or SOC 2020 occupation codes (except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded).
Health and Care visa dependants – summary
To summarise, If you’re a care worker or senior care worker your partner and children cannot apply to join you or stay as your dependants if you switch to a Skilled Worker visa from another visa. They can only apply to join you or stay if you were employed as a care worker or senior care worker in the UK and on a Skilled Worker visa before 11 March 2024 and one of the following is true:
you’re changing to a new job within the same occupation code while on a Skilled Worker visa
you’re currently still on a Skilled Worker visa
you’re extending your Skilled Worker visa with your current employer
