A practical guide for doctors applying to work in the UK under the Skilled Worker route, including the Health and Care Worker visa, which is the most common Skilled Worker route for many doctors employed by the NHS, an NHS supplier, or an eligible health-sector employer.
This page covers requirements, fees, estimated timelines, dependant visas, ILR (settlement), British citizenship, and official links for the most up-to-date government guidance.
This page is a general information resource only. It is not legal advice, immigration advice, financial advice, or a substitute for regulated professional advice. Immigration rules, fees, salary thresholds, eligibility criteria, and document requirements can change, sometimes with little notice.
Always verify your situation using the official GOV.UK pages and, where needed, seek advice from a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor before submitting an application.
Many doctors do not apply under the standard Skilled Worker fee structure. If your role is with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or another eligible health-sector employer, you may qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa, which sits within the Skilled Worker route and is usually cheaper because eligible applicants and their dependants do not pay the immigration health surcharge.
You must usually prove English for the Skilled Worker / Health and Care Worker route, but doctors may not need to prove it again if they have already passed an English language assessment accepted by the relevant regulated professional body.
For ILR and citizenship, English language rules can apply again depending on your circumstances. GOV.UK states that settlement and citizenship applicants may need English evidence and, in most cases, the Life in the UK Test.
For many healthcare jobs, there are special salary rules. GOV.UK says eligible healthcare and education jobs can be assessed using different pay rules, and for the Health and Care Worker route the usual figure shown is £31,300 per year or the lower going rate for the job, whichever is higher. Some roles on the Immigration Salary List may have lower thresholds, but you must still check the exact occupation code and current rules.
You will usually need to show £1,270 for yourself unless you have been in the UK with permission for at least 12 months or your sponsor certifies maintenance on your CoS.
Dependants may need extra funds as well.
| Application type | Current / published fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Health and Care Worker visa – up to 3 years | £324 per person | Published in the Home Office fee table effective from 8 April 2026. Check the live fee page before applying. |
| Health and Care Worker visa – over 3 years | £628 per person | Published in the Home Office fee table effective from 8 April 2026. |
| Standard Skilled Worker visa – fees vary | Higher than Health and Care route | Standard Skilled Worker applicants normally also pay the immigration health surcharge. |
| ILR (settlement) | £3,029 per person | Standard fee shown on GOV.UK for settlement applications. |
| British citizenship by naturalisation | £1,735 | Current fee shown on the citizenship application page, including ceremony fee. Check for updates before filing. |
| Life in the UK Test | £50 | Usually needed for ILR and citizenship unless exempt. |
Important: fee pages change. Always use the official UK visa fees table, the live Health and Care Worker fee page, and the citizenship fee page before paying.
These amounts are in addition to the main applicant’s own maintenance requirement unless an exemption applies.
Dependants can usually work, study, travel, and may later apply for settlement if they have lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other rules.
If you stay on the Skilled Worker / Health and Care Worker route, the most common path is 5 years of qualifying residence followed by an ILR application.
Depending on your personal history, some people may also qualify for settlement through:
The right route depends on your exact immigration history. Do not assume the 5-year work route is the only option.
Most people can apply for British citizenship after they have:
Citizenship decisions are usually made within about 6 months.
If you are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, GOV.UK says you can usually apply for citizenship as soon as you have ILR, without waiting 12 months, provided you meet the other eligibility requirements.
| Stage | Typical timing | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Initial doctor visa application | Apply up to 3 months before start date | Need job offer, sponsor, CoS, salary compliance, documents and English evidence where required. |
| Decision outside UK | Usually 3 weeks | Health and Care Worker applications are prioritised and generally aimed to be processed quickly. |
| Decision inside UK | Usually 8 weeks for standard Skilled Worker | Inside-UK Health and Care cases may also be faster depending on route and service used. |
| Extension | Before current visa expires | Your dependants do not automatically extend with you and may need separate applications. |
| ILR | Usually after 5 years | Can apply 28 days before completing the qualifying period if eligible. |
| Citizenship | Usually after ILR + 12 months | No 12-month wait if married to a British citizen and otherwise eligible. |
For many doctors, the usual journey is: job offer → Health and Care Worker visa / Skilled Worker visa → extension if needed → ILR after 5 years → British citizenship later if eligible.
The most important thing is to rely on the live GOV.UK pages before you apply, because fees, salary thresholds, required evidence, and timing can all change.