Health & Care Worker Visa Sponsorship — Honest 2026 Guide
Oath Healthcare is a licensed UK sponsor under the Skilled Worker route. We sponsor Health and Care Worker visas case-by-case. This page tells you the honest version: who we typically sponsor, who we don’t, the costs involved, and how the process works. No agency middlemen, no fees to apply.
We are licensed to sponsor and we do sponsor real people each year. But most of our hires (around 70-80%) are UK-based applicants with existing right to work — they start faster and our local team can interview in person. If you’re outside the UK or need sponsorship, your application takes 8-12 weeks and we’ll be straightforward with you about whether we can support it.
What is the Health and Care Worker visa?
The Health and Care Worker visa is a specific route within the UK Skilled Worker visa system, introduced in 2020. It’s designed for people coming to the UK to do an eligible health or social care job. Compared to the general Skilled Worker route, it offers:
- Faster processing — typically 3 weeks (vs 8 weeks for standard Skilled Worker)
- Reduced visa fees — £284 for up to 3 years (vs £719 for standard)
- Exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge (saves £1,035/year per person)
- Eligible occupations include: Care workers (SOC 6135), Senior care workers, Registered managers (Standard Occupational Classification 2020 codes)
Who Oath Healthcare typically sponsors
We tend to sponsor candidates who already have:
- Some prior care or healthcare experience (paid or substantial family caring)
- Strong English — B1 CEFR minimum (we’ll ask for SELT or equivalent evidence)
- A clean criminal record from your home country (overseas police certificate)
- Willingness to work in a specific UK branch area we have demand in (our six branches: Cambridge, Redbridge, South Essex, Gateshead, Suffolk, Nottingham)
- Genuine intent to work in care long-term, not just as a route into the UK
Who we typically can’t sponsor
Being honest so we don’t waste each other’s time:
- Candidates with no care experience at all — UK-based applicants get priority for entry-level training roles because we can on-board them faster
- Candidates without B1 English — care work requires confident two-way conversation with elderly clients
- Candidates whose preferred location doesn’t match our open roles
- Candidates who can’t start within 8-12 weeks — we typically need to fill specific positions, not bank candidates for future roles
- Anyone asking us to recruit them via an agent who charges fees for sponsorship — agencies should never charge candidates for sponsorship arrangements (illegal under UK Modern Slavery Act considerations)
Some agents fraudulently claim they can arrange Oath Healthcare sponsorship for a fee (often £3,000-£10,000). This is never legitimate. Oath Healthcare does not charge candidates for sponsorship and does not work with third-party agencies that charge candidates. If anyone asks you for money to arrange a job at Oath, please report it to us at admin@oathhealthcare.co.uk and to the UK Modern Slavery Helpline.
Costs and process for sponsored candidates
Here’s exactly what each side pays:
| Cost | Paid by Oath | Paid by You |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee | £239 | — |
| Immigration Skills Charge | £364/year | — |
| Visa application fee (up to 3 years) | — | £284 |
| Priority processing (optional, faster) | — | £500 |
| English test (SELT) | — | £150–£200 |
| Biometric appointment | — | Usually included |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | — | £0 (exempt) |
| Overseas police certificate | — | £10–£60 depending on country |
| TB test (some countries) | — | £40–£100 if required |
Total typical applicant cost: £500–£900. We do not offer loans or advance pay for these costs.
Documents you’ll need
- Valid passport (with at least 6 months remaining)
- Evidence of B1 English — UKVI-approved SELT (IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, etc.)
- Overseas police certificate from every country you’ve lived in for 12+ months in the past 10 years
- TB test certificate (only if you’re applying from one of the listed countries — UK gov website has the current list)
- CV with work history
- References from previous employers (care experience especially)
- Evidence of funds (£1,270 maintenance requirement, held for 28 days unless Oath waives via CoS)
- Marriage and birth certificates for any dependants
The application process at Oath
- Initial enquiry — Use the form below. Mention you need sponsorship, your country of residence, English level, care experience, preferred UK location.
- Initial review (within 5 working days) — we’ll let you know honestly whether we have a current sponsorship-eligible vacancy that fits your profile.
- Video interview — Two stages, typically over 1-2 weeks.
- Reference and document checks — We’ll verify your work history and qualifications.
- Certificate of Sponsorship issued — You’ll receive this electronically.
- You apply for the visa via gov.uk — typically 3-week processing.
- You travel and start — usually 6-12 weeks from initial enquiry to first shift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oath Healthcare a licensed UK care worker visa sponsor?
Yes. Oath Healthcare is a licensed sponsor under the UK Skilled Worker route and can issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for eligible Health and Care Worker visa applicants. Sponsorship is assessed case-by-case based on role, location, and individual applicant profile.
What’s the minimum salary required for a Health and Care Worker visa?
As of April 2025, the minimum salary for care worker visa sponsorship is £25,000 per year or the going rate for the SOC code, whichever is higher. For SOC 6135 (Care workers and home carers), the current going rate is approximately £25,000. Live-in carer placements paying £980–£1,200/week typically exceed this threshold.
How long does it take to get a Health and Care Worker visa?
Once Oath Healthcare issues a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), the visa application typically takes 3 weeks for standard processing or 5 working days for priority service. Total time from initial application to start date is usually 6–12 weeks including documentation, English language test, and TB testing where required.
Can family members come on my Health and Care Worker visa?
Yes. Dependants (spouse/civil partner and children under 18) can be included on your application. They need to apply separately but as part of the same family group. Each dependant pays their own visa fee but is exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Do I have the right qualifications for UK care work?
For care assistant roles you don’t need a specific qualification — Oath provides the Care Certificate (UK’s induction standard) as paid training. You do need: B1 English (CEFR) demonstrated via SELT test, an enhanced overseas police certificate, and a valid passport. Senior care worker roles benefit from prior care experience and NVQ Level 3 (or international equivalent).
Does Oath Healthcare prefer UK-based applicants?
Most of our hires are UK-based applicants with existing right to work — they typically start faster (within 2–4 weeks vs 8–12 weeks for sponsorship). However we genuinely consider international applicants on merit. Sponsorship decisions depend on role demand at the time of application, candidate experience and English proficiency, and location of the role. We do not discriminate on nationality or any other protected characteristic under the UK Equality Act 2010.
What does it cost to apply for sponsorship at Oath Healthcare?
Oath Healthcare pays the Certificate of Sponsorship fee and Immigration Skills Charge. The applicant typically pays the visa application fee (£284 for under 3 years), priority processing if used (£500), and English test fee (£150–£200). Total applicant cost is usually £500–£900 depending on choices. We do not charge any fee for the sponsorship itself — be cautious of any agency that asks for fees to arrange sponsorship at Oath; that would be a scam.
What happens if my visa is refused?
The visa decision is made by UK Visas and Immigration, not by Oath. If refused, we can’t override that. Common refusal reasons include insufficient English evidence, gaps in documentation, or maintenance funds issues. In most refusal cases, you can re-apply with corrected documentation. Our team will provide an honest assessment up front to minimise this risk.
Sponsorship enquiry
Fill the form below — mention you need sponsorship in the message. Our team will review and reply within 5 working days with an honest assessment.
Disclaimer: Sponsorship rules, salary thresholds, and processing times are subject to change by the UK Home Office. Information here is correct as of April 2026 from gov.uk. For the latest authoritative guidance see gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa or speak to an OISC-regulated immigration adviser. Oath Healthcare does not provide regulated immigration advice and is not responsible for visa application outcomes.