The Visa: Health and Care Worker
Registered nurses with a UK job offer from an NHS trust, an NHS supplier or an adult social care provider apply for the Health and Care Worker visa. It is a cheaper version of the Skilled Worker visa with a lower salary floor.
| Health and Care Worker | Skilled Worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee | $350 | $3,290 |
| Processing | 1–3 months | 1–3 months |
| Salary floor | GBP 25,000/yr (≈ $33,361/yr) | GBP 41,700/yr (≈ $56,462/yr) |
| English level | B2 | B2 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Exempt | Payable |
| Settlement | About 5 years | About 5 years |
The salary floor is set by the Home Office on its Health and Care Worker job requirements page. It is a floor only: the going rate for your occupation code applies when that is higher.
The Red List: What It Stops, and What It Does Not
Nigeria is on the red list in the Code of Practice for international recruitment of health and social care staff in England. The code says active recruitment from red list countries is not permitted unless a government-to-government agreement is in place.
You can still apply directly
NMC Registration, in Order
You cannot work as a registered nurse in the UK without joining the Nursing and Midwifery Council register. For nurses trained outside the UK, the NMC process covers:
- The NMC's pre-application checklist and online application.
- The Test of Competence, which assesses the skills and knowledge of applicants trained overseas.
- The English language requirement, which is the same for every applicant to the register.
- Health and character checks.
- A face-to-face ID check at a Test of Competence centre.
- Professional indemnity arrangements before you practise.
Start NMC registration early. It has several stages, some of them outside your control, and you need it to work as a registered nurse whatever visa you hold.
Before You Book Flights: TB Test and Surcharge
Nigeria is on the list of countries where you need a TB test. Under the TB test rules, you need one if you are coming for 6 months or more and have lived in a listed country recently, the test must be at a Home Office approved clinic, and the certificate is valid for 6 months from the x-ray.
The good news is the surcharge. Gov.uk lists health and care workers eligible for this visa, and their dependants, among those who do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. The full cost of moving from Nigeria to the UK breaks the rest down.
If the UK Does Not Work Out
Nursing routes exist in most English-speaking destinations. The best countries for nurses guide compares them, and the UK page for Nigerian citizens lists every UK route open to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Nigerian nurses still get a UK visa with Nigeria on the red list?
Yes. The red list stops UK employers and agencies from actively recruiting in Nigeria. The Code of Practice states that individuals from red list countries can make a direct application to UK employers of their own accord, as long as no third party such as a recruitment agency targeted them.
What is the minimum salary for a Nigerian nurse on the Health and Care Worker visa?
Our data records a floor of GBP 25,000/yr (≈ $33,361/yr). If the going rate for the nursing occupation code is higher, that rate applies instead, so the real floor is whichever is higher.
How much does the UK Health and Care Worker visa cost from Nigeria?
The government fee we hold is $350, against $3,290 for the general Skilled Worker visa. Health and care workers eligible for this visa, and their dependants, are also exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Do Nigerian nurses need IELTS for the UK?
Nigeria is not on the visa's English exemption list, so you prove English at B2 level for the visa. Separately, the NMC applies its own English language requirement to every applicant to its register.
Do I need a TB test to move from Nigeria to the UK?
Yes, if you are coming for 6 months or more and have lived in Nigeria recently. Nigeria is on the UK's list of countries where a TB test is required, the test must be done at a Home Office approved clinic, and the certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the x-ray.
How long until a Nigerian nurse can settle in the UK?
The Health and Care Worker visa leads to settlement after about 5 years in our data. Citizenship then requires 5 years of residence plus 12 months with settled status.
official sources: Health and Care Worker · gov.uk·Skilled Worker · gov.uk·Skilled Worker success-rate data · gov.uk