Health and Care Worker Visa: A Guide for Zimbabwean Nurses and Doctors Coming to the UK

Zimbabwe is one of the most significant source countries for healthcare workers entering the UK. In 2022, Zimbabweans accounted for 16% of all Certificates of Sponsorship issued to care workers — second only to India — making Zimbabweans the second-largest national group in that category. For nurses, doctors, and healthcare assistants from Zimbabwe, the Health and Care Worker visa is the primary route into the UK health sector. ## What Is the Health and Care Worker Visa? The Health and Care Worker visa is a category under the broader Skilled Worker route, designed specifically for people taking up eligible roles in the NHS, NHS-funded social care, or with employers approved by the Home Office to deliver health and care services. It carries lower application fees than the standard Skilled Worker visa and exempts holders from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge — a significant financial saving. To qualify, you must: - Have a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor - Be working in an eligible occupation at RQF level 3 or above - Meet the applicable minimum salary threshold - Demonstrate English language proficiency - Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer The role must be genuine. The Home Office will refuse applications where there is any indication a vacancy was created solely to facilitate a visa. ## The Certificate of Sponsorship The Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record — not a physical document — issued by your employer. It contains details of your job, your employer's sponsor licence number, and your occupation code. Once issued, you have three months to submit your visa application. Your employer must hold a valid sponsor licence issued by the Home Office. If they need to apply for one from scratch, that process typically takes around eight weeks, so factor this into your timeline when negotiating a start date. ## How Doctors and Dentists Are Sponsored For medical and dental trainees in England, the process differs slightly from other healthcare workers. NHS England Workforce Training and Education operates as a single national sponsor for doctors and dentists in training. This means trainees receive their Certificate of Sponsorship through the NHSE National Overseas Sponsorship Team rather than directly from the employing trust. A key advantage of this system is that trainees do not need to obtain new sponsorship each time they change employers or location during their training programme in England. Doctors who have completed a foundation programme on a student visa are eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa to continue into specialty training. Overseas-qualified doctors can also apply directly to specialty training through this route. The Medical Training Initiative (MTI) offers a separate pathway for overseas doctors who want to train in the NHS and then return to Zimbabwe. MTI placements cover a wide range of specialties and are time-limited, with the expectation that participants return home at the end of their training period. ## Applying from Zimbabwe: Documents and Funds When applying from Zimbabwe, you will need to submit: - Your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number - A valid passport - Evidence of English language proficiency - Your job title, salary details, and occupation code - Your employer's contact details and sponsor licence number - Bank statements showing funds available - A criminal record certificate from any country you have lived in - Proof of a negative TB test You must demonstrate that you have at least £1,270 in a bank account for a minimum of 28 out of the 30 days before your application. This covers your initial costs upon arrival. If your employer agrees to cover your first month's expenses, they can note this on your Certificate of Sponsorship, removing the personal funds requirement. ## Bringing Your Family The Health and Care Worker visa allows you to bring dependants to the UK. Eligible dependants include a spouse or civil partner, unmarried partners, and children under 18, as well as adult children who are unmarried and dependent on you. Additional funds are required to support dependants: £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child, and £200 for each additional child. ## Zimbabwe on the WHO Red List Zimbabwe is on the WHO Code of Practice list of countries experiencing critical health workforce shortages. This means NHS employers are expected not to actively recruit in Zimbabwe. However, this does not prevent Zimbabwean healthcare professionals from proactively applying for roles advertised on NHS Jobs or other legitimate platforms. The restriction is on targeted recruitment campaigns by employers, not on individual applications. ## UK-Zimbabwe Health Partnerships Beyond individual migration, the UK and Zimbabwe have formalised health workforce collaboration through the UK–Zimbabwe Health Partnerships Pilot Programme (UKZHPP), funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Launched in December 2024 and running through November 2025, the programme funds six partnerships between Zimbabwean and UK health organisations, including the Zimbabwe Midwives and Nurses Association UK (ZIMNA-UK) working with the Zimbabwe Nursing and Midwifery Directorate, and East London NHS Foundation Trust partnering with Ingutsheni Hospital. These partnerships focus on workforce development, training, and bidirectional learning rather than recruitment. ## Practical Notes Salary thresholds and visa fee structures are subject to change. Always check the UK Government's official visa pages and NHS Employers guidance before applying, as figures are updated periodically. Immigration rules in this area have changed frequently since 2022, and it is worth consulting a registered immigration adviser if your circumstances are complex.