Health and Care Worker Visa: What Zimbabwean Nurses, Doctors and Carers Need to Know

The UK's Health and Care Worker Visa has become one of the most significant immigration routes for Zimbabwean healthcare professionals. Built on the foundation of the Skilled Worker Visa but with reduced fees and exemptions from the Immigration Health Surcharge, it offers a structured pathway for nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and social care workers to live and work in the UK. **Who Qualifies** To be eligible, applicants must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer with a valid sponsor licence. The role must appear on the eligible occupation list — this covers registered nurses, doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, paramedics, radiographers and a range of other clinical roles. Senior care workers and care home managers in adult social care may also qualify under the Health and Care Worker route. The minimum salary threshold applies, and as of 2024 this increased significantly following the government's reforms to immigration salary requirements. Nurses sponsored into the NHS are typically paid on Agenda for Change Band 5 or above, which generally satisfies the threshold. Care roles can be more variable, so applicants should confirm the exact salary offered before applying. **Zimbabwe's Position on the WHO Red List** This is the single most important policy issue Zimbabwean healthcare workers need to understand. In 2023, the UK government added Zimbabwe to the World Health Organisation's Health Workforce Support and Safeguard List — commonly called the Red List. Over 1,700 registered nurses resigned from Zimbabwe's health system in 2021, and approximately 900 left the country in 2022 alone, a scale of departure that prompted international concern. Being on this list does not make it illegal for Zimbabweans to move to the UK to work as healthcare professionals, and it does not stop individual Zimbabweans from applying for jobs or visas. What it does mean is that NHS organisations and other employers covered by the UK Code of Practice for International Recruitment are expected to refrain from actively recruiting in Zimbabwe through targeted campaigns. Employers who wish to recruit from Red List countries must demonstrate ethical justification and apply safeguards. In practice, this means some NHS trusts have paused direct recruitment drives targeting Zimbabwe specifically. However, private hospitals, many care providers, and some NHS trusts do still employ Zimbabwean nurses who have applied independently or through intermediaries. The key distinction is between an employer running an active campaign in Zimbabwe versus an individual Zimbabwean professional applying directly for an advertised vacancy. **NMC Registration for Nurses** To work as a registered nurse in the UK, Zimbabwean nurses must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The process for internationally educated nurses involves several stages: 1. **Application to the NMC** — submit qualifications and evidence of nursing education and clinical experience through the NMC's online overseas assessment portal. 2. **Computer-Based Test (CBT)** — a multiple-choice examination testing nursing knowledge, which can be sat in Zimbabwe or internationally. 3. **English Language Requirement** — applicants must demonstrate English proficiency via IELTS Academic (minimum 7.0 in each component) or the Occupational English Test (OET) with a minimum grade B in each section. The British Council in Harare administers both tests. Some providers are now accepting scores marginally below the threshold, so it is worth checking current NMC guidance. 4. **Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)** — a practical clinical assessment conducted in the UK. This means nurses must typically arrive in the UK on a different visa basis, complete the OSCE, and then transfer to a Health and Care Worker Visa once NMC registration is granted. Many employers arrange this through a structured induction programme. The Nursing Council of Zimbabwe (NCZ) must issue a letter confirming the nurse is in good standing before the NMC will complete its assessment. **PLAB for Doctors** Zimbabwean-trained doctors seeking to practise in the UK must register with the General Medical Council (GMC). The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) examination is the primary route for most internationally qualified doctors. PLAB 1 is a written examination and PLAB 2 is a clinical skills assessment conducted at GMC facilities in the UK. Doctors holding postgraduate qualifications equivalent to UK specialist registration may be eligible for alternative routes. **Finding a Sponsored Role** The main job search platforms for NHS roles are NHS Jobs (jobs.nhs.uk) and TRAC Jobs. Roles should be filtered by specialty and location. Private hospital groups including Nuffield Health, Spire and Ramsay Healthcare also hold sponsor licences and recruit internationally qualified nurses. For adult social care, many larger care home providers hold licences and have ongoing demand for clinical nurse leads. When applying, confirm before accepting any offer that the employer holds a current Sponsor Licence and that the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) will be provided. The CoS reference number is required to complete the visa application. **Repayment Clauses** Many employers include repayment clauses in contracts, requiring employees to refund recruitment or relocation costs if they leave within a specified period — often two or three years. The UK Code of Practice states these clauses must be reasonable and that employers should waive them in defined circumstances, including where an employee leaves due to bullying, discrimination, poor working conditions, or for career progression. It is worth reading the employment contract carefully and seeking clarification before signing. **Practical Realities** Zimbabwean healthcare professionals working in the UK have reported experiences ranging from excellent integration and career progression to instances of racial microaggressions, skills being informally downgraded by colleagues, and unequal access to continuing professional development. Being aware of rights — including the right to raise grievances through NHS processes and independent trade unions such as the Royal College of Nursing — helps protect against exploitation. Many Zimbabwean nurses have successfully used the Health and Care Worker Visa as a foundation for longer-term settlement, progressing to Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years and eventually British citizenship. The route offers dependant visas for spouses and children, and dependants are permitted to work.