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

Zimbabweans have long been a significant presence in the UK's health and social care sector, with thousands working across the NHS and private care homes. The Health and Care Worker visa, introduced in August 2020, created a dedicated route for qualified medical professionals to come to or remain in the UK — and it remains one of the most practical pathways for Zimbabweans with relevant qualifications. **Who Qualifies** The Health and Care Worker visa is open to doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and adult social care workers. Crucially, you must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a valid Sponsorship Licence issued by the Home Office. This means you cannot simply apply on the strength of your qualifications alone — the sponsoring employer initiates much of the process. For nurses, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration is required before or alongside the visa application. Many Zimbabwean nurses come through an Overseas Nurses Programme pathway, completing an adaptation period or sitting the Computer Based Test (CBT) and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to gain full NMC registration. Doctors must register with the General Medical Council (GMC) and may need to pass the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) examinations if their qualifications are not automatically recognised. **Sponsorship: How It Works** Only employers with a Skilled Worker sponsor licence can hire from overseas. In health and care, this includes NHS Trusts, GP practices, private hospitals, and registered care providers. Your employer will issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is a reference number rather than a physical document. You use this number in your visa application. Since early 2022, the Home Office tightened rules around care sector sponsorship following widespread abuse by some employers. Care providers must now be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England to sponsor overseas workers. This change specifically affected the social care pathway and led to many agencies losing their sponsor licences. **Salary and Job Requirements** The Health and Care Worker visa requires your salary to meet a minimum threshold. As of 2024, the general skilled worker salary threshold increased to £38,700, but health and care roles benefit from specific going rates set by occupation codes, and many roles — particularly registered nurses — have their own defined minimum pay scales. NHS pay scales under Agenda for Change set the benchmark for most nursing and allied health roles. Always verify the current salary threshold directly with the Home Office guidance, as these figures have changed multiple times in recent years. **Reduced Fees and Key Benefits** One significant advantage of the Health and Care Worker visa over the standard Skilled Worker visa is reduced costs. Holders are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which for most migrants amounts to £1,035 per year. Application fees are also lower. For a Zimbabwean nurse or carer, this can represent a saving of several thousand pounds over a five-year visa period. The visa is initially granted for up to five years and can be extended. After five continuous years in the UK on eligible visas, you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). **Dependants** You can bring your spouse or civil partner and dependent children under 18 to the UK on this visa. However, since July 2023, overseas care workers on this route have been prohibited from bringing dependants — a restriction that does not apply to qualified nurses and doctors, only to roles at RQF Level 3 (care workers). This change caused significant distress in the Zimbabwean care community and prompted many individuals to reconsider their plans. **Practical Steps for Zimbabwean Applicants** Start by ensuring your qualifications are assessed. For nurses, this means engaging with the NMC early and understanding the OSCE pathway. For doctors, the GMC registration and PLAB route is well-documented. Research employers who actively recruit from Zimbabwe — some NHS Trusts and care groups run formal international recruitment programmes with dedicated HR support. Be cautious of recruitment agencies charging upfront fees to workers. Under UK law, employers and agencies cannot charge workers for arranging a job, and this practice is unlawful. If an agency is asking you to pay for a placement, treat it as a serious warning sign. Check the Home Office Sponsor Register — a public list of all licensed sponsors — before committing to any arrangement. This list is searchable online and confirms whether an employer is legally authorised to hire you.