UK nursing jobs with visa sponsorship
A plain guide for nurses trained outside the UK: the visa, the registration steps, what it costs and what the NHS pays.
Last checked: November 2026. Visa rules, fees and pay change. This page is a general guide, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm every detail on the official site before you apply or pay for anything: GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa
Yes. A registered nurse trained outside the UK can work in the UK on a Health and Care Worker visa. You need a job offer from a UK health or care employer approved by the Home Office, a certificate of sponsorship from that employer, registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and a salary of at least £25,000 a year or the national pay scale rate for the job, whichever is higher.
Check the employer first. Search the official list of UK employers licensed to sponsor visas
This page is for registered nurses and midwives. Since 22 July 2025 the UK no longer accepts new applications from overseas for care worker and senior care worker jobs on this visa.
Key facts
| Topic | What applies |
|---|---|
| Visa | Health and Care Worker visa. Nursing occupation codes are eligible, including registered community, specialist, mental health and children's nurses, nurse practitioners and midwifery nurses. |
| Who can sponsor you | The NHS, an NHS supplier or an adult social care provider that is approved by the Home Office as a sponsor. |
| Minimum salary | At least £25,000 a year, or the "going rate" for the job based on national pay scales, whichever is higher. |
| NHS starting pay | Staff nurse, Band 5 entry point on the 2025/26 pay scales: £31,048 in England, £33,247 in Scotland, £31,515 in Wales and £29,970 in Northern Ireland. |
| English for the visa | Level B2 on the CEFR scale in reading, writing, speaking and listening for new applicants. |
| English for the NMC | An accepted test (IELTS Academic or OET), or proof that your nursing training was taught and examined in English, or recent practice in a majority English-speaking country. For OET the NMC asks for at least grade B in reading, listening and speaking and C+ in writing. |
| NMC registration cost | £1,226 in total since 1 October 2026: qualification evaluation £167, computer based test (CBT) £83, practical exam (OSCE) £794 and registration fee £182. Resits cost extra. Visa, flights and accommodation are not included. |
| Health surcharge | Health and Care visa applicants and their dependant family are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge. |
The steps, in the usual order
- Start your NMC application. Create an NMC account and submit your identity and qualification details so the NMC can check you are eligible.
- Pass the CBT. The computer based test is part one of the NMC Test of Competence. Most candidates take it in their home country.
- Get a job offer from an approved sponsor. Apply to NHS trusts and other licensed employers. Many recruit overseas nurses before the OSCE.
- Receive your certificate of sponsorship and apply for the visa. Your employer gives you a certificate of sponsorship with the details of the job. You use it in your visa application.
- Travel to the UK and pass the OSCE. The OSCE is the practical exam and is taken in the UK. While you finish registration, an employer may pay a pre-registration nurse at the NHS Band 3 rate for up to 8 months.
- Complete registration. Provide your health, character and English evidence, pay the registration fee and wait for the NMC decision. Then you work as a registered nurse on the full rate.
Protect yourself
- Check that the employer is on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors before you accept an offer.
- Be careful with anyone who asks you to pay for a job offer or for sponsorship.
- Pay NMC and test fees only through the NMC and its official test providers.
Get your CV ready
UK employers expect a short CV with no photo and no date of birth. See the UK CV format guide, then start from a free template.
Questions people ask
Can a nurse from abroad get a visa to work in the UK?
Yes. Registered nurses and midwives are eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa if they have a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from an approved UK health or care employer and meet the salary and English requirements.
What is the minimum salary for a sponsored nurse in the UK?
At least £25,000 a year, or the going rate for the job on the national pay scales, whichever is higher. The NHS Band 5 entry point for a staff nurse in England was £31,048 on the 2025/26 pay scales.
How much does NMC registration cost for an overseas nurse?
£1,226 in total since 1 October 2026: £167 qualification evaluation, £83 for the CBT, £794 for the OSCE and £182 registration fee. Resits, the visa, flights and accommodation cost extra.
Can care assistants still get UK visa sponsorship from abroad?
No. Since 22 July 2025 new overseas applicants cannot apply for care worker or senior care worker jobs on this visa route. Registered nurses and midwives are still eligible.
Do I take the NMC tests before or after I travel?
Most candidates take the computer based test (CBT) in their home country and the practical exam (OSCE) in the UK. The two parts can be taken in either order.
More for the UK
UK CV format · Jobs and salaries in London · Jobs with visa sponsorship · All career guides
Sources
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, your job and salary
- GOV.UK: Sponsor a Skilled Worker guidance (English level, pre-registration nurses)
- GOV.UK: Health and Care visa guidance (Immigration Health Surcharge)
- GOV.UK: Review of salary requirements (NHS pay bands 2025/26)
- NMC: How much is it going to cost?
- NMC: Provide language evidence