Nursing sponsorship
UK nurse visa sponsorship jobs, what to check before you apply
UK nursing roles can use the Health and Care Worker route when the job, sponsor, occupation code, salary and professional requirements are satisfied. A vacancy from a licensed sponsor is not automatically a sponsored vacancy, so the advert and employer decision still matter.
Last reviewed 21 October 2026
Key points
- Registered nursing occupations sit within the current Health and Care Worker route.
- NMC registration is a professional requirement for practising as a nurse in the UK and is separate from the visa rules.
- Check the employer against the sponsor register and read the individual vacancy for sponsorship wording.
- Healthcare salary rules can use national pay scales rather than the ordinary Skilled Worker salary calculation.
Which nursing occupations are in scope
The current Health and Care Worker occupation list includes the registered nursing groups SOC 2231 to 2237, covering midwifery, community nursing, specialist nursing, nurse practitioners, mental health nursing, children’s nursing and other registered nursing professionals.
The exact occupation code should match the duties of the vacancy. Similar nursing job titles can sit in different occupation groups, so use the occupation code before checking salary.
Check the employer and the vacancy separately
A sponsor licence belongs to the employer. It confirms that the organisation is licensed for the relevant route, but it does not mean every nursing vacancy will be sponsored.
Check the sponsor register, then read the vacancy for sponsorship wording, salary, location, registration requirements and any experience criteria set by the employer.
Registration and salary
Nurses normally need Nursing and Midwifery Council registration to practise in the UK. That professional requirement is separate from the Home Office visa test.
Eligible healthcare jobs can follow national pay scale salary rules. GOV.UK says the relevant national pay scale and occupation specific rule should be checked rather than assuming the ordinary Skilled Worker threshold applies.
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Official sources
Rules and public datasets can change. Use the official source when making a current decision.