Are you a Khoja health care professional looking for settling down in the UK? Here’s some good news for you. The Government of UK has launched the Health and Care visa which makes it easier for healthcare professionals from around the world to come to the UK.
The Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have announced the new Health and Care visa to be launched this summer, which will create a new fast-track visa route for eligible health and care professionals. The Health and Care visa will demonstrate the government’s commitment to deliver for the NHS and wider health and care sector. It is designed to make it easier and quicker for the best global health professionals to work in the NHS, for NHS commissioned service providers and ineligible occupations in the social care sector.
What does the new Health and Care visa offer?
The new Health and Care visa will come with a reduced visa application fee compared to that paid by other skilled workers, including exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Health and care professionals applying on this route can also expect a decision on whether they can work in the UK within just three weeks, following biometric enrolment.
Those working in health and social care who do not qualify for the Health and Care visa will still be able to claim a reimbursement from the Immigration Health Surcharge if they have paid this on or after 31st March.
Further details on how the exemption to the Immigration Health Surcharge will work for health and care staff, who will now be permanently exempt from this charge has also been announced. As part of the launch of the Health and Care visa, those who apply via the visa and their dependents will be exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
UK’s gratitude to Health Care Professionals
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said: “Our health and care system has always had a proud tradition of welcoming overseas staff to work, train and live in the UK, and I’m proud that the NHS is a destination of choice for talented people from around the world.”
While the Home Secretary Priti Patel commented, “We are indebted to overseas health and care professionals for their tremendous contributions, not just in saving thousands of lives throughout this crisis, but for the vital role they play year-round.”
“This new visa is part of our new immigration system making it quicker, cheaper and easier for the best and brightest health and care professionals from around the globe to work in our brilliant NHS.”
Health and care professionals from all over the world have played a vital role in hospitals and care homes across the UK in fighting coronavirus. The introduction of the Health and Care visa follows a number of unprecedented measures to show the UK’s gratitude to health workers from overseas.
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