In July 2020 the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, announced the new Tier 2 fast-track visa route for all eligible health and care professionals – making the process quicker, cheaper and easier for healthcare professionals to relocate to the UK.
What’s new?
Whilst the visa itself doesn’t have many variants compared to the previous option, there are a number of key differences surrounding cost and how quickly you will receive a decision. These include:
- A reduced visa application fee, when compared to other skilled worker visas. A visa for up to three years now only costs £232.
- A decision will be made on whether your visa is accepted in as little as three weeks
- Permanent exemption from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) charge (IHS payments made since 31st March will also be refunded).
Who can apply for the Tier 2 visa?
To apply for the new Tier 2 Health and Care visa, you must be a qualified:
- Doctor
- Nurse
- Health professional
- Adult social care professional
You can find a more detailed list of professions who can apply here.
When can I apply for the Tier 2 visa?
Once you have secured a permanent job through Athona Recruitment at an NHS Trust, you will be able to begin the process for applying for the Tier 2 Health and Care visa. However, you can only apply up to three months before you’re due to start your new job in the UK. But don’t worry, our dedicated team will be on-hand to support you throughout the process.
Are you a nurse, doctor or health professional interested in beginning the journey to relocate to the UK? Get in touch with our international recruitment team today and register your interest in finding out more.
