The UK highly values international professionals in its vital public sectors. In recognition of this, the immigration rules for healthcare and education professionals on a Skilled Worker visa have a distinct and more favourable salary structure compared to other industries. If you have a job offer in one of these eligible roles, you are not subject to the high general salary threshold of £41,700.
Understanding these specific salary rules is crucial for both you and your sponsoring employer. Our team of specialist immigration advisors has in-depth experience with applications for the healthcare and education sectors. We provide clear, accurate guidance to ensure your salary meets the national pay scale requirements, leading to a successful visa application.
The Salary Advantage for Healthcare and Education Roles
If your job is on the official list of eligible healthcare or education occupations, you benefit from a different set of salary rules. Instead of the high general threshold, your salary must be at least £25,000 per year AND equal to or higher than the specific ‘going rate’ for your role as defined by national pay scales.
- National Pay Scales: The ‘going rate’ for these jobs is not an arbitrary figure set by the Home Office. It is based on the established, nationally recognised pay bands and scales used across the UK, for example, the NHS pay bands for healthcare staff or the teacher pay scales for educators.
- Applies to Public and Private Sectors: A crucial point is that these national pay scale rates apply as the minimum ‘going rate’ even if you are being sponsored to work in the private sector (e.g., a private hospital or an independent school). The private employer must still pay you at least the equivalent national pay scale rate for that role.
Step 1: Is Your Job on the Eligible List?
The first and most important step is to confirm that your specific job and its 4-digit occupation code are included on the official list of eligible healthcare and education jobs. This list is published by the Home Office and is the definitive source. If your job is not on this specific list, you will be subject to the standard salary rules for all other skilled workers.
Step 2: Checking the National Pay Scale Tables
Once you have confirmed your job is on the list, you must then check the corresponding national pay scale table to find the correct ‘going rate’ for your specific role and location.
For Healthcare Professionals
You will need to consult the table of national pay scales for eligible healthcare jobs.
- How it works: This table is organised by NHS pay bands (e.g., Band 5, Band 6) and the specific area of the UK you will be working in (England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland), as pay scales can differ slightly.
- What you need to know: Your employer must confirm the exact pay band your job corresponds to. For example, a newly qualified nurse would typically be on Band 5, and their salary must meet or exceed the going rate for a Band 5 nurse in England.
This route is closely related to the Health and Care Worker visa, which is the primary route for most clinical roles. The Health and Care visa offers further benefits, including lower visa fees and an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. We can advise you on which visa is the most appropriate for your role.
For Teachers and Education Leaders
You will need to consult the table of national pay scales for eligible teaching and education leadership jobs.
- How it works: This table is organised by specific roles (e.g., qualified teacher, headteacher) and the relevant pay range for the area of the UK you will be working in. For teachers in England, this often relates to the main and upper pay ranges, which can also have different rates for London and the rest of the country.
- What you need to know: Your sponsoring school or educational body must confirm your role and where your salary sits on the relevant national pay scale.
How Our Experts Ensure Your Application is Compliant
The salary rules for healthcare and education are more favourable, but they are still precise. A mistake in identifying the correct pay band or going rate will lead to a visa refusal. Our specialist advisors eliminate this risk.
- We verify your job’s eligibility against the official Home Office list.
- We work with your employer to confirm the correct national pay band and scale point for your specific role and location.
- We calculate the precise going rate you must be paid to ensure full compliance with the immigration rules.
- We review your Certificate of Sponsorship to guarantee that the salary details are entered correctly, preventing any discrepancies that could jeopardise your application.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.