Health and Care Worker visa: Indian citizen in United States → United Kingdom
Indian citizens living in the United States need a UK Health and Care Worker visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in the United States.
Lets medical professionals come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care, with a certificate of sponsorship from an approved employer.
- Validity
- Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it.
- Entries
- You can travel abroad and return to the UK during your visa.
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 5 years before you need to extend it.
When to start
Start 21 days–2 months before your travel date.
Getting an appointment in United States
- 38 centre locations nationwide plus premium centres (VFS directory, captured 2026-06-11). Ten are full-service Mon–Fri: New York, Washington DC, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Seattle; the rest (Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Portland, Philadelphia and more) run limited schedules.
- With this density, comparing two or three cities usually finds a near-term slot.
- No recent public wait-time reports found for the US — the band below is general guidance.
You must be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional, work in an eligible health or social care job, and have a confirmed job offer before you apply.
You must have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer before you apply.
Complete the application on gov.uk. It costs £324 per person for up to 3 years or £628 for more than 3 years — and you do not pay the healthcare surcharge. You can apply up to 3 months before you start work.
As part of your application you'll need to prove your identity — using the ID Check app or by giving fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre.
You'll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
What you'll need
- Valid passport — A valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality. ✓ verified
- Certificate of sponsorship reference number — Your certificate of sponsorship reference number — your employer will give you this. ✓ verified
- Proof of knowledge of English — Proof of your knowledge of English. ✓ verified
- Employer name and sponsor licence number — The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number — this will be on your certificate of sponsorship. ✓ verified
Where you'll apply
Because you live in the USA, you apply at a UK Visa Application Centre in the US — not in your home country. There are UK visa application centres in 30+ US cities (including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle). Use the official VFS US centre directory (linked below) to find and book the one nearest you.
- UK Visa Application Centres — United States — serves 30+ locations across the US — find and book your nearest
Fees
| Health and Care Worker visa (up to 3 years) | GBP 324 |
Gotchas to watch
- You - and your partner or children - will not have to pay the healthcare surcharge.
- You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK.