UK Care Worker Visa From Philippines 2026: How to Apply

The UK Care Sector Is Recruiting Heavily From the Philippines

The Philippines has long been one of the UK's most important source countries for healthcare workers, and demand continues to grow. Adult social care in England faces a structural staffing shortage, and the UK government has kept care workers on the Health and Care Worker Visa route to support international recruitment.

Filipino care workers are highly regarded in the UK sector for their professional training, English language ability, and commitment to patient care. If you are based in the Philippines and want to move to the UK to work in social care, this guide gives you everything you need to know in 2026.

Which Visa Route Applies to Care Workers?

Care workers and senior care workers apply through the Health and Care Worker Visa, which is a sub-route of the Skilled Worker Visa. The key advantages of this route compared to the standard Skilled Worker Visa are:

Reduced visa application fees

Exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge, meaning you can access NHS treatment at no extra cost

A slightly lower salary threshold than the standard Skilled Worker route

To qualify under the Health and Care Worker Visa as a care worker, your role must:

Be classified under occupation code 6135 (care workers and home carers) or 6136 (senior care workers)

Be offered by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered employer

Meet the minimum salary threshold

Minimum Salary for Care Workers in 2026

The minimum salary for care workers under the Health and Care Worker Visa in 2026 is based on the Home Office going rate for the occupation code. As of recent updates, care workers must be paid at least £23,200 per year, or the relevant hourly rate whichever is higher. Your employer's specific offer must meet this threshold for the CoS to be valid.

Be cautious of employers who offer a salary that only just meets the minimum on paper but then subtract charges for accommodation or other deductions that effectively reduce your take-home pay below the threshold. This practice is illegal under the visa rules and is a sign of a problematic employer.

Finding a Legitimate Licensed Sponsor Employer

This is the most critical part of the process. There have been well-documented cases of exploitation of Filipino care workers by rogue employers who issued fraudulent CoS documents or charged excessive fees for job offers.

How to protect yourself:

Only apply to employers who are genuinely listed on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors. You can search this register directly on GOV.UK, or use Hiredge's sponsored job alert which automatically cross-references every employer against the register before including them in your alert.

Signs of a legitimate employer:

The employer is a registered and CQC-inspected care provider

They do not charge you any recruitment fees (charging workers for a job offer or CoS is illegal)

They can provide documentary evidence of their sponsor licence

They have a clear contract that specifies your hours, pay rate, deductions, and location

They have a dedicated HR team or international recruitment process

They do not require you to pay for your visa application upfront (though you are responsible for your own visa fees)

Signs to avoid:

Any employer asking you to pay for the Certificate of Sponsorship

Job offers that arrive unsolicited via social media or WhatsApp

Vague job descriptions with no specified location or employer name

Employers who cannot provide a verifiable UK registered company number

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) both publish guidance on legitimate UK recruitment channels. Cross-reference any employer against these resources.

English Language Requirements

Filipino care workers are generally well placed to meet the English language requirement. The visa requires evidence of English at B1 level on the CEFR framework. Acceptable evidence includes:

IELTS Academic or General Training with an overall score of at least 4.0

A degree taught in English

For most Filipino applicants, the IELTS General Training test is the most straightforward route. British Council, IDP, and other IELTS centres operate in Manila, Cebu, Davao, and other cities across the Philippines.

The Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Find a Job Offer From a Licensed Sponsor

Use Hiredge's job alerts or search CQC-registered care providers directly. Apply for advertised roles and make clear you are applying from the Philippines and require visa sponsorship. Legitimate employers will not be deterred by this.

Step 2: Receive Your Certificate of Sponsorship

Once you have a job offer, your employer will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship in the Home Office system. They will give you a CoS reference number, which you will use in your visa application.

Verify the CoS is genuine by checking the reference number in the UK Visas and Immigration employer checking service. Do not proceed with a visa application based on a CoS reference number you cannot verify.

Step 3: Apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa

The application is completed online at the UK Visas and Immigration website. You will need:

Your CoS reference number

A valid Philippine passport with at least one year of validity remaining

Your English language test certificate

Bank statements showing savings of at least £1,270 (unless your employer provides a maintenance undertaking)

The visa application fee (reduced rate for Health and Care Worker Visa applicants)

Biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Centre in the Philippines

UK Visas and Immigration has application centres in Manila and Cebu. Processing times for Health and Care Worker Visas are typically two to four weeks.

Step 4: Prepare to Travel

Before you leave the Philippines:

Keep certified copies of all your qualification documents

Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the Philippines Nurses Association or relevant professional body if you hold a nursing or allied health qualification

Arrange travel insurance for your journey

Confirm your start date and accommodation arrangements with your employer in writing

Step 5: Arrival and Registration in the UK

On arrival you will use your visa to enter the UK. Within ten days, collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from the Post Office branch specified in your visa decision letter.

Register with a local GP surgery as soon as you have a UK address. As a Health and Care Worker Visa holder you are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge so NHS services are available to you.

Apply for your National Insurance number via HMRC online once you have a UK address and your BRP.

Working Conditions and Pay in UK Social Care

Most care worker roles in the UK are full-time, paying between £23,000 and £26,000 per year at entry level. Senior care workers and team leaders typically earn £26,000 to £30,000. Night shifts, weekend shifts, and bank holiday shifts usually attract additional pay.

Many employers offer accommodation, particularly in rural areas or when recruiting from overseas, though this must be at a fair market rate and cannot reduce your effective pay below the visa threshold.

How Hiredge Helps Filipino Care Workers

Set up a free sponsored job alert on Hiredge. Enter "care worker" or "senior care worker" as your job title, your preferred UK location or "any UK location", and enable the visa sponsorship filter. Every employer in your alert is verified against the Home Office register automatically, reducing the risk of engaging with unlicensed employers.