Did you know you could secure a UK Health and Care Worker visa as a nurse before you’re even fully registered as a nurse in the UK? It sounds surprising, but it is possible, provided you meet all the relevant requirements.
If you want to work as a nurse in the UK and you’re applying from overseas, you will need a job offer from a healthcare provider approved by the Home Office. The Home Office’s requirements are somewhat similar to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) standards, but you do not need to be fully registered as a nurse before applying for your initial visa. Here are the main steps to become a pre-registration nurse in the UK.
You must first be offered a role by a UK healthcare provider that is approved by the Home Office, such as the NHS or an organisation providing services to the NHS. The employer will then issue a certificate of sponsorship (COS), which you need for the visa application.
Kindly note that UK employers will most likely require you to complete some of the steps outlined below before issuing the certificate of sponsorship (COS).
As a pre-registration nurse, you must hold a nursing or midwifery qualification that meets the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) criteria. The simplest way to demonstrate this is to provide a copy of your qualification certificate, together with evidence of your registration with the official nursing or midwifery regulator in the country where you trained.
If you are not yet registered, your qualification should either already allow you to register as a nurse or midwife in your country of training, or be recognised by the national nursing regulator there as meeting the standards for registration.
In the capacity of a pre-registration nurse, you must demonstrate clear and effective communication in English to the standard required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC requires applicants to provide objective evidence that their English language ability is equivalent to CEFR Level C1, which indicates full professional proficiency.
You can meet this requirement by providing one of the following approved types of evidence:
a) English Language Test (IELTS or OET)
Take either the academic version of the IELTS or the Occupational English Test (OET).
Required IELTS scores: at least 7.0 in reading, listening, and speaking, and 6.5 in writing.
Required OET grades: at least Grade B (350–440) in reading, listening, and speaking, and Grade C+ (300–340) in writing.
Your test results must be less than two years old when your full application is reviewed.
If you’re not confident in your level of English, SLC offers support to help you become exam-ready.
b) Nursing Qualification Taught in English
You can submit proof that you completed a pre‑registration nursing, midwifery, or nursing associate programme taught and examined in English.
At least half of your clinical training must have involved direct interaction with patients, families, or healthcare professionals, and at least three‑quarters of these interactions must have been in English.
If your programme was in a non‑English‑speaking country, you must provide both:
An official letter or transcript confirming the course was taught and examined in English, and
Supporting information from an employer confirming that you use English effectively in clinical settings.
c) Recent Practice in an English‑Speaking Country
You can also meet the requirement if you have recent nursing practice (at least one year) in a country where English is the majority spoken language.
The practice period must be within the past two years at the time of application.
As a nurse pending registration, you must have successfully passed the Computer-Based Test (CBT). The CBT is one of the Competence tests that all international nurses must pass before joining the UK Nursing Register. It assesses the essential knowledge, numeracy, and clinical judgment required for safe nursing practice in the UK.
Pearson VUE administers the CBT, and you can schedule your test here. They have test centres in most countries worldwide.
The test is divided into two parts:
Part A (Numeracy): 15 questions in 30 minutes
Part B (Clinical): 100 questions in 2 hours and 30 minutes
Make sure to select the correct CBT exam for your specific application type. If the CBT you take doesn’t correspond to your application category, it will not be accepted for your registration.
Explore helpful study materials to support your preparation for both the CBT and OSCE tests here.
Before you apply for your visa, it’s recommended to begin your registration process with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Starting early helps demonstrate your commitment and readiness to meet UK professional standards.
International nurses should aim to progress to the OSCE‑pending status. If you’re not yet at that stage, registering for an NMC account and retaining proof of your registration email is still valuable; you can include this as supporting evidence in your visa application.
Please be advised that once you arrive in the UK, you are required to complete your NMC registration within 8 months of the employment start date stated on your COS. If you do not obtain your NMC registration within this period, your UK employer must withdraw your sponsorship.
You should demonstrate your commitment to taking the NMC Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) once in the UK, within 3 months of the COS employment start date. This step proves your commitment to obtaining full NMC registration and meeting UK professional standards.
A letter of support from your UK employer can help demonstrate this. The letter should confirm that you will undertake the OSCE in the UK within 3 months of the COS employment start date and that the employer will provide appropriate assistance to help you succeed.
An example of wording is: “The applicant will undertake the NMC OSCE examination within 3 months from the COS start date upon arrival in the UK. The Trust will provide a structured OSCE training programme and support the candidate to achieve full NMC registration.”
Including this letter with your application reinforces your readiness to integrate into the UK workforce and progress swiftly toward full registration.
Once you have received your Certificate of Sponsorship and gathered all the required documents, you can apply online for the Health and Care Worker visa as a pre-registration nurse. Applications can usually be submitted up to three months before your employment start date, and decisions are typically made within around three weeks.
You must also meet the NMC’s health and character requirements. See the Character and health decision-making guidance for details.
If you already have a job offer, Fennec Lawyers can help with the next steps.
Navigating UK immigration law can be complex and stressful. At Fennec Lawyers, we provide clear, professional guidance to help you make informed decisions.
Social media misinformation can create unnecessary stress. Speaking to a qualified immigration professional ensures your decisions are based on accurate legal guidance rather than speculation.
Whether you are applying for a Health and Care Worker visa, exploring your eligibility, or seeking clarity on your options, we are available to offer tailored advice. You can contact us to arrange personalised support, or explore our Knowledge Centre for further information on immigration-related matters.
Legal Disclaimer
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently, and professional legal advice should be sought before proceeding with any immigration matter.
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