Immigration, Sponsorship and Settlement

Salary thresholds and eligibility 

To qualify for sponsorship, you must:

• Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• Be paid a minimum salary - how much depends on the type of work you do and the date you got your CoS.

Further details around eligibility and minimum salary requirements can be found on the Government website.

Where roles are paid on national pay scales, your salary must meet the relevant pay scale rate for the job you are doing.

Band 3 roles 

Most entry‑level band 3 roles do not meet the £25,000 threshold, unless you are at the top of the pay scale and under an eligible SOC code. 

• If you already hold valid permission to work, you may continue working
• Visa extensions or new sponsorship will be assessed against the rules in force at the time of renewal. 

Action: If you are band 3 or approaching the top of scale, email the Right to Work team early to discuss your specific circumstances. 

Salary thresholds and eligibility

To qualify for sponsorship under the Health and Care category you must:

• Be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
• Work in an eligible health or social care job
• Be paid a minimum salary - how much depends on the type of work you do.​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Band 3 roles

The current minimum salary is £25,000 vacancies eligible for Health and Care Visas (e.g. Healthcare Assistant) are usually able to be sponsored (correct as at April 2026 but subject to change) Visa extensions or new sponsorship will be assessed against the rules in force at the time of renewal.

Action: Should your status change, contact the Right to Work team early to discuss your specific circumstances and update your details. Email: RightToWork@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.

• The graduate visa has no salary threshold
• Duration depends on application timing:
  • Applications on or before 31 December 2026 → two years (PhD students three years)
  • Applications from 1 January 2027 → shorter duration.

Graduate visa holders cannot assume sponsorship later—eligibility depends on future salary, role, and SOC code at the time of switching.

Action: If you intend to move from a Graduate visa to Skilled Worker sponsorship, plan at least 6–12 months ahead and seek advice.

Graduate visa holders cannot assume sponsorship later - eligibility depends on future salary, role, and SOC code at the time of switching. 

Action: If you intend to move from a graduate visa to skilled worker sponsorship, plan at least 6–12 months ahead and seek advice. 

If your skilled worker or health and care worker visa is due to expire:

• You must apply for an extension to remain in the UK
• A new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is required for each extension
• You do not need to leave the UK, provided you apply before expiry.

The Trust will normally contact sponsored staff around three months before visa expiry.

Action checklist

• Check for an email from the Right to Work Team within three months before expiry
• Complete requested information and return for your CoS to be issued
• Apply for visa extension before your current visa expires
• Email confirmation of your application once submitted to RightToWork@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.

• Skilled worker visas are employer‑specific 
• You may apply for roles in another Trust, but you must obtain new sponsorship and a new visa before moving 
• Supplementary work is allowed only if it: 
  • Is in the same SOC code, or
  • Is on the immigration salary list, or 
  • Meets RQF level rules 
  • Is no more than 20 hours per week and outside CoS hours.

Important 

• Overtime in your sponsored role is unlimited and permitted 
• Working outside the rules may breach visa conditions.

Whether your partner and children can apply or extend depends on: 

• When your skilled worker visa was first granted 
• Your occupation code 
• Whether transitional arrangements apply.

Some Band 3 roles (e.g. SOC 6131) have restrictions on dependants if sponsorship started after 22 July 2025. 

Action: Do not assume dependants can extend automatically. Seek advice before visa expiry.

Current rules (subject to change) 

Most skilled worker and health and care worker visa holders can apply after: 

• Five years’ continuous residence 
• No more than 180 days’ absence in any rolling 12‑month period 
• Meeting salary and employment requirements 
• Passing life in the UK 
• Meeting English language requirements (usually already satisfied).

New earned settlement proposals 

The Government is consulting on major reforms, including: 

• Extending settlement routes to 10 or 15 years 
• Linking settlement to role skill level (RQF) 
• Requiring evidence of integration, contribution, and good character.

These proposals are not yet law but could significantly affect future applications. 

Action: If you are planning ILR, monitor changes closely and seek professional advice before applying. 

• Skilled worker visa holders have “No recourse to public funds” 
• Claiming benefits may breach visa conditions 
• Artificial salary increases (e.g. selling annual leave to meet thresholds) are strongly discouraged.

Use these official sources for the most up‑to‑date information: 

• Skilled Worker Visa overview
• Eligible occupations and SOC codes
• Health and Care Worker visa 
• Additional (supplementary) work rules
• Public funds guidance 
• EU Settlement Scheme (if applicable). 

Use these to ensure staff are directed to this page: 

• Skilled worker visa NHS 
• Health and Care Worker sponsorship 
• Band 3 sponsorship eligibility 
• Immigration salary threshold £25,000 
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) 
• Visa extension NHS 
• Right to Work team 
• Graduate visa to skilled worker 
• Skilled worker dependants 
• ILR NHS staff 
• Indefinite leave to remain healthcare 
• Earned settlement proposals 
• Additional work skilled worker 
• SOC code sponsorship 
• Visa renewal NHS Trust.