NHS Jobs for Nurses: How to Apply and Get Sponsored

NHS jobs for nurses are one of the most common routes into healthcare work in the UK for overseas applicants.

The National Health Service is the UK’s largest healthcare employer and regularly recruits qualified nurses for hospitals, community services, and specialist roles across the country.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to find NHS nursing jobs, what registration and visa steps are involved, what documents you may need, and what to expect after you are hired.

This guide was last updated 12/04/2026 to reflect the latest UK work visa information.

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Step-by-Step: How to Get an NHS Nursing Job

For most overseas applicants, the process looks like this:

1. Complete or begin your NMC registration
2. Search for vacancies on the NHS Jobs website
3. Apply directly to NHS Trusts and employers
4. Receive a job offer
5. Get a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
6. Apply for a Health and Care Worker visa
7. Move to the UK and begin work

For a broader overview of registration, visas, and long-term planning, see our guide on how to work as a nurse in the UK.

NHS Jobs for Nurses

To apply for an NHS nurse job, you’ll typically need to:

This visa is specifically designed for healthcare professionals and offers reduced fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Overseas applicants must pass the NMC registration process, including an English language test (IELTS/OET) and clinical assessments.

Search NHS Jobs

The official NHS Jobs website lists thousands of current vacancies.

You can filter by location, speciality, or employer.

Secure a Job Offer

Once you receive an offer, your employer will provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) if you need a work visa.

Apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa

This visa is specifically designed for healthcare professionals and offers reduced fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

What NHS Employers Look For

When applying for NHS nursing jobs, employers usually want to see:

• relevant nursing qualifications
• progress with NMC registration
• English language evidence where required
• clinical experience
• flexibility on location or speciality
• readiness to relocate to the UK

Being open to different regions of the UK can improve your chances of getting an offer more quickly.

NMC UK Registration for Overseas Nurses

The NHS actively recruits nurses from countries such as India, the Philippines, Nigeria, and across Africa and Asia. The Health and Care Worker visa makes it easier for overseas nurses to work in the UK by:

• Allowing visa sponsorship from approved NHS employers
• Lowering minimum salary thresholds
• Exempting healthcare workers from certain visa fees

This route has become the main pathway for international nurses applying for NHS jobs.

Before you begin searching NHS jobs for nurses, to work as a registered nurse you must register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). The application process can be done online where you follow a step by step process. This includes tasks such as uploading documentation, paying fees and taking tests. There is only one national register in the UK so you can work in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The registration process is separate from your visa application which you should apply for after your visa has been accepted.

The total cost of registering with the Nursing and Midwifery Council is around £1,500 as of January 2025, this includes registration fees and sitting all exams. You should give yourselves around 6 months to register and pass all tests before applying for your visa.

Sponsorship for Overseas Nurses in UK

Once registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the next step is to sit the Test of Competence (ToC).

The Test of Competence is a two part test that you need to pass in order to complete registration.

• First stage – computer-based test (CBT) multiple choice exam
• Second stage – practical objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), held in the UK in one of the five test centres

You will need to prove that you can speak a minimum standard of English by passing an IELTS test.

Next step will be to find and apply for NHS jobs for nurses online. Finding a job in the NHS can be a relatively simple process, but it helps to be flexible with your job role and which region of the UK you want to work in. The NHS Careers website is the best place to find vacant job roles, you will have to create a profile before applying for jobs.

If you applied for a visa that requires you to be sponsored by an employer such as the NHS, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The Health and Care Worker visa requires CoS.

A Certificate of Sponsorship is a document and reference number that proves you are eligible for the chosen visa, which is created by the employer. You then use this document when you are applying for your work visa. The certificate is valid for three months after acceptance.

You can also explore our list of companies that sponsor work visas in the UK to understand which employers can legally sponsor overseas healthcare workers.

Visa Options for NHS Nurses

If you are living outside the UK and seeking NHS jobs for nurses, the Health and Care Worker visa is the most popular. Although, there are other UK work permits for nurses available depending on your personal circumstances.

Health and Care Worker

The most common visa for working as a registered if you are from overseas is the Health and Care Worker visa. The visa is designed for healthcare professionals and offers better terms compared to other work visas.

Requirements include that your occupation must be on the Skilled Worker Occupations List and you must obtain job sponsorship from overseas from an approved employer, such as the NHS. Other eligibility factors include your salary must meet the minimum threshold for that occupation and you must pass the IELTS English language test.

The application fee for this visa in 2024 is £284 for up to three years, or £551 for more than three years to a maximum of five years. After this time, you can apply for this visa again or apply to settle in the UK through “indefinite leave to remain”.

An advantage of the Health and Care Worker visa is that you are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This includes your dependants such as partner and children.

UK Ancestry Visa

The UK Ancestry visa is a route that is available to registered nurses who are Commonwealth citizens and have at least one grandparent born in the UK. 56 countries are currently Commonwealth members who represent a population of over 2.5 billion people across all continents.

Requirements for the UK Ancestry visa do not include job sponsorship, meaning you can move to the UK before you obtain a nursing job. This is a great advantage as you can apply from the UK allowing employers to interview you face to face.

The application fee for this visa is £637 and allows you to live and work in the UK for five years. After this time, you can apply for this visa again or apply to settle in the UK through “indefinite leave to remain”.

You will have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for the UK ancestry visa, which is currently £1,035. If you are applying for a 2-year visa you will have to pay £1,035 each year, therefore you will have to pay a total of £2,070.

British National Overseas Visa (Hong Kong)

The British National Overseas visa, known informally as the Hong Kong visa, is a popular non sponsorship pathway for Hongkongers. More than 120,000 Hong Kong nationals have moved to the UK on this visa since it was created in 2021.

To be eligible for this visa you must be a citizen of Hong Kong who registered as a British national before July 1997. You are allowed to add immediate family members to this visa which allows you to stay for up to five years. After this time, you can apply to settle in the UK through “indefinite leave to remain”.

The cost for the British National Overseas visa is £180 for two years and six months, or £250 for five years. You will have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for the UK ancestry visa, which is currently £1,035. If you are applying for a 5-year visa you will have to pay £1,035 each year, therefore you will have to pay a total of £5,175.

Graduate Visa

Already studying nursing in the UK for a nursing degree? The Graduate visa is a popular way for students to remain in the UK after they have graduated. This visa is sometimes known as a Post-Study Work visa or PSW UK visa.

To be eligible you must have recently graduated from an UK eligible university with at least a bachelors degree. You must still live in the UK and the course at least 12 months long.

The application fee for the Graduate visa is £822 and allows you to live and work in the UK without job sponsorship. You can stay for up to two years after a bachelors degrees or three years with a PHD or doctoral degree.

Youth Mobility Scheme (Working Holiday Visa)

The Youth Mobility Scheme otherwise known as a Working Holiday is a great opportunity to live and work in the UK as a young person. The visa lasts for two years and allows you to work for employers that one day may sponsor you.

Requirements for the Youth Mobility Scheme include being from an eligible country and being aged between 18-30. Although from January 31 2024, some nationalities age limits will be increased to 18-35.

The application fee is £298 and you must have at least £2,530 in your bank account as savings.

India Young Professionals Scheme

The India Young Professionals Scheme is a new scheme that was introduced in 2023, it allows young Indian graduates to live and work in the UK. The visa lasts for two years and allows you to work for potential employers who might pay for a longer term work visa to keep you.

To be eligible, you must be an Indian national who has graduated with a bachelors degree and be aged between 18-30. You must not have been in the UK before on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

The application fee is £259 and you must have at least £2,530 of savings as proof of funds in your bank account. You can only apply for this scheme once. Afterwards, you will have to switch on to another visa such as the Skilled Worker visa.

NHS Jobs for Nurses Documents Required

Documentation required depends on your personal circumstances and the work visa that you applied for.

A Certificate of Sponsorship UK is required when applying for the Health and Care Worker visa. A Certificate of Sponsorship UK is a document and reference number that proves you are eligible for the chosen visa, which is created by the employer. You then use this document when you are applying for your work visa. The certificate is valid for three months after acceptance.

• Certificate of Sponsorship UK
• Proof of your knowledge of English
• A valid passport for the entirety of the visa
• Occupation and Salary
• Bank statement proving sufficient funds
• Name of employer and license number

NHS Jobs for Nurses in London

If you are looking for nurses jobs in London you will follow the same process as any other region. A nurse salary in London tends to be higher than the rest of the UK due to a higher cost of living.

If you are offered a job by NHS in London, they will support you with your Health and Care Visa application and the move over to the United Kingdom.

Can You Bring Your Family?

NHS jobs for nurses in the UK can sometimes offer the opportunity to bring family with you.

The Health and Care Worker visa allows you to being your family with you. The cost of this is £284 per person for up to three years or £551 for up to five years.

The UK Ancestry visa allow you to bring any dependants at £637 per person. The visa length will match the main applicant.

The British National Overseas Visa (Hong Kong) allows family members to join you at a cost of £2,885 per person.

The Graduate visa allows you to bring your family if they were also on the Student visa prior. The cost is £822 per person.

Career Path for Nurses in the UK

NHS jobs for nurses in the UK offers a secure and long-term career. Salaries are around the UK average but more money can be earned above this by overtime or working bank holidays.

Entry level graduates or overseas applicants will most likely enter the NHS as a Band 5 nurse, this is to gain experience working in a UK hospital. As of February 2025, the starting salary for a nurse in band 5 is £29,969 in England & Wales, after 4 years this increases to £36,483. In Scotland, the starting salary is £31,892 in which after 4 years increases to £39,735. This does not include extra pay for working unsociable hours such as weekends and night shifts.

You will also be entitled to a minimum of 27 paid holidays per year alongside 8 bank holidays, if you work a bank holiday you will be entitled to extra pay. Maternity with the NHS includes 2 months full pay guaranteed, 7 months of at least half pay and an option for another 3 months unpaid without effecting your career.

Can NHS Nursing Lead to Settlement?

Yes, the first step to becoming a British citizen is being granted a visa that contributes towards the 5 year requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). NHS jobs for nurses will contribute to the 5 year requirement through the Health and Care Worker visa.

There are 3 main stages to being granted British citizenship.

• Live and Work in the UK for 5 years on a work visa
• Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
• Apply for Naturalisation/British citizenship

FAQs: NHS Jobs for Nurses

❓ Are NHS jobs for nurses open to overseas applicants?

Yes. Many NHS employers sponsor overseas nurses through the Health and Care Worker visa.

❓ Do I need IELTS or OET to apply?

Yes, unless you trained in a majority English-speaking country. The NMC requires proof of English language ability.

❓ How long does the recruitment process take?

On average, it takes 3–6 months for overseas nurses to complete registration, secure a job offer, and obtain a visa.

What to Read Next

If you’re planning to apply for NHS nursing jobs, these guides will help:

👉 How to Work as a Nurse in the UK
👉 Health and Care Worker Visa
👉 List of Companies That Sponsor Work Visas in the UK
👉 First 90 Days in the UK

Have questions or want help choosing the right visa? Subscribe or explore more articles on UK visas and immigration tips.

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