UK visa requirements for South African nurses (2026)

Nursing is one of the clearest UK routes for South Africans, because there's a dedicated visa for health professionals with real cost advantages over the standard Skilled Worker route. Here's what the path actually looks like.

The Health and Care Worker visa

Eligible health and care roles use the Health and Care Worker visa — a subset of the Skilled Worker route with lower application fees and, importantly, an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. For a family, that IHS exemption alone can be worth a large sum.

Confirm the current eligibility list, fees and the IHS exemption on gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa before budgeting — the exemption is the single biggest reason this route is cheaper.

NMC registration

To work as a nurse you must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). For internationally trained nurses this usually means a competency test (a computer-based test plus a practical OSCE) and an English requirement. Start this early — it's the longest-lead item.

• A job offer from a licensed sponsor (an NHS trust or an approved care provider).
• NMC registration (or being on the path to it, depending on the employer's programme).
• English evidence — often IELTS/OET, though some routes accept other proof.
• A TB test, as for all South African applicants.

The money side still applies

Even with the IHS exemption, you still need to plan ceasing SA tax residency, your retirement annuity, and moving funds. Use the estimator to budget the rest of the move and the readiness quiz to gauge where you are.