Career Advice

How to Get a Nursing Job in the UK with Visa Sponsorship

Nursing is a profession that is always in demand, and the UK is no exception. Many healthcare organisations in the UK, including NHS, are hiring nurses from all over the world and providing visa sponsorship. If you are an international nurse looking to work in the UK, there are several options available to you. Here's what you need to know.

1. Registering with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

To work as a nurse in the UK, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC is the regulatory body for nurses and midwives in the UK and maintains a register of qualified nurses and midwives who are eligible to work in the UK.

To register with the NMC, you will need to meet certain requirements, including having the necessary qualifications and passing an English language test. You can find more information about the registration process on the NMC website.

2. Applying for nursing jobs in the UK

Once you are registered with the NMC, you can start looking for nursing jobs in the UK. If you do not have an existing right to work in the UK, it is important for you to look for jobs that can sponsor either a Skilled Work visa or a Health and Care visa.

UK Visa Jobs has more than 1000 healthcare jobs, including nursing jobs with visa sponsorship, for you to choose from.

When applying for nursing jobs, make sure to highlight your qualifications and experience, as well as any relevant language skills. Employers in the UK are often looking for nurses who can speak multiple languages, especially those who can speak English and another language commonly spoken in the local community.

3. Interviewing

Once you have submitted your application, you may start receiving interview invitations if you meet the criteria for the specific role you are applying for. It is important to remember that most of the time, you will be interviewed by the organisation you will be employed. For example, if you apply for an NHS nursing job, you'll be interviewed and employed directly by the NHS trust you apply to.

An interview is an important stage that determines whether you will be offered a job or not. It is important to treat it seriously. If you have not attended an interview in the UK before, you may find our live interview workshop helpful, where we explain how to succeed in job interviews.

4. Receiving job offers & visa sponsorship

If you are successful with your job application by passing all the interviews and meeting the requirements, you will be offered a job, and you can start the visa application process. In many cases, once you have received a job offer, your employer will help with your visa application. For example, if you are offered a job by NHS, they will support you with your Health and Care Visa application and the move over to England.

There are several types of visas available if you are considering working in the UK as a nurse, including the Skilled Worker visa, which is the most common visa for skilled workers, and the Health and Care visa, which is common for people who would like to work in the Healthcare sector.

To be eligible for a Skilled Worker or Health and Care visa, you must have a job offer from a UK employer that is on the list of eligible occupations and meet the English language requirement. Nursing is one of the eligible occupations, so if you have a job offer from a UK hospital or healthcare facility, you may be able to apply for a visa.

In conclusion, if you are an international nurse looking to work in the UK, the first step is to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Once you are registered, you can start looking for visa-sponsored nursing jobs in the UK.

The entire application process can take three to 12 months or longer, depending on the role and the steps involved. You must be patient and keep applying for jobs during this period to be successful.

Start applying for nursing and healthcare jobs with visa sponsorship today.