As part of the national effort to combat coronavirus,
doctors, nurses and paramedics will automatically have
their visas extended, free of charge, for one year.
The extension, announced today (31 March) by the Home
Secretary , will apply to around
2,800 migrant doctors, nurses and paramedics, employed by
the NHS whose visa is due to expire before 1 October.
The extension will also apply to their family members,
demonstrating how valued overseas NHS staff are to the UK.
By giving them the peace of mind that they do not need to
apply for a visa extension, this will allow those at the
frontline – working around the clock in hospitals to treat
the most seriously ill – to focus fully on combatting
coronavirus and saving lives.
To get more doctors and nurses on the frontline, the Home
Office has also lifted the restriction on the amount of
hours student nurses and doctors can work in the NHS.
On top of these changes, pre-registered overseas nurses who
are currently required to sit their first skills test
within 3 months and to pass the test within 8 months, will
now have this deadline extended to the end of the year as
well.
This will give overseas nurses more time to pass their
exams, whilst they spend the immediate term working on the
frontline.
Home Secretary said:
Doctors, nurses and paramedics from all over the world
are playing a leading role in the NHS’s efforts to tackle
coronavirus and save lives. We owe them a great deal of
gratitude for all that they do.
I don’t want them distracted by the visa process. That is
why I have automatically extended their visas – free of
charge – for a further year.
The extension to NHS visas will be automatic, there will be
no fee attached and it will be exempt from the Immigration
Health Surcharge.
Trainee doctors and nurses will also not be limited by the
number of hours they can work in the NHS during term time.
