UK Skilled Worker Visa Documents for Nigerian Healthcare Workers 2026

Nigeria is the third largest source of UK Skilled Worker visas. A significant proportion of Nigerian applicants work in healthcare — as nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, and care workers. This guide covers the specific documents Nigerian nationals need for the UK Skilled Worker visa and Health and Care Worker visa in 2026.

Health and Care Worker visa vs Skilled Worker visa

Nigerian healthcare workers applying to work for the NHS, an NHS-commissioned service, or a registered UK adult social care provider should apply for the Health and Care Worker visa — a sub-category of the Skilled Worker route. It carries lower application fees (the Immigration Health Surcharge is waived) and priority processing is available.

The core document requirements are the same as the Skilled Worker visa, but with additional professional registration evidence and a higher scrutiny of English language evidence.

Professional registration requirements

Nurses and midwives must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You can apply for NMC registration before entering the UK through the Overseas Nursing Programme (ONP) or CBT/OSCE route. NMC registration typically takes 3–6 months from application. Your Certificate of Sponsorship must be issued after you have been offered a job — many NHS trusts will not issue a CoS until NMC registration is confirmed or in progress.

Doctors must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). The PLAB route (two-part exam) is the most common path for Nigerian doctors. GMC registration must be active before your visa application is submitted.

Pharmacists register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Physiotherapists, radiographers, and other allied health professionals register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Care workers in adult social care do not require professional registration with a statutory body. However, your employer must be a registered Care Quality Commission (CQC) provider and must hold a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence.

English language requirements for Nigerian healthcare applicants

English language requirements for healthcare workers are more complex than for other Skilled Worker applicants.

Nurses (NMC route): NMC requires either IELTS Academic 7.0 overall (with no component below 6.5) or OET Grade B in all four components. The NMC English evidence is separate from the visa English requirement. For the visa itself, CEFR B2 (IELTS UKVI 5.5 equivalent) is the minimum — but most nurses will already have IELTS 7.0 or OET B from the NMC process.

Doctors (GMC route): GMC accepts IELTS Academic 7.5 overall (no component below 7.0) or OET Grade B in all components for full registration. Again, this exceeds the visa minimum.

Care workers: The standard Skilled Worker English requirement applies — CEFR B2 for new applicants from January 2026. This can be met with IELTS UKVI 5.5 in each component, PTE Academic UKVI, or LanguageCert ESOL SELT.

TB test requirements for Nigerian applicants

Nigeria is on the mandatory TB testing list. Before applying for your visa, you must obtain a TB test certificate from an approved clinic in Nigeria. The certificate must be dated within 6 months of your visa application date.

Approved TB testing clinics in Nigeria include centres in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. The cost is typically NGN 35,000–60,000. The test result takes 3–5 working days. A clear (negative) result is required — a positive result requires further medical evaluation before you can proceed with the visa application.

Police clearance certificate

UKVI requires that all UK visa applicants disclose criminal convictions. For Nigerian applicants, the standard requirement is to provide evidence of your criminal record if specifically requested. However, the NHS and CQC-registered care providers may separately require a Nigerian Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) as part of their own pre-employment checks.

The Nigerian Police PCC is obtained from the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja. Allow 4–6 weeks. Some NHS trusts will accept a notarised statutory declaration in place of a PCC if there have been delays. Clarify the requirement with your employer before applying.

Full document checklist for Nigerian healthcare workers

Valid Nigerian passport — all pages, including prior UK visas
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference from your UK employer
NMC, GMC, GPhC, or HCPC registration certificate (as applicable)
English language certificate — IELTS Academic UKVI, OET, or other approved SELT
TB test certificate from an approved Nigerian clinic (dated within 6 months)
Bank statements showing £1,270 for 28 days (unless A-rated sponsor exemption applies)
Employer letter confirming salary, job title, start date, and contract type
Nigerian Police Clearance Certificate (if required by employer)
Degree or diploma certificates for your healthcare qualification
Evidence of any post-qualification experience (employment references, payslips)

Common issues for Nigerian applicants

NMC delays: NMC registration can take longer than expected. Trusts sometimes rescind a job offer if NMC registration is not achieved within a set period. Apply for NMC registration as early as possible — months before you expect to need the visa.

OET vs IELTS: Some Nigerian applicants pass IELTS at the required score but fail OET, or vice versa. Check the exact score requirements for your registration body and plan accordingly. Re-test fees are significant — both tests cost over £200 per sitting.

TB certificate timing: If you book the TB test early but your visa application is delayed — for example, because NMC registration takes longer — your TB certificate may expire before you submit. Book the test as close as possible to your planned application date.

Bank statement format:Nigerian bank statements must be official — on headed paper or certified online PDF printouts from your bank's portal. Informal printouts or screenshots are rejected. GTBank, Zenith, First Bank, and most major Nigerian banks issue certified statements on request from the branch.

Get a personalised document checklist

VisaVault generates a personalised Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa document checklist based on your exact circumstances. Visit the Skilled Worker visa page to start your application.