Visas extended for midwives in the UK, Government announces
on 12 April 2021
The UK government has announced that visas for midwives and other frontline health workers, and their dependents, have been extended for free for one year.
The one-year visa extension will be automatically granted to eligible overseas health and care workers whose visas were due to expire before 1st October 2021.
Free extensions were granted last year, benefitting 10,000 frontline health workers. This latest announcement will benefit a further 14,000 people.
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The dedication and skill of overseas health and care workers who are leading the UK’s fight against coronavirus is truly extraordinary. Thousands of them have helped save countless lives throughout this pandemic and are now playing a vital part in the hugely successful vaccination rollout.”
Midwives in the NHS and private sector will have their visas extended for a year free of all fees and charges, as well as the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Those eligible for the extension will need to fill out an online form to verify their identity and employers will need to confirm their eligibility.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, adds: “Our overseas health and care workers make such a vital contribution to our health system and have been a key part of fight[sic] against the pandemic. They are protecting out loved ones and vaccinating the public so that we can save lives and return to normality.”
The Health and Care Visa was introduced in August 2020. In January 2021 the list of eligible occupations for this visa was extended.