Access the latest UK Health and Care Visa sponsor list 2026, verify licensed UK employers for Nigerian nurses, and learn how to check the Tier 2 skilled worker visa sponsor list in minutes. Includes official links, guide, and eligibility breakdown for Nigerian applicants.

UK Health and Care Worker Visa Sponsor License Checker for Nigerians (2026 Guide)

The UK Still Wants Healthcare Workers — The Question Is WHO Can Legally Sponsor You?

Every year, thousands of Nigerian nurses, caregivers, senior care assistants, lab technicians, radiographers, and health professionals apply for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa. But the biggest mistake many Nigerians make is applying to employers who are NOT licensed sponsors.

If a UK employer is not on the official sponsor list, they CANNOT issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
No CoS = No visa.
No visa = No relocation.

This guide gives you the official 2026 UK Health and Care Visa sponsor list, teaches you how to verify employers, shows you high-demand sectors for Nigerian nurses, and breaks down exactly how to avoid scams.

Official UK Health and Care Visa Sponsor List 2026

The UK Government maintains a public, up-to-date list of all employers legally approved to sponsor foreign workers under the Skilled Worker and Health & Care routes.

Official Sponsor List (Government Link)

👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers

This list is updated regularly — often weekly.

What it includes:

Employer name
Sponsorship rating (A-rating or suspended)
Type of license (Skilled Worker / Health & Care)
Employer location
Industry category

Important:

If the employer is NOT on this list → they cannot sponsor you.

Types of UK Employers Allowed to Sponsor Nigerian Healthcare Workers

Here are the categories of UK employers most relevant to Nigerian applicants:

NHS Trusts

All major NHS Trusts are licensed sponsors. These are the safest and most reputable employment routes.

Examples:

NHS Scotland
NHS England Trusts (Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool)
NHS Wales
NHS Northern Ireland

Private Hospitals (Licensed)

Not all private hospitals sponsor, but many do.

Examples often seen hiring Nigerians:

Bupa
Spire Healthcare
Nuffield Health
Circle Health Group

Care Homes (ONLY licensed ones)

Because of high fraud cases, the UK Home Office removed many illegal care homes in 2023–2024. Therefore, always verify using the official link.

Examples of licensed care providers:

Care UK
Helping Hands
Agincare
Anchor Hanover Group
HC One

Healthcare Agencies (Only licensed ones)

Some recruitment agencies sponsor nurses and HCAs.

Examples commonly used:

Medacs Healthcare
NHS Professionals
HCL Workforce Solutions
Global Nurse Force
Drake Medox

How to Check If a UK Employer Can Sponsor Nigerians (Step-by-Step)

This is the UK Health and Care Worker Visa Sponsor License Checker you need.

Step 1: Go to the Official Sponsor List

👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers

Step 2: Download the list (Excel/CSV/PDF)

Choose the Excel format for the easiest search.

Step 3: Search for the employer name

Use the search function (Ctrl + F).

If the employer appears → proceed.
If not → they CANNOT sponsor you.

Step 4: Check the license type

Look for:

Health and Care Worker
Skilled Worker

If they only have “Temporary Worker” or “Charity Worker” → they cannot sponsor healthcare visas.

Step 5: Check Sponsorship Rating

A-rating = Active and allowed
Suspended = Avoid
Revoked = Avoid immediately

Step 6: Confirm their business legitimacy

Google their address
Check company registration:
👉 https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

This eliminates fake employers.

Licensed UK Employers for Nigerian Nurses (2026 Highlights)

Keyword: licensed UK employer for Nigerian nurses

Below are employer categories with high Nigerian recruitment success:

NHS Trusts Recruiting Nigerians Frequently

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Leicester

All appear on the UK sponsor list.

Private Hospitals Hiring Nigerians

Spire Healthcare
Nuffield Health
Circle Health Group

Top Care Providers Sponsoring from Nigeria

(Verify all individually on the sponsor checker)

Agincare
HC-One
Sanctuary Care
Barchester Healthcare
The Orders of St John Care Trust
Voyage Care

Be careful: not all care homes listed online are licensed.

Mental Health & Community Providers

Priory Group
Cygnet Health Care
Turning Point

Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visa Sponsor List (2026 Guide)

Keyword: Tier 2 skilled worker visa sponsor list

This list covers ALL employers allowed to sponsor Skilled Workers — including:

Engineers
IT professionals
Chefs
Teachers
Accountants
Healthcare workers

You use the same sponsor register link.
👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers

The “Health and Care Worker” category is simply a subset of the Skilled Worker list.

Eligibility for UK Health and Care Visa for Nigerians (2026)

To qualify, Nigerian applicants must have:

✔ A valid job offer from a licensed sponsor

✔ A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

✔ Correct job title & NOC code (SOC code)

✔ English test (IELTS UKVI or OET)

✔ TB Test

✔ Police Clearance

✔ Proof of qualifications

Healthcare roles eligible include:

Nurses
Senior Carers (only if qualified)
Carers (limited sponsor options)
Lab Technicians
Radiographers
Physiotherapists
Occupational Therapists
Speech Therapists
Healthcare Assistants (HCA)
Mental Health Support Workers

Full list of eligible codes:
👉 https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa

Red Flags for Nigerian Applicants (Avoid These Scams)

Employer asks you to pay for your CoS

Illegal under UK law.

Agency asks for “visa sponsorship fee”

Illegal.

Care home has a gmail account instead of a professional domain

Suspicious.

Job advert seems too good to be true

Check the sponsor list immediately.

Employer not listed on sponsor register

AVOID.

They ask you to pay for relocation before giving CoS

Avoid scam.

Why Nigerians Get Rejected (Top Mistakes)

Applying to unlicensed employers
Using wrong SOC codes
Failing English test (IELTS UKVI requirement)
Not verifying employer legitimacy
Submitting incomplete reference letters
No proof of clinical hours

FAQs

Q1: Where can I find the UK Health and Care Visa sponsor list 2026?

👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers

Q2: Can any UK employer sponsor me?

No. Only employers on the official list.

Q3: Are care homes still sponsoring Nigerians?

Yes — but only licensed ones. Many have been banned.

Q4: How do I know if an employer is fake?

Search their name on the sponsor checker and Companies House.

Q5: Can nurses get sponsorship easily in 2026?

Yes. Nurses remain among the highest-demand occupations.

Q6: Is the Tier 2 skilled worker visa the same as Health and Care visa?

The Health and Care visa is a special category under the Skilled Worker route — with faster processing and lower fees.

Conclusion: Always Verify Before You Apply

The UK remains one of the easiest destinations for Nigerian healthcare workers — but ONLY if you apply through a licensed employer.

Using the UK Health and Care Worker Visa Sponsor License Checker is the single best way to avoid scams, wasted money, and visa refusal.

With the tools and links in this guide, you can:
✔ verify employers in seconds
✔ avoid illegal care homes
✔ choose reputable NHS/private employers
✔ apply confidently for 2026 recruitment cycles

Your UK journey begins with one step: checking the sponsor list.