International FAQ's
By Gemma Raw
What date should I put as my arrival date on my visa application?
There are lots of things that can impact your arrival date and so it is always best to ask your Sanctuary consultant before inputting an arrival date on your Visa application. They will be able to provide you with a realistic date.
At what point should I hand my notice in at my current job?
This is a question that lots of people have. You should only give notice on your current role once you have received your Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) and not before. That way, you can be certain your relocation will go ahead as planned before leaving your current role. If you have any concerns about how and when it is the best time to give notice, please speak to your Sanctuary consultant.
When should I give notice on my rental property or look to start selling my house/car etc.
You must wait for us to advise you when it is okay to give notice on your current rental property. Usually, this is when Sanctuary has received your Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) back, your Visa application is in process, and your UK property search has started.
Can I bring my partner/family with me?
Yes! Every day we help our candidates to relocate other family members. You can sponsor your partner/family to come over to the UK, apply for their visas alongside your own, and even use some of your relocation allowance to cover the costs involved.
What documents do I need for a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS)?
To apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS), you will need the following:
Proof of English ECCTIS (NARIC) or IELTS (some countries are exempt from this)
Police Checks from any country you have stayed in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
Passport
Social Work Qualification
Social Work England/Social Care Wales Registration
What Visa do I apply for?
There are lots of different visa types in the UK, but the one you will need to apply for is a Health and Care Worker Visa. Don’t worry, your Sanctuary consultant will help you through the process.
What do I need to apply for a Visa?
You will need all the same documents that you used to apply for your Certificate of Sponsorship (COS), your COS itself and:
Proof of tuberculosis (TB) Immunity (if from a high-risk country)
Evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself financially in the UK (e.g., bank statements)
Proof of your relationship with your partner or children (if they’re applying with you)
How long does it take to receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS)?
Once Sanctuary has received all the documentation needed from you for it to be issued, your COS should come back within one or two weeks of being submitted. So, it’s not too long.
What are the requirements for this role?
All roles will require a UK Visa (we can assist with this) and:
Social workers: A degree in social work, minimum 3 years post-qualifying experience, proof of English via IELTS or Ecctis, and registration with Social Work England.
Nurses: A degree in nursing, minimum 1 year post-qualifying experience, proof of English via IELTS, OET or Ecctis, registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council.
Allied health professionals: A degree in a relevant subject, minimum 2 years post-qualifying experience, proof of English via IELTS or Ecctis, and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Do you recruit from my country?
As one of NHS Employers’ ethical recruiters, we recruit exclusively from WHO green list countries and cannot recruit from those on the red or amber list. This has been put in place by the World Health Organisation, as these countries are developing countries, and so we are currently not able to place anyone with only experience in these countries.
What sectors do you recruit overseas candidates for?
Social Workers
Nurses
Allied Health Professionals (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, sonographers, pharmacists, speech & language therapists, biomedical scientists, podiatrists and dietitians).
Can I drive in the UK?
Use this tool to see if you can drive in Great Britain with your non-GB driving licence.
Use this tool to find out how to exchange your non-British driving licence for a British licence.
How long does it take to receive my visa back?
After your biometrics appointment, you should receive your visa within 3 weeks (15 working days). However, for reasons beyond Sanctuary’s control, this timeframe can vary as it depends on how busy the government’s visa application service is. Most are returned within 15 working days, though.
As a social worker, what do I need to prove my knowledge of English?
If your training course was taught 100% in English, you can choose the ECCTIS route (previously NARIC) where you must select the visa and nationality services.
If your training course was not taught in English, or you cannot get ECCTIS for some other reason, you must pass the IELTS English language test. Remember, you must select IELTS general training (not academic).
As a nurse, what do I need to prove my knowledge of English?
To register with the NMC, you need to meet their English language requirements. This is an IELTS overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 for writing and a minimum of 7 in reading/listening/speaking, or OET C+ in writing and B in reading/listening/speaking.
As an allied health professional, what do I need to prove my knowledge of English?
There are a couple of different ways you can prove your English Language Proficiency to the HCPC, the best and quickest way, is to arrange for an IELTS or OET test, and score the minimum score necessary (overall 7.0 with no element below 6.5).
If you were educated in the English language, you may instead request from your university an English Language as Medium of Instruction Certificate, along with other supporting, translated, documents, such as the Education Syllabus and Transcripts, to apply to the HCPC.
Do I need to take any other tests?
To register with the NMC, you will need to take a CBT exam prior to arriving in the UK. Once you have commenced your employment in the UK you will be trained to pass the OSCE exam, on completion of this you will receive your nursing PIN. Read more.
What sponsorship or relocation packages do you offer?
Our clients offer sponsorship but this varies between jobs. Most clients offer travel and accommodation allowances, whilst we offer relocation assistance. Visa sponsorship will be provided by the client upon an accepted job offer. We can provide assistance with this.
As a social worker, what does the £8000 relocation allowance cover?
Your £8000 relocation allowance is there to cover your core relocation costs and to help you in your first month of arriving in the UK. It includes the following:
Your visa
Flight to UK (reimbursed on arrival)
Where required, quarantine hotel and/or pre/post departure Covid Tests
Transfer (transport) to your accommodation
Deposit and up to 1 to 2 months’ rent (price-dependent)
Your first food shop
Personal items such as toiletries, bedding, TV, kitchenware, electrical goods etc
Cash on arrival to help you manage until your first salary payment
Items required for your Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) or visa application (reimbursed upon arrival):
UK NARIC (ECCITS) or IELTS Certification
Police Clearance Certificates
Tuberculosis (TB) Immunity Check
Flights and visas for family members
Things your allowance does not cover (please note that this is not an exhaustive list):
The cost of Social Work England membership. This can be reclaimed through the expenses system upon starting with your employer
Clothing
Non-essential electrical items e.g., headphones, laptops etc. (your employer will provide any work equipment)
Non-essential personal items e.g., make up, footwear, bags, accessories etc.
Vehicle Purchase (Retention payments can be used for this)
Please note that your relocation allowance is managed by Sanctuary and will remain open for two months after your arrival in the UK.
As a nurse, what relocation is offered?
The relocation will vary from one employer to the next, but most will provide:
Single flight to the UK
Accommodation for 1 to 3 months
Visa paid for
OSCE paid for
Reimbursement of English language test.
I sent you my CV, why haven't I heard back yet?
Due to the volume of daily applications we receive, we're not able to reply to every application straight away. However, everyone who reaches out to Sanctuary International will have their details recorded and will be contacted as soon as we are able to consider them.
If you do have any further questions that you would like answered, please get in touch with us.
