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Ministerial correction made by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Friday, 10 April 2026, in the House of Commons on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Dentistry: Migrant Workers

Dentists, dental surgeons, dental therapists and other dental practitioners, including orthodontists, meet the raised skills threshold of Regulation Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 or above and continue to remain eligible for the Skilled Worker visa.

Those individuals already in the Skilled Worker route in dental professional roles at RQF 3 to 5, who have a certificate of sponsorship issued before 22 July 2025, can continue to work and extend their visas as long as they meet occupation salary thresholds. However, as these roles do not meet the new skills threshold of RQF level 6 or above, new visa applicants after 22 July are not eligible.

The numbers recruited from overseas into the dental professions are relatively low when compared to other healthcare professions such as nurses or doctors. In the second quarter of 2025, 29 dental nurses and 38 medical and dental technicians (including, though not exclusively, dental therapists and hygienists) were granted Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visas.


Secondary information

Type
Written correction
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Dental services Dentistry Visas Migrant workers
Link
View this Written correction on www.parliament.uk