Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa and is now the primary UK work-visa for international professionals workers. Whether you’re an employer seeking to hire skilled workers from abroad or an individual applying for a sponsored work visa, understanding the Skilled Worker visa’s eligibility and application requirements is crucial to avoid complications with the Home Office.

We assist both sponsors and workers with job offers in navigating the visa-application process. We have extensive experience in guiding employers and workers through UK employment-sponsorship and the Skilled Worker visa application. For tailored immigration advice, feel free to reach out.

Overview

The Skilled Worker visa empowers employers to sponsor non-UK citizens for eligible skilled roles in the UK. To be eligible, individuals must have a valid job offer from a UK employer with a sponsorship licence and prove their knowledge of the English language to at least level B1. This visa also accommodates spouses, durable partners, and dependent children (under 18), allowing them to join the main applicant in the UK.

This visa is granted for up to five years, with the possibility of applying for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain after this period.

Requirements

The Skilled Worker visa requirements are detailed in the Appendix Skilled Worker.

The mandatory criteria is:

The job offer at an appropriate skill level – ‘certificate of sponsorship’ (CoS)
Knowledge of the English language at level B.
The minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing is whichever is the highest of:

£41,700 per year
the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing
you might still be eligible if your salary will be at least £33,400 per year if:

you’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
you have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education
Your job is on the immigration salary list

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs. Your salary must be at least £25,000 – or more if your job’s ‘going rate’ is higher.

Application fees

From outside the UK:

up to 3 years – £769 per person
more than 3 years – £1,519 per person

From inside the UK:

up to 3 years – £885 per person
more than 3 years – £1,751 per person

You and your family will pay a lower application fee if your job is on the immigration salary list (the fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK):

£590 for up to 3 years
£1,160 for more than 3 years

+ the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge – this is usually £1,035 per year

Other useful information:

English Language Requirement

Applicants must meet a minimum B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale for reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English. This requirement can be met by passing an exam from an approved provider or by having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English. Exemptions exist for nationals of specific countries. For more information, please click here.

Financial Maintenance Requirement

Generally, applicants must have a minimum of £1,270 in their bank account for 28 consecutive days to show they can support themselves.

Additional funds are required for dependants:

£285 for your partner
£315 for one child
£200 for each additional child

(please note this is not necessary if your employer certifies maintenance on your CoS).

For more information, please click here.

Background Check Requirement

Some applicants may need to provide a criminal record certificate based on their occupation sector, for example: education, healthcare, therapy and social services. For more information, please click here.

Health and Care Workers

Health and Care professionals (qualified doctors, nurses, and health professionals) have a dedicated route, the Health & Care Worker visa, offering benefits over the Skilled Worker visa. For more information, please click here.

How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa

Applicants must submit an online application, support documents, and pay the relevant fee. Applications can be made up to three months before the intended employment start date, as stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

Skilled Worker Visa Processing Times

Processing times vary, with applications taking up to eight weeks within the UK or three weeks outside the UK. Fast-track processing is available in some countries paying an additional fee.

Skilled Worker Visa Duration

The visa can last from one up to five years. After 5 years applicants may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. (here insert Indefinite Leave to Remain hyperlink to our website Indefinite Leave to Remain page).

You will be able to extend your SWV before it expires as long as you remain working for the same sponsor or employer and in the same occupation. If you change employer or employment, you must request a new SWV.

After 5 years in the UK, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. The qualifying period can be met with one or more SWVs with the same employer or combining your periods with different employers.

Skilled Worker Visa for Employers

Employers planning to hire non-UK residents must obtain a sponsorship license, demonstrating their genuine operation and suitability to sponsor skilled migrant workers. Eligibility criteria include offering genuine employment, meeting sponsorship duties, and maintaining an honest and reliable employee’s records.

Relevant links:

Skilled worker visa eligible occupations and codes *: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations-and-codes]

Skilled worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes *: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-going-rates-for-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-going-rates-for-eligible-occupation-codes]

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