For a foreigner to enter the UK, the foreigner would need to have a valid UK visa. A UK Skilled Worker visa allows foreign nationals to enter or stay in the UK to engage in eligible jobs. The UK Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.

A Skilled Worker visa is valid for 5 years of which you can apply to extend the visa for another 5 years as long as you still meet the eligibility requirement or apply to settle permanently in the UK after you must have lived in the UK for at least 5 years on a Skilled Worker visa.

Requirements for a UK Skilled Worker Visa

You are eligible to apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa if you meet the following requirements below:

• Get a job offer from a UK employer that is approved by the UK Home Office

• Get an offer on a job that is on the list of eligible jobs in the UK

• Get a Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK employer with the description of the role you will be doing in the UK

• Be paid the minimum wage or going rate for the type of job you will be doing in the UK whichever is higher.

• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English Language at least on level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

• Must have enough fund to support yourself during your first month in the UK

Approved UK Employer or Sponsor Requirement

You have to get a job offer from an approved UK sponsor. You must ensure that your sponsor is approved by the UK Home Office. If your UK employer is not yet licensed to sponsor foreign workers, they can apply to get a license to sponsor foreign workers.

It usually takes around 8 weeks for a UK employer to get a decision on their sponsor license application. If your UK employer is not yet approved by UK Home Office and wants to apply to get a sponsor license, they have to pay the sum of 536 pounds if they are a small organization or charity. If they are medium or large organization, they have to pay the sum of 1,476 pounds.

Job Requirement

To successfully apply and get your UK Skilled Worker visa approved, you must get a job offer on a job that is on the list of eligible jobs in the UK. To know if your job is on the list of eligible jobs, you first need to know the 4 digit occupation code for your job. You can either get the occupation code for your job from your UK employer or look up the occupation code for your job in the CASCOT Occupation Coding Tool.

After getting the occupation code for your job, you can then check the list of eligible jobs in the UK to know if your job is on the list of eligible jobs. This list is sorted by occupation code with the smallest occupation code at the top of the list.

Certificate of Sponsorship Requirement

Before you can proceed to applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa, your UK employer must first send you a certificate of sponsorship detailing the description of the role you will be doing in the United Kingdom, the minimum salary you will be paid and other important information relevant to your Skilled Worker visa application.

This document contains a unique reference number which you will use for your application. This document is not a physical document but an electronic document.

Minimum Wage Requirement

To successfully apply and get a UK Skilled Worker visa approved, your salary has to meet the minimum salary requirement of 38,700 pounds per year or the “going rate” for the job you will be doing, whichever is higher.

In some circumstances, if your job is on the list of eligible jobs but your salary does not meet the minimum salary requirement of 38,700 per year or the “going rate” for your job, you can still be eligible for UK Skilled Worker visa if your salary is at least 30,960 pounds and you meet any of the following requirement below:

• You are under 26, studying at a degree level qualification or a recent graduate or in a professional training

• You have a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math PhD level qualification that is relevant to your job. If you have a relevant PhD level qualification in any other subject, your salary must be at least 26,100 pounds

• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.

• If your job is on the immigration salary list.

You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the “going rate” for your job if your salary is at least 30,960 pounds per year.

English Language Requirement

To successfully apply and get your Skilled Worker visa approved, you have to prove that you can read, write, speak and understand English at least on level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

You can prove your knowledge for English Language by:

• Writing and passing the standardized English assessment test by an approved provider (eg TOEFL, IELTS)

• Having a GCSE or A level qualification

• Having a degree-level qualification that was taught in English Language. If you got the qualification abroad, it has to be equivalent to a UK degree-level qualification.

You don’t need to prove your knowledge for English if you are from any of the listed countries below:

Proof of Fund Requirement

You must prove that you have sufficient fund to take care of yourself during your first month in the UK. You are expected to have a minimum of 1,270 pounds to support yourself during your first month in the UK.

This money has to be in your account for a period of 28 consecutive days. The end of this 28 days period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your UK Skilled Worker visa. You can prove that you have sufficient funds by providing your bank account statement.

Who is Exempt from the Financial Requirement?

You are exempt from this financial requirement if:

• Your UK sponsor agrees to cover your cost during your first month in the UK. If your UK sponsor will be covering the cost for your first month in the UK, your employer have to complete the “sponsor certifies maintenance” section of the certificate of sponsorship that will be sent to you.

• You have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

Required Documents for UK Skilled Worker Visa

Here we have listed all the required documents that you will need to successfully apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa.

• International Passport: You need to have a valid international passport with a validity period of at least 6 months beyond your intended period of stay in the UK

• Certificate of Sponsorship: You need to have ready your certificate of sponsorship that will be sent to you by your UK sponsor. This electronic document contains your unique reference number so it’s a very important document, of which you cannot proceed with your visa application without this document.

• Proof of Fund: You need to have ready your bank account statement for the last 6 months to prove that you have sufficient fund to take care of yourself during your first one month in the UK

• Standardized English Language Assessment Test Certificate: You need to provide the certificate of the English Language Assessment test you took with an approved provider (eg. IELTS certificate)

Additional Documents

Under certain circumstances, you might be required to provide some of the documents listed below:

• Tuberculosis Test Result if you are applying from a listed country

• Proof of relationship with your dependents: You have to prove your relationship with your family members (civil partner, spouse, unmarried partner, children under the age of 18), if they are applying with you.

• A criminal record certificate if you are working in certain jobs like healthcare, therapy, education and social services

• A valid ATAS certificate if your job requires researching on sensitive topics.

• A UK PhD certificate if you will be working on a postdoctoral position in science or higher institution

How Long can I stay in the UK on a Skilled Worker Visa?

You can stay up to 5 years on a UK Skilled Worker visa, after which you can decide to extend if you are still eligible or apply to settle permanently in the UK (indefinite leave to remain). You can live, work, study, do business for as long as you want in the UK.

What can I do with a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

With a UK Skilled Worker visa you can do the following listed below:

• You can work in an eligible job

• You can study

• you can take on additional job in certain circumstances

• You can bring your partner and children with you as your dependents

• You can do voluntary job

• You can travel abroad and return to the UK

• You can settle in the UK permanently after 5 years

What can I not do with a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

• You cannot claim public funds or pensions

• You cannot change job or employer unless you apply to update your visa

UK Skilled Worker Visa Fees

The fees for the UK Skilled Worker visa ranges between 719 and 1,639 pounds. The exact visa fee to be paid depends on several factors like where you are applying from (within or outside the UK), the validity period of the visa that you will be applying for, and whether or not your job is on the UK immigration salary list.

Applying from outside the UK

If you are applying from outside the UK and the validity period of the visa is 3 years, the application fee will be 719 pounds. But if you are applying from outside the UK and the validity period for the visa is more than 3 years, then the application fee is 1,420 pounds.

Applying from within the UK

If you are applying from within the UK to extend, switch or update your visa, and the validity period of the visa is 3 years, the application fee will be 827 pounds and 1,637 if the visa validity period is more than 3 years.

UK Immigration Salary List

If your job is on the UK immigration salary list, regardless of where you are applying from (within or outside the UK), the application fee will be 551 pounds if the visa has a validity period of 3 years and 1,084 pounds if the visa has a validity period more than 3 years.

Healthcare Surcharge

You are required to pay a healthcare surcharge fee of 1,035 pounds each year that you will live in the UK. If your dependents (eligible partner and children) will be joining you in the UK, they also need to pay for the healthcare surcharge fee for each year that they will live in the UK.

UK Skilled Worker Visa Application Process

The application process of a UK Skilled Worker visa is a very easy one if you follow the correct steps outlined below. If you want us to handle the whole application process for you, you can get in touch with us and one of our expert consultants will be more than happy to assist you with your visa application.

Applying from outside the UK

Here are the steps that you should follow if you are applying from outside the UK:

• Apply Online: You first have to apply online using your reference number. You can find your reference number on the certificate of sponsorship that was sent to you by your UK employer

• Proof of Identity: After applying online, you have to prove your identity by submitting your fingerprint and passport photographs (biometric information) to the UK Visa and Immigration Application Center in your home country or use the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app to scan your fingerprint and send to UK Visa and Immigration. To use this app, you need to sign in or sign up for a UK Visa and Immigration account.

How Early can I Apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

The earliest you can apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa is at least 3 months before the date of your job commencement in the UK. You will find the commencement date of your job on the certificate of sponsorship sent to you by your employer.

How long does it take to get a decision on my UK Skilled Worker Visa?

How long it will take to get a decision on your visa application depends on whether or not you are applying from within the UK or outside the UK. If you are applying from within the United Kingdom, it usually takes 8 weeks to get a decision on your application.

But if you are applying from outside the UK, it usually takes 3 weeks to get a decision on your visa application. If it takes longer than 3 weeks, it could be as a result of complication on your application.

Can my Partner and Children join me in the UK?

Your dependents can apply to join you or stay in the UK if they are eligible. They will need to apply separately and pay all the required fees. Your dependents are any of the following:

• Civil partner

• Unmarried partner

• Spouse

• Children under the age of 18 years

You have to prove your relationship with your dependents when you apply for your UK Skilled Worker visa

When you are a care worker or  senior care worker

Your dependents cannot apply to join you or stay in the UK if you are a care worker or senior care worker unless you were employed as a care worker or senior care worker in the United Kingdom on a Skilled Worker visa before 11 March 2024 and one of the following is true:

• You are currently still on a Skilled Worker visa

• You are extending your Skilled Worker visa with your current employer

• You are switching to a new job on the same occupation code while on a Skilled Worker visa

How much does  my dependents need to support themselves?

Your dependents need to prove that they have sufficient fund to support themselves during their first one month in the UK. Here is a list of how much your dependents need to support themselves:

• 285 pounds for your partner

• 315 pounds for your child

• 200 for each additional child

Your dependents will need to have had the money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end of the 28 days period must be within 31 days of the date they will be applying for their visa.

They will need to show proof of this fund by presenting a bank account statement for the last 6 months unless:

• They have been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months.

• Your employer agreed to cover your dependents cost during their first one month in the UK. This must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship.

Can I extend my UK Skilled Worker Visa?

A Skilled Worker visa generally has a validity period ranging between 3 and 5 years depending on your agreement with your UK sponsor. After the 5 years validity period, you can then apply to extend your Skilled Worker visa as long as you still meet the eligibility requirement.

To extend your UK Skilled Worker visa, you have to meet one of the following requirements listed below:

• You have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK

• Your job is in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or  stay in the UK

• You are still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship

If you got your first certificate of sponsorship before 4 April 2024, you might be able to meet lower salary requirements while applying to extend your Skilled Worker visa.

When can I update my UK skilled Worker Visa?

You can apply to update your Skilled Worker visa under one of the following circumstances:

• When you change your job and your new job is with a different employer

• When your job changes to a different occupation code

• When you leave a job that is on the immigration salary list for a job that is not on the list

• When you want to add a second job to your current visa.

Note: If you are changing a job for the same employer that gave you your current certificate of sponsorship, you do not need to update your Skilled Worker visa unless the new job is in a different occupation code.

If you are applying to add a second job to your current visa, your new job has to meet the eligibility requirement and you can prove this by getting a certificate of sponsorship from your second employer.

Can I switch to a UK Skilled Worker Visa from another Visa?

You can apply to switch to a UK Skilled Worker visa if you are already in the UK on a different type of UK visa. Your dependents can also apply together with you to switch their visa to a UK Skilled Worker visa.

What are the requirements for switching to a Skilled Worker Visa?

In order to switch to a UK Skilled Worker visa, you must meet the following requirements listed below:

• Your job meets the eligibility requirement

• You must be able to read, write, speak and understand English Language

If you are currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet the following requirements listed below:

• You have completed your course of study

• Your job start date is after you have completed your course of study

• You have studied for a PhD level qualification for at least 24 months

Who cannot apply to switch to a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

You or your dependents (eligible partner and children) cannot apply to switch to a UK Skilled Worker visa if you or they are currently in the UK:

• on a visit visa

• on a short term student visa

• on a Parent of a Child Student visa

• on a domestic worker in a private household visa

• on immigration bail

If you fall under any of the above category, you have to leave the UK and apply for a Skilled Worker visa from your home country.

It usually takes 8 weeks to get a decision on your Skilled Worker visa application. You might be able to get a faster decision by paying for premium processing.