Skilled Worker Visa
If you are looking to relocate to the UK to work then the Skilled Worker Visa could provide a valid route. To qualify you must have a job offer in a qualifying role and be sponsored by an approved employer.
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Page Contents
- Who is eligible for a Skilled Worker visa
- How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa?
- Switching to the Skilled Worker visa
- Skilled Worker Visa Fees and Processing Times
- Skilled Worker Visa Requirements for Employers
- Eligible Occupations for a Skilled Worker Visa
- Skilled Worker Duration and Conditions
- How Can LIL Help?
- Settle in the UK With a Skilled Worker Visa
- Complications and Skilled Worker Refusals
- Frequently Asked Questions
UK Skilled Worker Visa
The UK Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) Visa. If you wish to enter and stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approver employer, you will need to apply for this permit.
If you wish to seek legal advice, you can get in touch with our team of professional and reliable London Immigration Lawyers.
Who Is Eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa?
To be eligible to apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you must:
- Have a confirmed job offer from a licensed sponsor (i.e., a UK employer holding a Home Office approved sponsor licence). Your job must be on the list of eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker route
- Be paid a minimum salary of XX or the occupation’s ‘going rate’, whichever is higher. In specific scenarios, certain exceptions to this rule and lower thresholds may apply
- Have been issued a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from your sponsoring employer, which includes information about the job role
- Be able to speak, read, write and understand English at least at CEFR B2 level
- Be able to satisfy the general requirements under UK Immigration Rules, such as identity, suitability, no criminal conviction or record of immigration breach, etc.
Also, note that the Skilled Worker visa is part of the UK’s points-based immigration system. You must attain a minimum of 70 points by meeting specific eligibility criteria (e.g., skills, qualifications, salary level, etc.).
How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa?
Similar to most UK visas, a Skilled Worker visa application is an online process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply:
- Start with creating an account on the Home Office website with an email ID
- Have all your supporting documents (including the CoS you have received from your sponsoring UK employer) and other relevant information ready with you so as to answer the questions on the online form completely and accurately
- After completing the form, submit it online along with scanned copies of your supporting documents
- Pay the fees online using a debit or a credit card
- Book an appointment with a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric details (i.e., your facial images and fingerprints)
You will have to prove your identity as part of your UK visa application process. How you need to do so depends on where you are from and the type of passport you have.
If you are eligible to prove your identity through the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, you can use it to scan your required documents to prove your identity. Otherwise, to prove your identity, you will have to:
- Book an appointment with your nearest UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to submit your biometric details if you are applying from inside the UK, or
- Book an appointment with your nearest visa application centre (VAC) in your home country to submit your biometric details if you are applying from outside the UK
Switching to the Skilled Worker visa
If you are already in the UK on a different visa category, you may be eligible to switch to a Skilled Worker visa provided you meet the relevant conditions, such as:
- Your current job meets the Skilled Worker eligibility requirements
- You have CEFR B2 level knowledge of English
- If you are on a Student visa currently, you:
- Must have completed your course of study and your job start date is after your course finish date, or
- Are doing a PhD full time, and have been for at least 24 months
To switch to a Skilled Worker visa, apply online before your current visa expires. Also, do not travel abroad (i.e., outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man) while awaiting a visa decision (your application will be withdrawn in that case).
You cannot switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you are currently in the UK:
- On a Standard Visitor visa, a Short-term study visa, a Parent of a Child Student visa, a Seasonal Worker visa, a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa, or on immigration bail
- Because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules
Your dependent spouse/partner and children will also have to apply to switch to the Skilled Worker dependant route.
They can apply with you or any time before their current visa expires.
Skilled Worker Visa Fees and Processing Times
It may take UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) up to three weeks to reach a decision on the visa application if you are applying from within the UK.
This timeline may increase up to eight weeks if you are applying from within the UK. You may be able to pay an additional fee to get a faster decision.
However, your waiting time is likely to increase if your supporting documents must be verified, you will have to attend an interview, or because of your personal circumstances (e.g., if you have a criminal record).
The visa application fee varies depending on your proposed stay in the UK, whether your job is on the immigration salary list (ISL), and whether you are applying from within the UK or outside.
The following table provides the applicable fee details in each scenario:
| Duration of Stay | Applying From | Job on ISL | Fee per applicant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three years or less | Within the UK | No | £943 |
| Three years or less | Within the UK | Yes | £628 |
| Three years or less | Outside the UK | No | £819 |
| Three years or less | Outside the UK | Yes | £628 |
| More than three years | Within the UK | No | £1,865 |
| More than three years | Within the UK | Yes | £1,235 |
| More than three years | Outside the UK | No | £1,618 |
| More than three years | Outside the UK | Yes | £1,235 |
In addition, you will also be required to pay the immigration health surcharge, which is £1035 per person annually.
Skilled Worker Visa Requirements for Employers
To recruit talented foreign workers through the Skilled Worker route, as a UK-based employer you will first have to obtain a valid sponsor licence. You must be able to convince the Home Office of the genuineness of your organisation, your capability to undertake sponsorship responsibilities once the licence is granted, and the genuineness of the job offer.
The job offer must be for a position that actually exists within your company, the successful overseas candidate will be hired to perform the duties associated with that specific job, and you have not created the position just to enable the candidate to apply for a work visa in the UK.
The job you are offering must meet the skill level specified by the Home Office in its eligible occupations list or shortage occupations list, and match the description of one of the standard occupation classification (SOC) codes. You must also be able to pay your overseas worker a compensation package that at least meets the minimum salary threshold for the job’s respective SOC.
While it is crucial to understand your obligations as a sponsoring employer to avoid any penalty imposed by the Home Office, being aware of what requirements your potential hires must meet to obtain a Skilled Worker visa will help you decide your overseas recruitment strategy and business planning.
Eligible Occupations for a Skilled Worker Visa
The Home Office maintains an official list of eligible occupations, each assigned a SOC code, and updates the same on a real-time basis for any policy changes. It also lists the jobs that are ineligible for the Skilled Worker visa route (e.g., jobs that require elementary level skills, routine operative jobs, etc.).
Some examples of eligible occupations include:
- Software developers and IT professionals
- Engineers
- Doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals
- Teachers
- Accountants
- Architects
- Scientists and researchers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Carpenters and joiners
- Chefs (but not generally cooks)
- Teaching assistants
- Childcare workers (certain categories)
Skilled Worker Duration and Conditions
A Skilled Worker visa may be valid for up to five years and is renewable thereafter for as long as the visa holder continues meeting the eligibility requirements. However, if the visa holder changes jobs or employers, they must apply to update their visa.
The visa holder may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK after five years, provided they meet the additional eligibility criteria, to settle permanently in the country.
How Can LIL Help?
Unsure about how to complete your Skilled Worker visa application? It’s best not to take the risk of going it alone, as the consequences of refusal can be significant.
As well as having to pay the application fee a second time round, any refusals may impact your future visa applications.
Contact IAS today on 0204 502 8582 for professional and expert assistance. We can help you get it right the first time.
Settle in the UK With a Skilled Worker Visa
Skilled Worker is a settlement route to the UK. A foreign national living in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa may be eligible to apply for ILR provided they:
- Meet the five-year ‘continuous residence’ requirement in the UK as specified by the Home Office (any time spent as a ‘dependant’ or on any other visa ineligible for this purpose will not be counted)
- Meet at least the minimum salary threshold
- Are required to continue living in the UK for their current job
- Meet the salary requirements after they get ILR
- Successfully pass the Life in the UK Test
- Are not in breach of immigration laws (except certain circumstances) or on immigration bail
You will need to apply online for ILR as a Skilled Worker from inside the UK. You will be required to submit relevant documents supporting your case, such as your Life in the UK Test pass certificate or a confirmation letter from your sponsoring employer that you continue to be needed for your current job and your salary matches the corresponding going rate, and pay the required fees.
Complications and Skilled Worker Refusals
Your Skilled Worker visa application may be refused even when you have a confirmed job offer from your UK sponsoring employer. Before applying, you must, therefore, thoroughly check whether you meet the eligibility criteria to avoid a potential refusal. Even if you meet the visa conditions, an eligibility error on the part of your sponsoring employer may lead to a visa refusal.
Here are some of the common reasons why your Skilled Worker visa application may be refused:
- Your employer’s sponsorship licence has been suspended, revoked, or declared invalid
- Your CoS contains errors
- Your offered salary is below the required threshold
- Your role does not match the occupation code selected
- Your job description on the CoS is inconsistent with the claimed skilled occupation
- The Home Office is not convinced about the genuineness of your job offer for any other reason(s)
- You do not fulfil the English language requirement
- You have submitted an inaccurate or incomplete application form
- You have submitted insufficient supporting documents (even after the Home Office asked you to submit additional evidence)
- Information inconsistencies exist between your application form, employment records, and supporting evidence
- You have failed to prove that you have sufficient funds
- You have a serious criminal conviction or previous adverse immigration history
- You have provided false information or forged documents
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at London Immigration Lawyers before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on June 16th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
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Frequently Asked Questions
Once approved, your Skilled Worker visa will be valid for up to 5 years. At the end of this period, you can apply for a renewal or, if you are eligible, you can settle in the UK on Indefinite Leave to Remain.
You can submit your application up to 3 months before the date you are due to start work in the UK. You can find this date in your CoS. However, it is always recommended to allow some extra time, since the Home Office may need additional documentation to confirm your identity and your circumstances.
The Skilled Worker visa application process takes between 3 to 8 weeks, depending if you applied from outside or within the UK.
Yes- a Skilled Worker visa does allow you to study while staying in the UK.
To be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa, you should receive a job offer from a UK employer which must meet all the following requirements:
- The job must be eligible for the visa, under the new Skilled Worker Visa route, your role must be skilled to at least RQF level 6 (roughly equivalent to a degree).
- You must be paid the minimum salary or “going rate” for the type of work you will be doing.
- Your employer must have been approved by the Home Office and hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship
- You must hold an occupation code. If you have already received a job offer, you must ask your employer for your code.
The Skilled Worker Visa grants you permission to work for the employer that originally sponsored your application in the role that you were sponsored for.
If you wish to work for a new employer or if you want to switch to a job of a different occupation code with the same employer you will must apply to update your Skilled Worker Visa.
You might be able to apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa. You will need to meet the requirements for the Skilled Worker visa including having a job that meets the criteria as well as having the required English Language standards.
You cannot apply to switch to this visa if you’re currently in the UK:
- on a visit visa
- on a short-term student visa
- on a Parent of a Child Student visa
- on a seasonal worker visa
- on a domestic worker in a private household visa
- on immigration bail
- because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds
Furthermore, if you plan to switch to this visa from a Student visa, one of the following must apply to you:
- You’ve completed the course you were sponsored to study on your Student visa
- The start date of your job is after the completion date of your course
- You’ve been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months
Skilled worker visa holders may take on freelance work only in limited situations. The freelance position must be on the Shortage Occupation List and be at the same SoC code level as the main work you have received your sponsorship for.
Skilled Worker visa holders are not allowed to become self-employed or set-up a business without permission from the Home Office.
Following Brexit , any EU citizen who is living outside the UK wants to work in the UK must apply for a UK skilled worker visa before they work in the country and must meet all the criteria of the skilled worker visa application.
Yes, in most cases it is possible to switch from a Youth Mobility visa to a Skilled Worker visa. You will of course need to meet all of the eligibility requirements for the Skilled Worker route.
To learn more about this, please refer to our “How to switch from Youth Mobility to Skilled Worker visa” article.
If you have lost your current job while in the UK on a skilled visa, either through regular dismissal or being made redundant, your employer is required to notify the Home Office so that your visa can be curtailed. You will then be required to leave the UK within 60 days or before the expiry date of visa, whichever is shortest.
For those who are made redundant, it’s important to note that you may only apply for employment in roles that are either at the same or higher skill level of the job you were offered when originally applying for your visa.
If you find a new employer, you will need to make a new skilled worker visa application. This must be done within 60 days of losing your job and will also require a new Certificate of Sponsorship from your new employer, which will need to be provided as part of your application.
You must not be absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period.
