Skilled Worker Visa
UK Skilled Worker
The UK Skilled Worker visa allows overseas nationals to live and work in the UK in eligible skilled jobs with approved employers. It is part of the UK’s points-based immigration system, replacing the old Tier 2 (General) visa. The route is designed to fill critical skill gaps in the UK labour market while giving employers access to global talent.
The visa covers a wide range of roles, from health and social care to engineering, IT, finance, and beyond. Successful applicants can bring family members, switch jobs, extend their stay, and ultimately qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British citizenship.
If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and were living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be eligible under the EU Settlement Scheme instead of applying for a Skilled Worker visa. Irish citizens continue to have the right to live and work in the UK without a visa.
Skilled Worker visa requirements
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa in 2025, you must:
- Have a confirmed job offer from a UK Home Office-approved sponsor.
- Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer.
- Do a job on the list of eligible skilled occupations.
- Meet the salary threshold
- Prove your English language ability.
- Show you can support yourself financially
Provide required documents, including:
- Valid passport or travel document.
- Job contract and occupation code.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if applicable).
- Criminal record certificate (for certain roles).
- ATAS certificate if working in sensitive PhD-level research.
Certificate of Sponsorship & sponsor licence
- Your employer must hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence issued by the Home Office.
- The employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to you, containing details of your job and salary.
- Updated fee (July 2025): £525 per CoS. Employers are not allowed to pass this cost to employees.
English language requirement
Applicants must prove English proficiency at a minimum of B2 CEFR in speaking, listening, reading, and writing to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa.
- Accepted evidence includes:
- Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT).
- Holding a degree taught in English.
- Being a national of a majority-English speaking country.
Note: The UK Government has proposed increasing the English language requirement to B2 CEFR for Skilled Worker and ILR applications in a recent policy white paper. Applicants should be aware of this potential future change.
Financial requirements
You must show you can support yourself in the UK unless exempt.
- At least £1,270 in savings, held for 28 days.
- Additional funds: £285 for a partner, £315 for one child, £200 for each additional child.
- Exemptions: You do not need to show funds if you have been in the UK for at least 12 months on a valid visa, or if your sponsor certifies maintenance.
Salary thresholds
To qualify, your salary must meet the highest of the following criteria, based on a 37.5-hour work week:
- Standard Threshold: £41,700 per year or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
- Immigration Salary List (ISL): £33,400 per year or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
- New Entrants & STEM PhDs: £33,400 per year or a discounted percentage of the going rate (e.g., 70-80% of the going rate), whichever is higher.
- Non-STEM PhDs: £37,500 per year or 90% of the going rate, whichever is higher.
- Health & Care Visa Roles: The minimum salary is a flat £25,000, with some roles requiring more, based on national pay scales.
Employers must ensure the offered salary meets the specific criteria for the applicant’s unique circumstances.
How long you can stay
- Skilled Worker visas are typically granted for up to 5 years at a time.
- You must extend or update your visa before expiry, or if you change jobs/employer.
- There is no maximum time limit—you can keep extending if eligible.
- After 5 continuous years, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
How to apply
- Applications are made online through the UKVI system.
- You must provide biometrics (photo and fingerprints) either at a visa application centre or via the UK Immigration ID app.
- Documents must be uploaded in English or Welsh (or with certified translation).
- Dependants (partner and children) can apply at the same time.
Switching inside the UK
You can switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you already have another valid UK visa, except for:
- Visitor visa
- Short-term student visa
- Parent of a Child Student visa
- Seasonal worker visa
- Domestic worker in a private household visa
- Immigration bail or discretionary leave outside the rules
In those cases, you must leave the UK and apply from abroad.
Processing times
- Outside the UK: Usually 3 weeks after biometrics.
- Inside the UK (switching/extension): Usually 8 weeks.
- Priority service: £500 extra, decision in 5 working days.
- Super priority: £1,000 extra, decision in 24 hours.
Skilled Worker visa fees
The visa fees depend on where you apply, the length of your visa, and whether the job is on the Immigration Salary List (ISL):
- Up to 3 years (outside UK): £769 (Standard) or £590 (ISL).
- More than 3 years (outside UK): £1,519 (Standard) or £1,160 (ISL).
- Up to 3 years (inside UK): £885 (Standard) or £590 (ISL).
- More than 3 years (inside UK): £1,751 (Standard) or £1,160 (ISL).
- Healthcare Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year, per person.
- Certificate of Sponsorship (paid by employer): £525.
Note: There are also lower fees for the Health and Care visa route, which are a subset of the Skilled Worker visa.
How LawSentis can help
At LawSentis, our IAA-regulated immigration advisers provide expert support to individuals and UK businesses navigating the Skilled Worker visa system.
We assist with:
- Checking eligibility under updated salary/occupation rules.
- Securing Certificates of Sponsorship for employers.
- Preparing and submitting strong visa applications.
- Handling refusals and appeals.
- Long-term planning for ILR and British citizenship.
Our team ensures your Skilled Worker application is accurate, compliant, and future-proofed against Home Office changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions or need more information? Our team is here to help.
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