Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker visa is the main work route for overseas nationals coming to the UK to work in an eligible role for an approved employer (sponsor). Applicants must have a job offer from a licensed sponsor, meet a minimum salary threshold (generally £41,700 since 22 July 2025, with lower thresholds for some shortage occupations), and demonstrate English language proficiency. The visa can lead to settlement after five years.
The Skilled Worker visa requires a job offer from a UK Home Office-licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation (at RQF Level 3 or above). Since 22 July 2025, the general salary threshold is £41,700 per year (or the 'going rate' for the occupation if higher); lower thresholds apply to some shortage occupation roles and new entrants. Applicants must score 70 points: mandatory points include the sponsor (20), eligible job (20), and English language (10); tradeable points cover salary above the threshold. The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £1,035 per adult per year (2025/26) must be paid upfront for the visa duration. After 5 years of continuous lawful residence on the route, applicants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). A common pitfall is failing to check that the sponsor's licence is current — the Home Office register is publicly searchable. Visa applications are made online; processing typically takes 3 weeks within the UK.
What it means in practice. The route is employer-led from start to finish. You cannot come to the UK to look for work on it — you need a specific job, with a specific licensed sponsor, at a specific salary, evidenced by a Certificate of Sponsorship assigned to you before you apply. That dependency shapes everything that follows: if you leave the job, or the sponsor loses its licence, your permission is curtailed and you have a limited window to find a new sponsor, switch route, or leave.
A worked example. Ana is offered a role in Manchester at £45,000. Her employer assigns her a Certificate of Sponsorship containing the job title, occupation code, salary, and start date. She applies online, pays the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per adult for each year of the visa, and enrols her biometrics. Her partner and child apply as dependants, each paying their own health surcharge. Three years later she changes employer; because the new job is with a different sponsor, she needs a fresh Certificate of Sponsorship and a new application, not simply a letter.
Common pitfalls. Not checking the sponsor's licence is genuinely dangerous — the register of licensed sponsors is public and free, and losing your sponsor mid-visa is the single most disruptive thing that can happen on this route. Absences also matter: for settlement you must not exceed 180 days outside the UK in any twelve-month period, and people lose five years of qualifying residence by not tracking travel. And the salary must be met both against the general threshold and against the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
How it relates to other terms. The route sits inside the wider points-based system. Your employer must hold a sponsor licence and assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship, and must run right to work checks like any other employer. The health surcharge is described under Immigration Health Surcharge, and after five years the goal is indefinite leave to remain.
What to do next. Read our Skilled Worker visa guide and check the sponsor register before accepting any offer. Employers should start with applying for a sponsor licence, and both sides should read Certificates of Sponsorship, since errors on the CoS are a frequent cause of refusal.
Related guides
Skilled Worker Visa Overview
The Skilled Worker visa is the main route for people from outside the UK to work in the country. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa in December 2020 as part of the post-Brexit points-based immigration system. To be eligible, you generally need a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence, and your role and salary must meet the required thresholds.
9 min
Sponsor Licence for Employers
UK employers who want to hire workers from outside the UK (and outside the existing settled workforce) generally need a sponsor licence issued by the Home Office. Without a licence, you cannot issue Certificates of Sponsorship to prospective employees, meaning overseas workers cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work for you. This guide explains the process and ongoing obligations.
8 min
Certificate of Sponsorship Explained
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a virtual document — essentially a reference number — assigned by a licensed UK employer to a specific overseas worker. It is required for most work-based visa applications under the points-based system. Without a valid CoS, a work visa application cannot proceed.
5 min