Skilled Worker Visa Overview

To be eligible for the Skilled Worker visa you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Job offer from a licensed sponsor — Your prospective employer must have a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence from the Home Office. They will give you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) which you include in your application.
• Eligible occupation — Your job must be in an eligible occupation code listed in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and must be at or above RQF level 3 (equivalent to A-level). The full list of eligible occupations is published by the Home Office.
• Salary threshold — From April 2024, you must be paid at least £38,700 per year, or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher. There are lower thresholds for new entrants to a profession and for certain shortage occupations, though the shortage occupation list was replaced by an Immigration Salary List in April 2024.
• English language — You must demonstrate English language ability at B1 CEFR level or above, through a recognised test, a degree taught in English, or by being a national of certain majority English-speaking countries.
• Maintenance funds — You must have £1,270 in your personal bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying, unless your sponsor certifies they will maintain and accommodate you.

The salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker route changed significantly in April 2024 following recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). The key points are:

• The general threshold increased from £26,200 to £38,700 per year
• New entrant rates (for recent graduates, young workers, or those switching from a student visa) are set at 70% of the going rate or £30,960, whichever is higher
• The Immigration Salary List replaced the shortage occupation list. Jobs on the ISL qualify for a 20% salary discount relative to the going rate but do not have a general reduction against the £38,700 floor
• Health and Care visa holders (NHS and social care workers) have different thresholds set by the MAC recommendation for their sectors

Salary must be genuine and not include tips, gratuities, or overtime that is not guaranteed. Allowances may be included if they are part of the standard contract and not conditional on additional work. Always check the most current threshold on GOV.UK as these figures are subject to review.

The Skilled Worker visa application follows these main steps:

• Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer. The CoS contains a reference number that you enter into your visa application.
• Apply online through the UKVI website. You will need to provide your CoS reference number, passport details, English language evidence, and financial evidence.
• Pay the visa fee — Fees vary depending on the length of your visa and whether your occupation is on the Immigration Salary List. For a 3-year visa, the fee is currently £719 for ISL occupations and £1,420 for other occupations. For a 5-year visa, fees are £1,420 and £2,999 respectively.
• Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — Currently £1,035 per year (from January 2024), giving access to the NHS during your stay.
• Provide biometrics — If applying from outside the UK, attend a Visa Application Centre. If switching from within the UK, you may be able to use the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online process.

Processing times are typically 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from within the UK for standard applications. Priority services may be available for an additional fee.

Skilled Worker visa holders can bring eligible dependants (spouse or civil partner, and children under 18) to the UK. Dependants can generally work without restriction in the UK while their visa is valid. Dependants must meet their own maintenance and language requirements in some cases.

After completing 5 years of continuous residence in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa (or a combination of eligible work visas), you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is settlement. To qualify for ILR, you must:

• Have been continuously resident in the UK for 5 years
• Not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period during those 5 years
• Pass the Life in the UK test
• Continue to meet the salary threshold at the time of the ILR application
• Not have any criminal convictions or public interest concerns

After obtaining ILR, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship after one further year of residence, subject to meeting other requirements.