Skilled Worker Visa

To be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you will need to show:

• you hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer that holds a current sponsorship licence for Skilled Workers;
• the job is 'genuine'
• the salary must be more than £38,700 or the minimum salary set out in the Standard Occupation Codes 2020, whichever is the higher
• new entrants under the age of 26 or leaving UK education, working in healthcare positions and certain posts requiring a PhD where points can be transferable, the minimum salary threshold is £30,960 per year or 70% of the going rate for the applicable Standard Occupation Code 2020
• can satisfy minimum English language requirements to level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale in all 4 disciplines, i.e. speaking, listening, reading and writing; and
• are capable of maintaining yourself in the UK according to a set criteria. Employers holding a Sponsorship Licence with an 'A' rating can simply certify they will be responsible for this. individuals who have been in the UK for at least 12 months in another immigration category may be exempt.

Transitional provisions for a CoS issued prior to 4 April 2024

The transitional provisions apply for applications made by individuals granted skilled worker permission and for Certificates of Sponsorship issued before 4 April 2024. The concession will remain in place until 4 April 2030.

The minimum salary for those in this situation will be the higher of £29,000 or the going rate for the type of role. 

Skills requirement

A CoS can be issued for people who have the qualifications and/or specialist skills required to undertake the job for which work permission is being sought.

To qualify for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, the job should be considered to be at NQF level 3 (broadly equivalent to A level standard) and should appear on the Home Office’s list of eligible job types. 

Job on approved list

CoS's can be issued for occupations on the:

• Immigration Salary List (formerly known as the Shortage Occupations List). These are posts which are identified by the Migration Advisory Committee and the Home Office within areas of recognised skills shortage. The Immigration Salary List will change periodically depending upon the prevailing circumstances in the UK economy
• or are otherwise specified in the 'Skilled Occupation' list of jobs.

You will need to show that you have a good command of the English language to meet the requirements for Skilled Worker visa.

How the English language requirement can be met

• be a national of a specified English speaking country
• hold a degree which was taught in English through a UK university
• have an overseas degree taught in English and in a majority English speaking country certified by ECCTIS
• passed an approved English language test at CEFR level B1 in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening). This is equivalent to a score of 4.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• have a GCSE, A level, Scottish NVQ level 4 or 5 in English language or English literature studied at a UK school commenced before the age of 18.

Please note nationals of specified majority English speaking countries may be exempt from English language testing or are a doctor, dentist, nurse or midwife and have passed an English assessment through a regulated professional body.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate they can support themselves and any dependants financially for the first month of their stay in the UK as Skilled Workers without recourse to public funds.

Ways of meeting the financial requirement

They can show demonstrate this by providing evidence of a consistent level of cash funds for a 28-day period within 31 days of the date of application. 

The maintenance thresholds are:

-        £1,270 for a single applicant.

Plus:

-        £285 for your partner

-        £315 for one child

-        £200 for each additional child.

Alternative ways to meet this

A-rated sponsors can certify the maintenance on behalf of an employee and any dependants.

For those who have been in the UK for at least 12 months with permission are exempt from this.

Outside the UK

Applicants not presently in the UK must apply for a Skilled Worker visa to enter the UK in the correct capacity.

The process involves submission of an online application, uploading scans of specified evidence and attendance at a biometric appointment. 

Applicants from certain specified countries may be required to undertake a tuberculosis test. A standard application should be processed within 3 weeks.

It may be possible to have the application for the Skilled Worker visa expedited through a priority submission process.

Inside the UK

For those already in the UK in a long-stay visa category, it is usually possible to apply direct to the Home Office for a Skilled Worker visa through the standard, priority or super-priority service.

A super premium service is also available where the Home Office will visit a location of your choosing to take your biometric data.

The process involves submission of an application with specified evidence and attendance at a biometric appointment.

You cannot apply to switch into the Skilled Worker visa category from within the UK if your current visa is as a:

• Visitor
• Short-term student
• Parent of a Child Student
• Seasonal Worker
• Domestic Worker in a Private Household or
• issued outside the immigration rules.

Inside the UK

Super priority applications are processed in 1 day.

Priority applications are processed in 5-10 working days.

Standard applications vary but are about 6-8 weeks.

Less than 3 years

Skilled Worker visa - less than 3 years

Standard application £827

Priority application £500

Super-priority application - £1000

More than 3 years

Skilled Worker visa - more than 3 years

Standard application - £1636

Priority application - £500

Super-priority application - £1000

Outside the UK

Some British visa application centres around have a ‘Priority Settlement Service’. This is an additional cost service that will place your application at the front of the processing queue. Use of this service may speed up the processing time for your application, however, the Home Office do not guarantee expedited treatment.

Skilled Worker visa – under 3 years - £719

Skilled Worker visa – more than 3 years - £1420

- Priority application - £500

- Super priority application - £1000

Applications where the job appears on the Immigration Salary List incur a reduced application fee which is the same whether applying from inside or outside the UK:

Skilled Worker visa (Immigration Salary List occupation) – under 3 years £551

Skilled Worker visa (Immigration Salary List occupation) more than 3 years £1084

Applicants must pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £1035 per year for each year of their prospective stay in the UK as Skilled Workers.

The IHS is payable even if you have private medical insurance.

In addition to the Certificate of Sponsorship, Immigration Health Surcharge and visa fees, there is an additional Immigration Skills Charge which is payable for Skilled Workers coming to the UK for more than 6 months.

It is also payable for in-country applicants of less than 6 months duration.

The Immigration Skills Charge is not payable where the worker being sponsored:

• has a Student visa and is switching to a Skilled Worker visa or
• will do a job with a PhD level standard occupation classification code.

The Immigration Skills Charge is payable at the point of assigning a CoS to a potential Skilled Worker. The amount to be paid depends on the size of the sponsor and the length of visa in question.

Period                                     

Small or charitable sponsors      Medium or large sponsors

First 12 months                            £364                                          £1,000

Each additional 6 months            £182                                         £500

If the worker will be in the UK for longer than 6 months but less than a year, you must pay for at least 12 months.

The full Immigration Skills Charge must be paid by the employer in full at the outset when issuing the CoS.

If you are still required by your employer and you continue to meet the requirements, you can extend your permission beyond 5 years or, alternatively, apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

A Sponsored Skilled Worker can be accompanied by their spouse/civil partner/long term partner (unmarried) and dependent children under the age of 18.

Each dependant must pay an IHS of £1035 per year in advance for each whole or part year of the visa.

Dependants will be granted permission to stay in the UK in line with the main applicant.

Once a Skilled Worker visa holder has completed 5 years continuous lawful stay In this category, they can apply for settlement provided that they are still required for the employment in question and that they are paid at or above the appropriate specified salary as defined by the Standard Occupation Codes.

Absences

If your absences exceed the permitted limits, you can still apply for an extension of permission with no maximum permitted stay in the Skilled Worker category.

January 2018 changes

Changes to the Immigration Rules introduced in January 2018 restrict workers to a maximum aggregated absence of 180 days in any 12 month rolling period throughout the qualifying 5 year Skilled Worker or Tier 2 residence. 

Fees

The Home Office application fee for indefinite leave to remain is presently £2885.

The Super Priority options is available for an additional £1000.