skilled
worker visa
Designed to allow employers to tap into a global talent pool
The Skilled Worker visa is one of the most commonly used immigration routes for foreign nationals seeking to work in the UK. A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.
Eligibility
requirements
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
- Have a confirmed job offer from a licensed UK sponsor.
- Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ (CoS) from your employer with information about the role you have been offered in the UK.
- Be doing a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.
- Be paid a minimum salary. How much depends on your occupation.
- Be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
- Provide a criminal record certificate if you are applying from outside the UK and you are working in certain jobs such as in education, healthcare or social services.
Your job
You must have a job offer from an approved UK employer before you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa. The job you have been offered in the UK must be on the list of eligible occupations.
Your job will also need to meet the minimum salary requirement. How much you’ll need to be paid depends on the type of work you’ll be doing. You must usually be paid the highest out of the following:
- £38,700 per year
- The ‘going rate’ for your occupation.
There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales.
When you can be paid less
If you do not meet the salary requirements above, and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if you meet certain criteria.
You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the standard going rate for your job if your salary is at least £30,960 per year and you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training.
- You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job.
- You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.
note:
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) has replaced the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
The Immigration Salary List is a list of skilled jobs which have lower salary requirements. If you are being sponsored for a job that’s on the list, the minimum salary is 80% of the route’s usual minimum rate. You must still be paid at least the standard going rate for your job.
How much it costs
When you apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you will need to have enough money to:
- Pay the visa application fee – The standard fee ranges from £719 to £1,636 depending on your circumstances.
- Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – The IHS costs £1,035 per year, or £776 per year for under-18s.
- Support yourself in the UK – You will usually need to show that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account (unless you’re exempt). Your employer may be able to cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270.
note:
The visa application fee and the IHS must also be paid for any accompanying dependants.
How to apply
You must apply online for a Skilled Worker visa. As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity and provide your supporting documents. To do this, you will need to do one of the following:
- Attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) if you’re outside the UK.
- Attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point if you’re inside the UK.
- Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document, if you are eligible.
Processing times
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK (this date is listed on your CoS).
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision using the Home Office priority services.
How long can you stay
A Skilled Worker visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You can apply to extend this visa as many times as you like, if you still meet the eligibility requirements. You will need to apply to update your Skilled Worker visa when it expires, or if you change jobs or employers.
After 5 years’ continuous residency, you may be able to apply for settlement (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain). This gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you are eligible.
Permitted activities
With a Skilled Worker visa, you can:
- Work in your sponsored job.
- Study.
- Bring dependant family members with you, if they are eligible.
- Take on additional work, in limited circumstances.
- Do voluntary work.
- Travel abroad and return to the UK.
You cannot:
- Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.
- Change jobs or employer, unless you apply to update your visa.
How we can help
Smith Stone Walters can offer expert advice and assistance with your Skilled Worker visa application. We have worked with employers and individuals to successfully secure Skilled Worker visas to work in a wide range of job roles and sectors. To find out more about our service offering, please contact us today.
note:
This page is intended for informational purposes only. Immigration rules are subject to change and may vary based on your individual circumstances. For up-to-date advice and guidance, please contact Smith Stone Walters.
Frequently asked questions
– Your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number – your employer will give you this
– Proof of your knowledge of English
– A valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
– Your job title and annual salary
– Your job’s occupation code
– The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide other documents, such as evidence of personal savings, proof of your relationship with any accompanying dependants, your TB test results if you’re from a listed country, a criminal record certificate and any relevant qualification certificates.
Smith Stone Walters can help you identify which documents are required for your Skilled Worker visa application.
A dependant partner or child is any of the following:
– Your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner.
– Your child under 18 – including if they were born in the UK during your stay.
– Your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant.
Separate applications must be made for each accompanying dependant. If their application is successful, your family members will be granted a visa which expires on the same date as your Skilled Worker visa.
You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
You can prove your knowledge of English by:
– Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider.
– Having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18. –
– Having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English – if you studied abroad, you’ll need to apply through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD.
You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of certain exempt countries, or if you are a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or vet and you have already passed an English language assessment that is accepted by the relevant regulated professional body.
If you’ll be doing a different job for your current employer, you only need to apply to update your visa if your new job is in a different occupation code.
Your new job must meet the eligibility requirements and you’ll need a new certificate of sponsorship to prove this.
You can work up to 20 hours a week in another job or for your own business, as long as you’re still doing the job you’re being sponsored for.
Your work must be either in the same occupation code and at the same level as the job you’re being sponsored for, or in a shortage occupation. You can also do unpaid voluntary work.
If you will be doing more than 20 hours a week in another job or working in a different occupation code, you’ll need to apply to update your visa so that you’re being sponsored to do both jobs.
If you work overtime in the job you’re being sponsored for, you do not need to update your visa. There is no limit to how many hours of overtime you can do.
Your employer (otherwise known as your sponsor) will provide you with the certificate which you can then use to apply for your Skilled Worker visa.
Alternatively, Smith Stone Walters is on hand to answer any questions you may have. Our immigration experts can assess your eligibility for a Skilled Worker visa and guide you through the entire application process. To find out how we can help, please contact us today.
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