UK Skilled Worker visa

UK Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker Visa is a points-based visa that allows skilled workers from outside the UK to come to the UK to live and work. The visa is designed to attract talented people to the UK to fill skilled jobs that cannot be filled by UK workers.

Anyone can apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa providing they reach the eligibility requirements. The Skilled Worker Visa permits you to live and work in the UK for up to five years at a time. You can also bring your family members with you to the UK on dependent visas.

We advise that applicants apply as soon as they are able to ensure that their Skilled Worker Visa is supplied in time. Skilled Worker Visas typically take around 2 months to obtain when accounting for appointment booking and processing time.

Tier 2 Working Visas

A UK Skilled Worker visa allows you to enter or remain in the UK to work in an eligible job for an approved employer.

This visa has taken the place of the Tier 2 (General) work visa.

Key features

• Approved employer — you must have a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor
• Points based — you must score at least 70 points under the UK points-based system
• Skilled role — the job must be at the required skill level

Requirements

You must:

You must meet the following requirements to be to apply for a Skilled Worker visa:

A Skilled Worker Visa is a visa that any worker can be eligible for so long as they meet the 70 points required by the UK's points based system, and that they meet all the mandatory characteristics needed for an application. Here's a breakdown of the points each characteristic is and whether they are mandatory or tradeable:

• Have a verified employment offer from a licensed UK employer who will serve as your sponsor
• Possess a Sponsorship Certificate provided by your employer
• Pass the point-based evaluation
• Meet the minimum salary threshold for the job offer (or be able to trade points for a lower salary)

• work for a Home Office-approved UK employer
• have an employer's' certificate of sponsorship' stating the position you have been offered in the UK
• engage in an activity on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid a minimum wage, the amount of which varies according to the type of work you perform
• You must have a job offer before applying for a visa
• Offer of job from approved sponsor (Mandatory, 20 points)
• Job at appropriate skill level (Mandatory, 20 points)
• Speaks English at required level (Mandatory, 10 points)
• Salary of £20,480 to £23,039 or at least 80% of the going rate for the profession (Tradeable, 0 points)
• Salary of £23,040 to £25,599 or at least 90% of the going rate for the profession (Tradeable, 10 points)
• Salary of £25,600 or above or at least the going rate for the profession (Tradeable, 20 points)
• Job in a shortage occupation as designated by the Migration Advisory Committee (Tradeable, 20 points)
• Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job (Tradeable, 10 points)
• Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job (Tradeable, 20 points)

Points & salary

The Skilled Worker route is points-based: you must score 70 points. Points come from having a job offer from a Home Office–licensed sponsor, a job at the required skill level, meeting the English language requirement, and being paid at least the minimum salary for your role.

You must be paid at least the general salary threshold or the “going rate” for your specific occupation, whichever is higher. The going rate is set for each occupation code, so many jobs require more than the general minimum.

The exact minimum you must be paid depends on your occupation, your circumstances, and the date on your Certificate of Sponsorship — the rules were tightened on 4 April 2024 and changed again on 22 July 2025, and transitional arrangements can apply to people already on the route. Always confirm the figure for your specific occupation on gov.uk.

• General minimum salary — at least £41,700 a year, or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher
• Lower salary threshold — from £33,400 a year (or the applicable going-rate percentage) may apply if you meet additional criteria, for example a job on the Immigration Salary List, a relevant PhD, or as a “new entrant” early in your career
• Health and education roles — the going rate is based on the relevant national pay scale rather than the general threshold
• Prison officers — a separate floor of £31,300 a year applies
• The salary must normally be a guaranteed basic gross salary — allowances and one-off payments usually do not count

What you can do

With a Skilled Worker visa, you can do the following:

You are not allowed to:

The UK is a great place to live and work, and a Skilled Worker Visa gives you the opportunity to experience all that the UK has to offer. Things you can do on a UK Skilled Worker Visa are

• Live and work in the UK for up to five years at a time
• Bring your family — your partner and children can join you on dependant visas
• Study without prior Home Office approval (STEM students should verify)
• Do additional work in the same occupation code/level or in shortage occupations
• Access the NHS and the UK education system
• Live and work anywhere in the UK, travel freely, and after five years you may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain
• work in a qualifying job
• bring your partner and children as 'dependents' if eligible
• accept extra work under certain conditions;
• travel abroad and return to the United Kingdom
• If you've lived in the UK for five years and meet the other criteria, you are permitted to apply to settle permanently in the UK.
• make an application for most government benefits or the State Pension
• change jobs or employers unless you apply for a visa extension.
• Bring your partner and children with you to the UK on dependent visas.
• Study in the UK without prior approval from the Home Office (however those undertaking studies in STEM subjects should verify with the home office)
• Take on additional paid work in certain circumstances (such as in the same occupation code and at the same level as your main job, or in a shortage occupation).
• Access the UK's healthcare system, the National Health Service (NHS).
• Access the UK's education system, which is ranked among the best in the world.
• Live and work in any part of the UK.
• Travel freely within the UK.

Documents you will need

The documents you need to submit for a UK Skilled Worker visa may vary depending on your individual circumstances. Some of the common documents you will need to submit include:

• Passport or travel document
• Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer
• Proof of English language skills
• Proof of qualifications
• Proof of salary
• Tuberculosis test results — if required
• Criminal record certificate — if required
• Valid ATAS certificate — if required
• Proof of relationship with partner/children — if applying together
• Your passport or other travel document
• A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer
• Proof of your English language skills
• Proof of your qualifications
• Proof of your salary
• Your tuberculosis test results (if required)
• A criminal record certificate (if required)
• A valid ATAS certificate (if required)
• Proof of your relationship with your partner and children (if they are applying with you)

Costs

A Skilled Worker application has three main costs: the application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and evidence that you can support yourself. Your employer also pays sponsorship costs, which they cannot lawfully pass on to you in full. Figures below were checked on gov.uk in August 2026 — always confirm the current amounts before you apply.

• Application fee (applying from outside the UK) — £819 for up to 3 years, or £1,618 for more than 3 years, per person
• Application fee (applying from inside the UK, e.g. extending or switching) — £943 for up to 3 years, or £1,865 for more than 3 years, per person
• Lower fee for jobs on the Immigration Salary List — £628 (up to 3 years) or £1,235 (more than 3 years)
• Immigration Health Surcharge — £1,035 per year of your visa, paid up front (also payable for each dependant)
• Maintenance — you usually need at least £1,270 held for 28 days in a row, unless your sponsor certifies your maintenance on your Certificate of Sponsorship

Family (dependants)

Your partner and children can usually apply to join you as dependants. Each dependant pays their own application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and you must show additional funds to support them unless your sponsor certifies maintenance.

• Eligible dependants — your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner, and children under 18 (children over 18 already in the UK as your dependant can also apply)
• Partners can work in almost any job and do not need their own sponsor
• Additional maintenance is normally required — a set amount for a partner and for each child, held for 28 days

Extending, switching and settlement

As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you are permitted to extend your visa as many times as you want.

You could be eligible to apply for permanent residence in the UK after five years. This allows you to stay in the country and live, work, and study for as long as you want and apply for benefits if you qualify.

• Extending — you can keep extending the visa as long as you still meet the requirements and continue to be sponsored; there is no maximum number of extensions
• Switching — you can usually switch into the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK from many other visa types, but not from a visitor visa or most short-term routes
• Settlement — after 5 years of continuous lawful residence on qualifying routes you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), provided you still meet the salary rules, pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English requirement

Processing time

The published service standard is usually up to 3 weeks for applications made outside the UK and up to 8 weeks for applications made inside the UK, measured from your biometrics appointment. Where offered, a priority service can give a decision within about 5 working days and super priority by the end of the next working day, for an extra fee. Complex cases can take longer.

• Ordinary processing takes 3 to 8 weeks.
• Priority processing takes 5 working days.
• Super priority processing takes 24 hours.

How long can you stay?

Initially granted for up to five years, matching the job-offer duration, and renewable. After five years you may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Applying For a Work Visa

To apply for a work visa in the UK you will need to apply under the PBS (points based system). There are different tiers and you will need to consult with a legal professional to ensure you are applying under the correct tier.

Typically, when you are applying to work in the UK you will be applying under tier 2. Tier 2 then has sub-categories, one is applicable to those who are transferring from a multi-national company that also trades in the UK this is referred to as intra company transfer and another is applicable to skilled workers who are from outside the EEA and Switzerland.

Who Should Apply?

You would apply for this type of visa to work in the UK if you are from outside of the EU and Switzerland and have been offered full time employment within the UK from a business that has a sponsor licence.

There are other circumstances that you may be considered for a visa under the Tier 2 General visa. For example, if you are classed as a migrant worker but possess a specific skill that is classed in short supply within the UK recruitment pool then you may well be granted a visa. Also, eligible to apply under this visa are those who are ministers of religion or sportsperson.

Unless revoked by the Home office this type of visa is valid for up to 5 years, after this you may be eligible to apply for settlement in the UK however you can choose to renew your working visa instead.

As with all visa applications, you should proceed with the application process under guidance from a legal professional.

English Proficiency

You must be able to read, write, and comprehend the English Language. You will usually be required to demonstrate your command of the English language when applying.

How long do you intend to stay?

Your visa may be valid for up to 5 years before being extended. You must apply to extend or update your visa before it expires or if you change jobs or employers.

How to Apply

Fill out our inquiry form.

The following factors influence how you apply:

You must apply to have your visa updated if you want to change jobs or employers.

• Are from outside the United Kingdom and are visiting the country
• Staying in the United Kingdom and extending your current visa
• Changing visas within the United Kingdom

Obtaining a decision

After you've applied and verified your identity and submitted your documents, you should hear about your visa decision within the following timeframes:

You can pay to have the decision made faster. This varies depending on whether you are outside or inside the United Kingdom.

• Three weeks if you are not in the United Kingdom
• Eight weeks if you live in the United Kingdom

What is a Skilled Worker Visa?

A Skilled Worker visa, formerly called a Tier 2 visa, helps non-UK citizens work in the UK for a specific employer. A skilled worker visa encompasses the majority of all employment opportunities in the UK. To apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, you must already have a job offer from a UK employer and you must meet the required 70 points on the UK points based system.

Skilled Worker Visa Length

A UK Skilled Worker visa is initially granted for a period of up to five years. However, the exact validity of your visa will depend on the duration of your job offer. For example, if you have a job offer for three years, your visa will be granted for three years.

If you want to stay in the UK for longer than five years, you can apply to renew your visa. You can apply for an renewal as many times as you like, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

After five years on the Skilled Worker visa, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which is a permanent right to live and work in the UK.

Can you be rejected for a Skilled Worker Visa?

Some of the most common reasons for Skilled Worker visa refusals include:

If you are refused a Skilled Worker visa, you will be given a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal. You will then have the opportunity to appeal the decision.

• Not meeting the skill requirements for the job offer
• Not meeting the English language requirements
• Not meeting the salary requirements
• Not having a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer
• Having a criminal record
• Having been previously refused a UK visa