Skilled Worker Visa
A Skilled Worker Visa allows you as an intentional worker to stay and work in the UK in order to perform an eligible job for the approved and UK licenced employer.
A Skilled Worker Visa can last up to five years, depending on your certificate of sponsorship.
You are required to apply to extend or update your Skilled Worker Visa when you change the employer, job or when it expires.
Skilled Worker Eligibility Requirements 2024
You need to have a job offer from a UK licensed employer. The offer must be from a business that is listed as a licensed sponsor for a role that is also listed as an eligible occupation. The offer should also meet the minimum salary requirement.
Employer listed as a licensed sponsor and approved by the Home Office
You should have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) from your employer. A Certificate of Sponsorship is a mandatory document for your Skilled Worker Application. It is in the form of a digital document that contains information regarding your role, title, salary, start date, end date, and the sponsor licence number of your employer.
Your job should be on the list of eligible occupations. To verify the eligibility of your occupation, you may need to request the Standard Occupational Code (SOC) from your employer. The SOC codes, also known as Standard Occupational Classification codes, consist of four-digit numbers used for categorising jobs in the UK. This allows the Home Office to understand the nature of your work.
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You need to meet the skill level requirement. To qualify under the Skilled Worker route, you must meet the required skill level, which is RQF 3 or above (equivalent to A Level or higher).
Minimum Salary Requirement 2024. The minimum 'standard' salary is determined by whichever is higher between £38,700 per year or the 'going rate' for that specific type of work. It is the responsibility of your employer to ensure that your job meets at least the minimum wage requirement and adheres to the UK regulations regarding weekly working hours. Failure by your employer to meet these criteria will result in the refusal of your application.
Bank balance of £1,270. To demonstrate your ability to financially support yourself in the UK, you must possess a bank balance of £1,270. This requirement can be fulfilled by presenting a bank statement indicating that you have this amount available for your initial month in the UK. Unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you.
You need to show English Language proficiency at level B1 To demonstrate English language proficiency at level B1, you must provide evidence of your ability to read, write, speak, and understand English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. You can establish your proficiency through one of the following methods:
Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) administered by an approved provider.
Holding a qualification such as GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher, or Advanced Higher in English, obtained from study at a UK school commenced prior to turning 18.
Possessing an academic degree taught in English at the undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral level. If you pursued your studies outside the UK, you will need to seek confirmation of the equivalency of your qualification to a UK degree from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC).
Required Documents:
The specific documents required may vary based on your individual circumstances, but typically, they include the following:
Your Passport (the passport should also contain at least one blank page)
Certificate of Sponsorship (which contains information about your job title and annual salary, your job’s occupation code, name of your employer and their sponsor licence number, start date and other relevant details)
Proof of your knowledge of English language
Documents confirming that you have enough personal savings (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)
TB test if you are applying for entry clearance from a TB listed country
If you are working in a certain industry (e.g. HR), a criminal record certificate
A valid ATAS certificate in case your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher
UK PhD certificate or Ecctis reference if your PhD is not from the UK (for certain roles)
How to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa?
You should make an application for Skilled Worker visa online.
The application will depend on whether you are:
Outside the UK – You would need to make an application for entry clearance from your home country or your country of residence
Extending your current visa inside the UK – You would need to make an application for leave to remain on the basis of extending your Skilled Worker Visa
Switching from a different visa inside the UK – You would need to make an application for switching to the Skilled Worker Visa category from your current visa
Please note that your partner and children can apply as dependants to join you or stay with you in the UK.
Processing Time
After submitting your online application, completing identity verification, and supplying necessary documentation, you can typically expect a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you are applying from outside the UK and within 8 weeks if you are applying from within the UK
Duration of the UK Skilled Worker visa
Fees
The application fees vary based on your location and the duration of your stay in the UK. If you are applying from outside the UK, the standard fee is as follows:
For a stay of up to 3 years: £719 per person
For a stay of more than 3 years: £1,420 per person
If you are applying from within the UK for visa extension, switch, or update, the standard fee is:
For a stay of up to 3 years: £827 per person
For a stay of more than 3 years: £1,636 per person
Additionally, you are required to pay the healthcare surcharge (IHS) for each year of your stay, typically amounting to £1,035 per year
Changing Your Employers
You must apply to update your Skilled Worker visa if:
You intend to change your employment and your new job is with a different employer
Your job transitions to a different occupation code, provided you are not participating in a graduate training program
You resign from a job listed on the immigration salary list to take up a job that is not listed
Studying in the UK on a Skilled Worker Visa
You can study in the UK while holding a skilled worker visa, as long as it doesn't disrupt your job. Plus, you don't need extra approval from the Home Office to pursue your studies.
What to do if you lose your job while in the UK on a SW visa?
Extend Your Skilled Worker Visa
You are typically eligible to apply for an extension of a Skilled Worker visa or a Tier 2 (General) work visa if the following conditions are met:
You remain employed in the same position as when you were granted your initial permission to enter or reside in the UK
Your job continues to fall under the same occupation code as it did when you were granted your initial permission to enter or reside in the UK
You are still employed by the same employer who provided you with your current certificate of sponsorship
Indefinite Leave to Remain after Skilled Worker
To qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you must fulfil the following criteria
Reside and work in the UK for a continuous period of 5 years
You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months
Meet the salary threshold criteria
Maintain your relevance and meet the salary requirements for your position even after receiving ILR status, supported by documentation from your employer (sponsor) confirming your continued need
Pass the Life in the UK test
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