United Kingdom · Work

Skilled Worker visa

Skilled Worker visa is issued by UK Visas and Immigration. VisaAI tracks 23 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.

Last verified against the official source on .

VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.

Requirements change. Confirm every item on UK Visas and Immigration’s own page before you apply.

Each requirement below is written in plain English by VisaAI. The indented text beneath it is quoted from UK Visas and Immigration’s own page, so you can check what we say against what they say. Where a quotation shows “ ... ”, text has been left out.

Conditions you must meet

  • Have a job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home OfficeApproved employers are called sponsors. If your employer is not approved they can apply for a sponsor licence: GOV.UK states that costs the employer GBP 611 for small businesses and charities or GBP 1,682 for medium and large organisations, and takes around 8 weeks. That fee is the employer's, not the applicant's, so it is not listed as a fee here.
    You must have a job offer from an approved UK employer before you apply for a Skilled Worker visa. Approved employers are also known as sponsors, because they are sponsoring you to come to or stay in the UK.
  • Have a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from your employerThe certificate of sponsorship is an electronic record, not a physical document. It carries a reference number you need for the visa application.
    have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ (CoS) from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
  • Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupationsEligibility runs off a 4-digit occupation code. GOV.UK states a 'higher skilled' code qualifies outright; a 'medium skilled' code qualifies only if the job is on the immigration salary list, on the temporary shortage list, or is a prison officer (code 3314) extending or switching. Those lists are not registered sources, so VisaAI cannot yet resolve a specific code.
    You must meet all the following requirements to be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa: your job is eligible for this visa
  • Be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work you will doGBP 33,400 reduced minimum per year · GBP 41,700 standard minimum per year · GBP 31,300 prison officer minimum per yearGOV.UK states GBP 41,700 per year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds exist in stated cases: GBP 33,400 where you do not meet the usual requirement and do not work in healthcare or education, and GBP 31,300 for a prison officer extending or switching. The going-rate table is not a registered source.
    The minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing is whichever is the highest of: £41,700 per year ... the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing
  • Be able to speak, read, write and understand English
    You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
  • Have at least GBP 1,270 available to support yourself in the UKGBP 1,270GOV.UK requires the money to have been available for at least 28 days in a row, with day 28 falling within 31 days of applying. You do not usually need to show it if you have been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your employer certifies on the certificate of sponsorship that it will cover your costs during your first month, up to GBP 1,270.
    You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.
  • Apply within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship
    You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.
  • Care and senior care roles in England: employer must be registered with the Care Quality Commission
    Your employer must be registered with the Care Quality Commission if you’re a care worker (code 6135) or senior care worker (code 6136) working in England.

Documents you must provide

  • Your certificate of sponsorship reference number
    When you apply you’ll need to provide: your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this
  • Proof of your knowledge of English
    proof of your knowledge of English
  • Valid passport or other document showing your identity and nationality
    a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
  • Your job title, annual salary, occupation code, and your employer's name and sponsor licence numberGOV.UK states the sponsor licence number is on your certificate of sponsorship, and to ask your employer for a copy if you do not have one.
    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
  • Evidence of your personal savings, for example bank statementsGOV.UK exempts you if your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you.
    Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide: evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)
  • Proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they are applying with you
    proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you
  • Tuberculosis test results if you are from a listed countryThe list of countries is a separate GOV.UK service and is not a registered source, so VisaAI cannot yet say whether your nationality is on it.
    your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country
  • Criminal record certificate, for certain jobs when applying from outside the UKGOV.UK names education, healthcare, therapy and social services roles. If you have lived in more than one country you may need a certificate from each: under 28, from any country you stayed in for 12 months or more since turning 18; 28 or over, from any country you stayed in over the last 10 years.
    You’ll need to provide a criminal record certificate if you’re applying from outside the UK and you work in: education, for example teachers, education advisers and school inspectors, childminders, teaching assistants
  • Valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one
    a valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher
  • UK PhD certificate, or your Ecctis reference number for a qualification from outside the UK
    your UK PhD certificate, or your unique Ecctis reference number if your qualification is from outside the UK - you’ll need to apply through Ecctis
  • Certified translation of any document not in English or Welsh
    If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.

Steps in the process

  • Apply online for the Skilled Worker visaThe UK publishes no application form number for this route — the application exists only as an online service. GOV.UK states you can save the form and complete it later, and that you can apply up to 3 months before the start date listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
    You must apply online for a Skilled Worker visa.
  • Prove your identity, by app or at a visa application centreGOV.UK states you will either use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to scan your identity document (creating or signing into a UKVI account), or have your fingerprints and photo taken at a visa application centre. You are told which when you apply. If you need an appointment you must take your passport, and the centre may be in another country.
    As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

Government fees

  • Skilled Worker visa application feeGOV.UK states the standard fee ranges from GBP 819 to GBP 1,865 depending on circumstances. From outside the UK: GBP 819 per person for up to 3 years, GBP 1,618 per person for more than 3 years. From inside the UK to extend, switch or update: GBP 943 for up to 3 years, GBP 1,865 for more than 3 years. If the job is on the immigration salary list the fee is GBP 628 for up to 3 years or GBP 1,235 for more than 3 years, the same inside or outside the UK. A partner or child joining you pays the fee for the same length of time as you.
    If you’re applying from outside the UK, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for: up to 3 years - £819 per person ... more than 3 years - £1,618 per person ... If you’re applying from inside the UK to extend, switch or update your visa, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for: up to 3 years - £943 per person ... more than 3 years - £1,865 per person ... The fee for each person applying is: £628 if you’re staying for up to 3 years ... £1,235 if you’re staying for more than 3 years
  • Immigration healthcare surchargeGBP 1,035GOV.UK states this is usually GBP 1,035 per year of your stay, and is payable by you and by each partner or child applying.
    pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 per year

Official sources

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