Skilled Worker visa: what you need and how it works

A Skilled Worker visa lets you come to the UK, or stay in the UK, to do an eligible job for an employer approved by the Home Office. GOV.UK says you need a certificate of sponsorship, a job on the list of eligible jobs, a minimum salary and English language ability. The visa can last up to 5 years before you extend it.

What is the Skilled Worker visa?

It is a UK work visa. GOV.UK says it has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. It also lets you work in UK waters.

You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply. If you are not eligible, GOV.UK says you may be eligible for another type of visa.

What do I need to get the visa?

The rules work on a points system. You must get all 50 points in the first three rows of this table (SW 4.1). You then need another 20 points from one of the salary options (SW 4.2).

What you need	Points	Rule
A sponsor	20	SW 5.1 to SW 5.7
A job at the right skill level	20	SW 6.1 to SW 6.5
English language	10	SW 7.1 to SW 7.3
A salary option (A to K)	20	SW 4.2 to SW 4.4

The rules come from Appendix Skilled Worker, which is part of the Immigration Rules. Each part is explained below, with links to the guide that covers it.

A sponsor and a certificate of sponsorship

You must work for a UK employer approved by the Home Office. This employer is your sponsor.

Your employer must give you a certificate of sponsorship (CoS). This is an electronic record with a reference number. It has details of your job. GOV.UK says you must apply within 3 months of getting it.

Your sponsor must be A-rated on the register of licensed sponsors. The exception is if you are continuing with the same sponsor as in your last Skilled Worker permission (SW 5.3).

An eligible job and a SOC code

Your job must have an eligible occupation code. This is called a SOC code. It is a 4-digit number for a type of job.

• A “higher skilled” code is eligible, says GOV.UK.
• A “medium skilled” code is eligible only in some cases. One example is a job on the immigration salary list or the temporary shortage list.

To get started, read what a SOC code is and how to find your SOC code. The full list is at SOC codes. You can also read about higher skilled and medium skilled jobs. The immigration salary list and temporary shortage list have their own pages.

Care workers (6135) and senior care workers (6136) have their own limits. See care workers.

A minimum salary

GOV.UK says the minimum salary is whichever is highest of £41,700 a year and the going rate for your type of work. The going rate is a set pay figure for that job’s occupation code.

The salary thresholds page explains every figure. The going rates page lists the rate for each code.

Lower figures apply in some cases:

• When you can be paid less covers salaries from £33,400 for listed jobs and groups.
• New entrant covers the new entrant rate.
• Tradeable points explains how salary options A to K work.
• Certificate of sponsorship before 4 April 2024 covers the £31,300 option.
• Health and Care Worker visa and health and education rates cover national pay scales.

The person deciding your application must not have reasonable grounds to believe the job breaks the National Minimum Wage Regulations or the Working Time Regulations (SW 5.6A).

English language

You need English at level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The level is B1 if your last permission was as a Skilled Worker granted with a B1 requirement (SW 4.1). The English language guide lists the ways to prove it.

Money and fees

GOV.UK says the visa fee is £819 to £1,865, depending on your situation. The healthcare surcharge is usually £1,035 a year. You usually need at least £1,270 in your bank account, unless you are exempt. The fees guide has the full table.

Documents

You give:

• your CoS reference number
• proof of English
• a valid passport
• your job title and salary
• your occupation code
• your employer’s details

The documents guide lists these and the extra items some applicants must give.

Age, health checks and other rules

• You must be 18 or over on the day you apply (SW 1.3).
• Your CoS must have been issued no more than 3 months before the day you apply. In the linked case that the rule describes, it is 90 days (SW 1.2(d)).
• You must give a tuberculosis medical certificate if Appendix Tuberculosis applies to you (SW 3.2).
• A person must not apply for entry clearance as a national or citizen of Afghanistan (SW 3.3).
• You must genuinely intend, and be able, to do the job your sponsor has given you (SW 14A.1).
• You must give a criminal record certificate if you apply for entry clearance in the occupation codes the rule lists (SW 16.1).

How do I apply?

You must apply online. How you apply depends on where you are and what you are doing.

Your situation	Guide	Usual decision time (GOV.UK)
Outside the UK and coming to the UK	Apply from outside the UK	3 weeks
Inside the UK on a different visa	Switching	8 weeks
Inside the UK, extending your visa	Extending	8 weeks
Changing job or employer	Changing job or employer	8 weeks

GOV.UK says you can apply up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This is the date on your CoS. You may be able to pay for a faster decision.

How long does the visa last?

GOV.UK says the visa can last up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You can extend as many times as you like while you still meet the requirements.

The rules give you permission until 14 days after the end date of your CoS. The end date can be up to 5 years after the start date (SW 18.1).

After 5 years, GOV.UK says you may be able to apply to settle permanently. See settlement.

What can I do on a Skilled Worker visa?

GOV.UK says you can:

• work in an eligible job
• study
• bring your partner and children as dependants, if they meet the requirements (see partner and children)
• take on extra work in some cases (see second job)
• travel abroad and return to the UK
• do unpaid voluntary work for a registered charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body or statutory body

What can’t I do?

GOV.UK says you cannot:

• apply for most benefits (called public funds) or the State Pension
• change jobs or employer, unless you apply to update your visa

Where do special cases fit?

• Health and Care Worker visa: a separate visa for listed health and social care jobs, with a lower fee and no healthcare surcharge.
• Care workers: the rules in SW 6.1B and SW 6.1C for codes 6135 and 6136.
• Before 4 April 2024: lower salary rules for people sponsored before that date.
• Settlement: indefinite leave to remain after 5 years.