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Apply for Skilled Worker Visa UK: Step-by-Step Guide
15 min read
How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK: Complete Guide
By SkilledJobs Editorial · Published 10 August 2026 · Last verified
How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK: Complete Guide
The Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. This route replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa and remains the primary pathway for skilled professionals seeking employment in the United Kingdom.
If you are planning to work in the UK, understanding the application process is essential. This guide walks you through every step, from checking your eligibility to submitting your application and tracking its progress.
What Is a Skilled Worker Visa?
A Skilled Worker visa permits you to live and work in the UK for an approved sponsor in an eligible occupation. Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it, and it may lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) if you meet the residence requirements.
You can apply from outside the UK or switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you are already in the country on a different visa. The route is points-based: you must score 70 points by meeting mandatory and tradeable requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
Before you apply, confirm that you meet all of the following criteria.
Certificate of Sponsorship
You must have a valid certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from a UK employer licensed by the Home Office. The CoS is a reference number—not a physical document—that contains details about your role and salary.
Your sponsor must assign the CoS to you before you apply. The reference number is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.
Jobs classified as medium skilled face additional restrictions. From 22 July 2025, new medium-skilled Skilled Worker visa holders cannot bring dependants and are not eligible for settlement.
Standard Salary Requirement
You will usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least .
Last verified against official UK government sources.
The going rate is the minimum hourly or annual salary set for each occupation code. Your salary must meet both the general threshold and the specific going rate to qualify.
This lower threshold applies in limited circumstances, including shortage occupations or new entrants to the labour market. Your sponsor must confirm which route applies to your application.
Financial Requirement
Unless your sponsor certifies maintenance on your CoS, you must show you have held at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days. Day 28 must fall within 31 days of the date you apply.
If your certificate of sponsorship confirms your sponsor will cover your costs for your first month in the UK, you do not need to show separate funds.
Nationals of majority English-speaking countries are usually exempt from this requirement.
Documents You Must Provide
When you apply, you will need to provide specific documents to prove your eligibility.
Mandatory Documents
Valid passport or travel document
Your current passport with at least one blank page for your visa vignette.
Certificate of sponsorship reference number
The unique number issued by your sponsor, not the PDF confirmation email.
Proof of salary
Details of your job title, annual salary, and occupation code are included in your CoS, but you should verify these match your offer letter.
Criminal record certificate (if required)
Some applicants must provide an approved criminal record certificate depending on their country of residence and the nature of their role.
Statements must show your name, account number, date, and financial institution details. Digital statements are accepted if they are official bank documents.
Proof of English Language
You must submit one of the following:
A valid English language test certificate at B1 level or above
A degree certificate taught in English
Proof of nationality from a majority English-speaking country
Approved English language tests must be from a Home Office–recognised provider and taken within the validity period set by that provider.
How to Apply from Outside the UK
If you are applying from outside the UK, follow these steps.
Step 1: Obtain Your Certificate of Sponsorship
Your employer must assign you a certificate of sponsorship before you can apply. You will receive a reference number, usually by email. Keep this number safe—you will enter it in your online application.
Step 2: Complete the Online Application
You apply online on GOV.UK. You will create an account, answer questions about your eligibility, and provide details from your certificate of sponsorship.
You can save your application and return to it before submitting. Once submitted, you cannot edit your answers.
Step 3: Pay the Fees
You must pay two fees as part of your application:
Visa application fee: the cost varies by the length of your visa and whether you are applying from outside the UK.
Immigration health surcharge: £1,035 per year, paid upfront for the full visa duration (for example, £3,105 for a three-year visa).
Payment is taken by debit or credit card during the online application.
In some countries, you may use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to scan your biometric passport instead of attending in person.
Step 5: Submit Your Supporting Documents
You will upload scanned copies of your documents during the online application or bring them to your biometric appointment. Ensure all documents meet the format and quality requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration.
If your application is approved, you will receive a visa vignette (sticker) in your passport valid for 90 days. You must travel to the UK within this period and collect your biometric residence permit after arrival.
Switching to a Skilled Worker Visa from Inside the UK
If you are already in the UK on another visa, you may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker visa without leaving the country.
You do not need to leave the UK, and you can usually continue working for your current employer while your application is pending if you applied before your current visa expired.
If approved, you will receive a digital immigration status rather than a physical biometric residence permit. You can view and share your status using your online UK Visas and Immigration account.
Extending Your Skilled Worker Visa
If your visa is due to expire and you want to stay in the UK, you can apply to extend it.
To extend, you must still have a valid certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor, meet the salary threshold, and satisfy the English language and financial requirements (unless exempt).
You must pay the visa extension fee and the immigration health surcharge for the additional period. These fees are similar to those charged for initial applications.
Bringing Your Partner and Children
Your partner and children may be able to join you in the UK as your dependants.
This restriction does not apply to higher-skilled roles or to workers who held a Skilled Worker visa for a medium-skilled role before that date.
Application Process
Dependants must apply online and pay the visa fee and immigration health surcharge. They will need to prove their relationship to you and meet the financial requirement unless exempt.
Updating Your Visa After You Arrive
Once you start working in the UK, you may need to update your visa if your circumstances change.
In some cases, minor changes to your job duties with the same employer do not require a new application, but significant changes in salary, hours, or occupation code usually do.
Many Skilled Worker visa applications are delayed or refused due to avoidable errors. Here are the most common pitfalls.
Expired Certificate of Sponsorship
Your CoS is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. If you apply after it expires, your application will be refused. Apply as soon as you receive your reference number.
Incorrect Salary Details
Ensure the salary on your certificate of sponsorship matches your contract and meets both the general threshold and the going rate for your occupation code. Even small discrepancies can lead to refusal.
Missing Financial Evidence
If your sponsor does not certify maintenance, you must provide bank statements covering exactly 28 consecutive days. Statements that are too old, too recent, or missing transaction details will not be accepted.
Insufficient English Language Proof
Your English test must be from an approved provider and still valid. Degrees taught partially in English do not meet the requirement—the entire qualification must be taught in English and recognised by UK NARIC or equivalent.
Incomplete Document Uploads
All documents must be clear, complete, and in an accepted format. Blurred scans, missing pages, or documents in unsupported languages (without certified translations) cause delays.
After You Apply: What to Expect
Once you have submitted your application and attended your biometric appointment, UK Visas and Immigration will review your case.
Tracking Your Application
You can check the status of your application online using your reference number and account login. The system will show when your application has been received, when it is under review, and when a decision has been made.
Receiving Your Decision
If your application is approved, you will receive:
A visa vignette in your passport (if applying from outside the UK) valid for 90 days
A biometric residence permit after you arrive in the UK, or
A digital immigration status (if switching or extending from inside the UK)
If your application is refused, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons. You may be able to apply for an administrative review or submit a new application if you can address the issues.
Travelling to the UK
If you applied from outside the UK, you must travel within the validity period of your vignette. After arrival, you will collect your biometric residence permit from a designated Post Office branch or have it delivered to your UK address.
Your permit will show your visa start and end dates, your photograph, and your immigration status.
How Long a Skilled Worker Visa Lasts
Your visa length depends on the details in your certificate of sponsorship.
Your visa can be issued for the length of your job plus 14 days (if your job lasts 3 years or less) or for 5 years plus 14 days (if your job lasts longer than 3 years). The maximum initial visa period is 5 years.
You can extend your visa as many times as you want, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. There is no overall time limit on how long you can hold a Skilled Worker visa, but you must apply for settlement separately if you want to remain in the UK permanently.
Settling in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
After 5 years of continuous residence on a Skilled Worker visa, you may be eligible to apply for settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain.
To qualify, you must:
Have lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period on a Skilled Worker visa or other eligible work visa
Still be working for a licensed sponsor in an eligible job at the required skill and salary level
Meet the English language requirement at level B1 or above
Pass the Life in the UK test
Not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during your 5 years
Settlement gives you the right to live, work, and study in the UK without immigration restrictions. After 12 months with settled status, you may apply for British citizenship if you meet the requirements.
Key Fees and Costs Summary
Item
Cost
Source
Visa application fee (up to 3 years, from outside UK)
