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Skilled Worker Visa UK: Complete Guide to… | SkilledJobs
17 min read
Skilled Worker Visa UK: Complete Guide to Eligibility and Requirements
By SkilledJobs Editorial · Published 13 August 2026 · Last verified
The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's primary route for overseas workers in skilled occupations. It allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend, and it replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa in December 2020. This visa is designed for roles that meet specific skill and salary thresholds set by the Home Office.
The Skilled Worker visa is a points-based visa. You must score 70 points to qualify, based on mandatory and tradeable criteria. Mandatory points (50 total) come from holding a valid job offer from a licensed sponsor (20 points), working in an eligible occupation at the appropriate skill level (20 points), and speaking English at the required standard (10 points). Tradeable points (at least 20) come from your salary level and other factors such as shortage occupations or relevant PhD qualifications.
This visa ties you to a specific employer and job role. If you change employer or role—even within the same company—you typically need to update your visa. Your sponsor must assign you a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) and pay the immigration skills charge before you can apply.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must meet several mandatory conditions verified by the Home Office.
Job Offer from a Licensed Sponsor
Your employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and issue you a certificate of sponsorship. The CoS contains details of your job, salary, occupation code, and sponsor licence number. Only organisations on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors can employ Skilled Workers. You can verify an employer's licence status on the public register published by UK Visas and Immigration.
Your job must match one of the eligible occupation codes published by the Home Office. Each code corresponds to a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and carries a minimum skill level (RQF 3, 4, 5, or 6) and a going rate. Your sponsor must use the four-digit SOC code that best describes your actual duties, not simply your job title.
Salary Thresholds
You must be paid at least the higher of two amounts: the general salary threshold and the going rate for your occupation code.
The general salary threshold is £41,700 per year. The going rate is the minimum annual salary set for your specific SOC code, published in the Home Office going rates table. For example, if your occupation code has a going rate of £45,000, you must be paid at least £45,000 even though it exceeds the general threshold.
A lower threshold of £33,400 per year applies if you meet one of the following tradeable criteria:
You hold a PhD relevant to the job (or a PhD in a STEM subject if the job is in a STEM field).
You are a new entrant (under 26, in a postdoctoral position, or switching from Student or Graduate visa status).
These reductions allow you to earn 80 per cent or 90 per cent of the going rate, subject to meeting the £33,400 floor.
Transitional salary provisions apply to workers switching or extending by certain dates. If you are switching to a Skilled Worker visa by 31 December 2026, or extending your Skilled Worker visa by 31 December 2027, different minimum thresholds may apply depending on when you were first granted leave under this route. Check the Your job guidance for details on these transitional rules.
Part-Time and Pro-Rata Calculation
If you work part-time, your salary is pro-rated to a 37.5-hour working week. The Home Office applies the formula:
For example, if your occupation's going rate is £45,000 and you work 30 hours per week, the calculation is (30 ÷ 37.5) × £45,000 = £36,000. You must be paid at least £36,000 per year for that role. The same pro-rata logic applies to the general threshold: if you work 30 hours, the general threshold becomes (30 ÷ 37.5) × £41,700 = £33,360. You must meet whichever figure is higher after pro-rating.
If you are applying from outside the UK, you must show you have held at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before you apply. This requirement is waived if your sponsor certifies maintenance on your certificate of sponsorship (many sponsors do this). If you are switching to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, you do not need to meet the financial requirement.
A valid certificate of sponsorship reference number.
A valid passport or travel document.
Proof of English language ability.
Evidence of maintenance funds (if required).
A tuberculosis test certificate if you are from a listed country.
You apply online via the UK government visa application portal. As part of the process you will book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) and upload supporting documents.
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 cannot switch if you hold visit visa status, short-term student status, or certain other temporary permissions. You can switch from Student, Graduate, or most other work visa routes.
When switching, you apply online and do not need to attend a visa application centre; instead you use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to verify your identity. You can start working for your new employer as soon as you receive a decision, even if your current visa has not yet expired.
Visa Fees and Immigration Health Surcharge
The application fee depends on your circumstances:
In addition to the visa fee, you must pay the immigration health surcharge, which is typically £1,035 per year for most applicants. This surcharge gives you access to the National Health Service (NHS) during your stay. For a 5-year visa, the total health surcharge would be £5,175. Health and care workers on the Immigration Salary List usually pay a reduced rate or no surcharge; check the latest guidance on GOV.UK.
Your sponsor must also pay the immigration skills charge: £1,000 per year for large sponsors or £364 per year for small or charitable sponsors. This cost is not passed to you but is part of the employer's sponsorship obligations.
What You Can and Cannot Do
Holders of a Skilled Worker visa may:
Work for your sponsoring employer in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship.
Take on additional work in certain circumstances (limited to 20 hours per week in another eligible job, or work in the same profession and at the same level as your sponsored job).
Study, subject to ATAS clearance if your course requires it.
Bring eligible family members (spouse, partner, or children under 18) as dependants.
You cannot:
Access most public funds (benefits or public housing).
Work for an employer other than your sponsor unless you have updated your visa or the additional work is permitted under the Immigration Rules.
Be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson (including as a coach) unless your certificate of sponsorship is specifically for that role.
Extending Your Visa
You can extend your Skilled Worker visa as many times as you like, provided you continue to meet the eligibility requirements and your sponsor issues a new certificate of sponsorship. Each extension can be for up to 5 years. There is no limit on the total time you can spend in the UK on this route, though you may choose to apply for settlement once you have completed 5 years of continuous residence.
To extend, you apply online from within the UK. You must still meet the skill, salary, and English language requirements current at the time of your extension. Because the rules have changed over time, transitional provisions may apply if you were first granted a Skilled Worker visa (or its predecessor, Tier 2 General) before certain dates.
If you wish to change employer or role, you must apply to update your Skilled Worker visa. The new employer must hold a sponsor licence and issue you a fresh certificate of sponsorship. You apply online and pay the relevant switching fee. You can start working for the new employer once your updated visa is approved; it is not lawful to begin the new job before approval even if you hold a valid Skilled Worker visa for a different sponsor.
Sponsor Licence Withdrawal
If your sponsor loses their licence or ceases trading, the Home Office will notify affected workers. You will typically have 60 days (curtailment period) to find a new licensed sponsor and apply to update your visa. If you do not secure new sponsorship within that period, you must leave the UK or switch to another visa category for which you qualify. During the 60-day curtailment period you should not work, because your certificate of sponsorship is no longer valid.
Dependants
Your partner and children can apply to join you as dependants. Each dependant pays their own visa fee and immigration health surcharge. Dependants on a Skilled Worker visa can work or study without restriction (they are not tied to your sponsor). They accrue their own continuous residence and may apply for settlement at the same time as you, provided they have been in the UK for the required period.
Switching from Student or Graduate Visa
Many international graduates switch to a Skilled Worker visa after completing a UK degree. If you hold a Student visa or Graduate visa, you can apply to switch without leaving the UK, provided you have a valid job offer and certificate of sponsorship. You benefit from the new entrant concession (reduced salary threshold) if you switch from a Student or Graduate visa, even if you are 26 or older. This concession applies for the first grant and one extension on the Skilled Worker route; after that you must meet the standard thresholds.
Health and Care Occupations
Health and care workers on the Immigration Salary List receive certain benefits:
Reduced or zero immigration health surcharge.
Faster visa processing under some circumstances.
Eligibility for the lower salary threshold (£33,400 floor and reduced going rate) if the occupation remains on the list.
Check the Immigration Salary List to confirm which SOC codes qualify. The list is reviewed periodically and codes can be added or removed.
Recent and Upcoming Changes
The Immigration Rules for Skilled Workers have been updated several times. Key changes effective from 22 July 2025 include:
Introduction of RQF Level 6 as the standard minimum skill threshold for most new sponsorships.
Revised SOC code structure and updated going rates.
New tradeable points arrangements for shortage occupations and PhD holders.
Transitional provisions protecting certain workers granted leave before the rule changes.
From January 2026, first-time applicants face a higher English requirement (B2 instead of B1). Workers extending or switching who already demonstrated B1 on a previous grant do not need to retake the test at B2.
The Visa Brake mechanism, announced in 2025, allows the government to pause or restrict visa routes if net migration exceeds specified thresholds. As of mid-2026 the Visa Brake has not been triggered for the Skilled Worker route, but the policy remains under review.
Comparing the Skilled Worker Visa to Other Routes
The Skilled Worker visa is one of several work visa options:
Global Talent visa: for leaders and emerging leaders in academia, research, arts, culture, or digital technology. No job offer or sponsor required, but you must be endorsed by an approved body.
Senior or Specialist Worker visa (formerly Intra-Company Transfer): for employees of multinational companies transferring to a UK branch. Minimum salary thresholds are higher and there is no pathway to settlement on this route.
Health and Care Worker visa: a variant of the Skilled Worker route with reduced fees and faster processing for eligible health professionals.
Graduate visa: allows recent graduates of UK universities to work (or look for work) for 2 years (3 years for PhD graduates) without sponsorship. No pathway to settlement; many holders switch to Skilled Worker once they secure a sponsored role.
Each route has distinct eligibility criteria, costs, and rights. The Skilled Worker visa remains the most common route for overseas nationals in professional and technical occupations.
Tips for a Successful Application
Check the eligible occupation codes carefully. Use the official list and match your duties to the SOC code; your sponsor will use this code on your certificate of sponsorship.
Verify your sponsor's licence on the Home Office public register before accepting a job offer. Unlicensed employers cannot sponsor you.
Gather evidence early. Degree certificates, English test results, and bank statements take time to obtain. Start the process as soon as you have a confirmed job offer.
Check your salary calculation. If you work part-time or receive allowances, confirm with your sponsor that the stated salary meets both the general threshold and the going rate after pro-rating.
Apply in good time. You can apply up to 3 months before your start date. Early submission reduces the risk of delays affecting your travel or employment start.
Keep copies of all documents. The Home Office may request additional evidence. Maintain scans of your passport, certificates of sponsorship, and correspondence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a Skilled Worker visa without a job offer?
No. You must have a confirmed job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed UK employer before you apply.
Can my family join me?
Yes. Your spouse or partner and dependent children can apply as your dependants. They pay separate fees and the immigration health surcharge.
Do I need a new visa if I get promoted or change job title with the same employer?
It depends. If your SOC code, salary, or job duties change, you must notify the Home Office and may need to apply to update your visa. Minor changes such as a courtesy title update usually do not require a new application, but significant changes do.
What happens if I lose my job?
If your employment ends, your sponsor must notify the Home Office. Your visa remains valid until its expiry date, but your certificate of sponsorship is cancelled. You should find a new licensed sponsor and apply to update your visa as soon as possible. If you do not, you may be required to leave the UK when your current visa expires.
Can I switch to self-employment on this visa?
No. The Skilled Worker visa requires ongoing sponsorship by a licensed employer. If you wish to be self-employed, consider other routes such as the Innovator Founder visa (if you meet the investment and endorsement criteria).
Your job matches an eligible occupation code at the required skill level.
Your salary meets or exceeds both the general threshold and the going rate (or qualifies for a reduction).
You can prove English language ability at the required level.
You have the necessary funds (if applying from outside the UK and your sponsor does not certify maintenance).
If you meet all the criteria, you can begin your online application through the official UK government visa portal. Prepare your supporting documents in advance and book your biometric appointment promptly to avoid delays.
The Skilled Worker visa remains the cornerstone of the UK's skilled migration system in 2026. With careful preparation and attention to the detailed requirements, you can navigate the process successfully and begin your career in the UK.
