The Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the United Kingdom to do an eligible job with an approved employer. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa and now sits at the centre of the UK's points-based immigration system for employment.
To qualify, you must meet a series of mandatory requirements covering job skill level, salary, sponsorship, and English language ability. Recent policy changes have made these requirements significantly more stringent, particularly around the minimum skill threshold.
Core Eligibility Requirements
Every Skilled Worker visa application is assessed on a points-based system. You need 70 points in total, awarded across mandatory and tradeable criteria.
Job at the Appropriate Skill Level
Mandatory: 20 points
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, the job must now be at Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 or above, with exceptions for jobs which are on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. The policy changes affecting Work visas came into effect on .
This represents a significant tightening from the previous RQF level 3 requirement. RQF level 6 corresponds to bachelor's degree–level occupations, including roles such as engineers, teachers, nurses, and IT professionals.
If your occupation code is listed as 'medium skilled', you can apply for this visa if your job is on the Immigration Salary List, or you're extending your visa and you got your first certificate of sponsorship before 22 July 2025. These transitional protections are designed to help existing visa holders whose roles no longer meet the new threshold.
Job Offer from an Approved Sponsor
Mandatory: 20 points
You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa. The employer must hold a valid sponsor licence from the Home Office and issue you a certificate of sponsorship (CoS).
The applicant must score 20 points for a job at the appropriate skill level, as documented in the CoS.
English Language Ability
Mandatory: 10 points
You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You'll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply, either by:
Passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR level B1 (intermediate) in reading, writing, speaking, and listening
Holding a degree taught in English and recognised by UK NARIC
Being a national of a majority English-speaking country
Minimum Salary Threshold
Tradeable: 0 to 20 points
You'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £41,700 per year, or the 'going rate' for your job, whichever is higher. This minimum applies to most occupations.
However, if you are being sponsored for a job on the immigration salary list you must be paid at least £33,400 per year, and you must still be paid at least the standard going rate for your job.
The going rate is the minimum salary set for each Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and varies by occupation. You can find your occupation's going rate on the eligible occupations and codes list published by the Home Office.
Salary Requirements in Detail
The salary rules determine both eligibility and the number of points awarded. Understanding how salaries are assessed is essential for a successful application.
For example, if you're applying for a role as a software developer (SOC 2135) with a going rate of £45,000, you must be offered at least £45,000—even though this exceeds the general £41,700 threshold.
Lower Salary Options
You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the standard going rate for your job if your salary is at least £33,400 per year and you meet one of the following criteria:
You're under 26 on the date you apply (new entrant)
You're studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training, such as a postdoctoral position or a period of professional training required for registration with a professional body
Jobs on the Immigration Salary List also benefit from this lower £33,400 threshold, provided they still meet the full going rate for the occupation.
Part-Time and Pro-Rated Salaries
If your job is part-time, the salary thresholds apply on a pro-rated basis. The Home Office calculates this as:
(Hours worked per week ÷ 37.5) × annual going rate
For example, if a full-time role has a going rate of £45,000 and you work 30 hours per week, the minimum salary is:
(30 ÷ 37.5) × £45,000 = £36,000
The pro-rated amount must still meet or exceed the relevant general threshold (£41,700 or £33,400).
What Counts as Salary?
Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts toward the salary threshold. Allowances, bonuses, overtime, and benefits such as pension contributions, accommodation, or travel are not included.
Salaries paid in foreign currency must be converted using the OANDA rate on the date the certificate of sponsorship is assigned.
Eligible Occupations and Skill Levels
Not every job qualifies for Skilled Worker sponsorship. The Home Office maintains a list of eligible occupations, each assigned a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and an RQF skill level.
High-Skilled Occupations (RQF 6+)
From 22 July 2025, most Skilled Worker roles must be at RQF level 6 (bachelor's degree equivalent) or above. Common high-skilled occupations include:
Engineers (civil, mechanical, electrical)
IT professionals (software developers, data analysts, cybersecurity specialists)
Each occupation has its own going rate, typically ranging from £30,000 to over £50,000 depending on the role and seniority.
Medium-Skilled Exceptions (RQF 3–5)
A limited number of medium-skilled occupations (RQF levels 3 to 5) remain eligible if they appear on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List.
The Temporary Shortage List at paragraph SW 6.1A of Appendix Skilled Worker includes occupations at RQF levels 3 to 5 which the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury have identified as being important for the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy. The jobs currently listed are due to be removed by the end of 2026, unless the MAC recommends they continue to be included (with the exception of care workers and senior care workers, for whom there are separate arrangements).
Care Workers: Special Rules
Care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136) face additional registration requirements. Your employer must be registered with the Care Quality Commission if you're a care worker or senior care worker working in England.
Additionally, care workers or senior care workers who were sponsored in those roles before 11 March 2024 do not need to be employed by a sponsor who is registered with the Care Quality Commission if they are applying to extend their visa with the same sponsor.
Sponsorship and the Certificate of Sponsorship
You cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa without a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed UK employer.
What Is a Certificate of Sponsorship?
A CoS is an electronic record, not a physical document. It contains a unique reference number and details about your job, salary, occupation code, and sponsor. You enter this reference number when completing your visa application.
The sponsor assigns the CoS and pays a fee (currently ranging from £199 to £1,000 depending on the sponsor's size and type). The CoS is valid for three months from the date of assignment.
Sponsor Licence Requirements
Employers must hold a valid sponsor licence to issue a certificate of sponsorship. The Home Office assesses sponsors on their:
Compliance history
HR systems and record-keeping
Genuine need for the role
Ability to meet sponsor duties (reporting changes, right-to-work checks, record retention)
Only roles that cannot be filled by the settled workforce are typically approved.
Job Advertisement and the Resident Labour Market Test
The resident labour market test was abolished in 2020. Sponsors are no longer required to advertise roles domestically before offering them to overseas workers, though internal recruitment policies may still apply.
English Language Requirement
Proving your English ability is a mandatory condition. You need to demonstrate competence at CEFR level B1 across all four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider (IELTS for UKVI, LanguageCert, Pearson PTE)
Holding a degree-level qualification taught in English and recognised by UK NARIC
Being a national of a majority English-speaking country (such as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland)
If you have already proven your English for a previous UK visa and your circumstances have not changed, you may not need to prove it again.
Test Validity
SELT results are valid for two years from the test date. Ensure your test certificate is still in date when you submit your application.
Financial Requirement
Unlike some other visa routes, the Skilled Worker visa does not require you to show personal savings or maintenance funds if your sponsor certifies they will support you (up to £1,270) during your first month in the UK.
If your sponsor does not certify maintenance, 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.
Application Process
From Outside the UK
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa up to three months before your job start date (as stated on your CoS). Processing times are typically three weeks, though priority and super-priority services are available for an additional fee.
You'll need to:
Complete the online application form
Pay the visa fee (from £719 to £1,500 depending on duration and circumstances)
Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently £1,035 per year)
Book and attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre
Submit supporting documents (passport, CoS reference, English test, qualifications, tuberculosis certificate if required)
From Inside the UK (Switching or Extending)
If you're already in the UK on another visa, you may be able to switch into the Skilled Worker route without leaving the country, provided your current visa allows switching.
You can also extend your Skilled Worker visa before it expires if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements and your sponsor issues a new CoS.
Applications made inside the UK are processed within eight weeks on average.
Settlement and Indefinite Leave to Remain
You can apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as 'indefinite leave to remain') if you've lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements, including:
Continuous residence (no single absence longer than 180 days in any 12-month period)
Meeting the minimum salary threshold throughout
Passing the Life in the UK test
Meeting English language requirements at CEFR level B1 or higher
Settlement grants you the right to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely without sponsorship.
Dependants
You can bring your partner and children as dependants on your Skilled Worker visa. Each dependant must apply separately and pay their own visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
Dependants can work (in most jobs) and study in the UK. They can also apply for settlement after five years of continuous residence alongside you.
Fees and Costs Summary
Applying for a Skilled Worker visa involves several mandatory costs:
Mandatory for access to NHS services; see IHS guidance
Certificate of sponsorship
£199–£1,000
Paid by sponsor; amount depends on sponsor type
English language test
£150–£200
If required; SELT from approved provider
Tuberculosis test
~£75
If applying from listed countries
Priority processing services are available for an additional fee if you need a faster decision.
Common Reasons for Refusal
Skilled Worker visa applications are refused when applicants fail to meet one or more mandatory requirements. Common reasons include:
Job does not meet the RQF level 6 threshold (unless covered by transitional rules or shortage lists)
Salary below the relevant threshold or going rate
Invalid or expired certificate of sponsorship
Insufficient English language evidence
Sponsor licence revoked or suspended
Gaps or inconsistencies in supporting documents
Previous immigration breaches or adverse history
Always double-check that your CoS details match your application and that all documents are current, certified, and translated if necessary.
Changes from April 2025
The UK government announced substantial reforms to the Skilled Worker route in late 2024, with most changes taking effect on 22 July 2025. Key changes include:
General salary threshold increased from £26,200 to £41,700
Immigration Salary List threshold raised to £33,400
Temporary Shortage List occupations at RQF 3–5 scheduled for removal by end of 2026 (excluding care workers)
Existing visa holders are generally protected by transitional provisions if they hold a CoS assigned before 22 July 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch jobs on a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes, but you need a new certificate of sponsorship from your new employer and must apply to update your visa. The new role must meet all Skilled Worker requirements.
How long can I stay?
Your visa is granted for the length stated on your CoS, up to a maximum of five years. You can extend indefinitely as long as you continue to meet the requirements.
Can I apply for settlement?
Yes, after five continuous years on a Skilled Worker visa (or combination of eligible work visas), you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.
What if my salary is in a foreign currency?
The Home Office converts foreign salaries using the OANDA rate on the date your CoS is assigned, as detailed in the caseworker guidance.
Do I need to pass the Life in the UK test?
Not for the initial visa or extensions, but it is required when you apply for settlement after five years.
Key Takeaways
The UK Skilled Worker visa requires a job at RQF level 6 or above, with limited exceptions for shortage occupations
You must be paid at least £41,700 per year or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher
A confirmed job offer and certificate of sponsorship from a licensed UK employer are mandatory
English language ability at CEFR B1 level must be proven
You can apply for settlement after five years of continuous residence
Policy changes from 22 July 2025 have significantly tightened skill and salary thresholds
Meeting these requirements is essential for a successful application. Always check that your job, salary, and sponsor meet the latest Home Office criteria before applying.
