Skilled Worker Visa
The UK Skilled Worker Visa is the primary and the most widely used route for overseas professionals to work in the UK with a licensed employer.
At JV LEGAL, we advise both individual applicants and UK employers on every stage of the Skilled Worker Visa process, from assessing eligibility and salary compliance, to preparing and submitting the application with precision.
What is a Skilled Worker Visa?
The UK Skilled Worker Visa allows employers to recruit and sponsor overseas workers in eligible roles that meet specific skill level and salary requirements. There is no cap on the number of Skilled Worker Visas issued each year.
The Skilled Worker Visa can be granted for up to five years. After five continuous years of qualifying residence in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), subject to meeting the settlement requirements.
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may wish to speak to an immigration lawyer for an individual expert advice.
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Skilled Worker Visa UK: Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the UK Skilled Worker Visa, you and your sponsoring employer must satisfy all of the following requirements.
Job offer from a licensed UK employer
You must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer who holds a valid Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence issued by the Home Office. Your employer assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), a unique reference number that confirms the job title, salary, occupation code, and start date for your sponsored role. You cannot apply for a Skilled Worker Visa without a CoS. Once you have the CoS reference number, you have three months from the date of assignment to submit your visa application.
If your employer does not yet hold a Sponsor Licence, they must apply for one before you can proceed. The Sponsor Licence application typically takes eight weeks to process. JV LEGAL advises UK employers on Sponsor Licence applications (see our Sponsor Licence page for full details).
Your job must meet the skill level requirement
From 22 July 2025, the minimum skill level for new Skilled Worker Visa applications was raised from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (graduate-level degree equivalent). This is one of the most significant changes in the 2025 immigration reforms. Roles below RQF Level 6 can still be sponsored in limited circumstances:
If the worker was assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship in an RQF Level 3–5 role before 4 April 2024 and successfully applied under that sponsorship (these workers can continue to extend their visa until 4 April 2030 (or 22 July 2028 for care workers) under transitional provisions)
If the role is included on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or Temporary Shortage List (TSL) for new hires, however, workers sponsored under RQF Level 3–5 roles via the TSL cannot bring dependants to the UK
The eligible occupation list is structured using Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) codes. Your employer must identify the correct SOC code for the role using the ONS occupation coding tool and cross-reference it with Appendix Skilled Occupations on gov.uk to confirm the role's eligibility.
Your job must meet the salary requirement
From 22 July 2025, the general salary threshold for new Skilled Worker Visa applications is £41,700 per year, or the going rate for the specific occupation code, whichever is higher. There are certain exceptions if you are a new entrant to the labour market, if you work in the healthcare sector or your job is on the Immigration Salary List. From 8 April 2026, a new payroll compliance rule was introduced which requires that the salary threshold must be met in each individual pay period, not just as an annual average. For workers paid monthly, salary paid over any three-month period must be at least one quarter of the annual minimum. This is a significant change for employers with variable pay structures.
You must meet English language requirement
From 8 January 2026, new Skilled Worker Visa applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency at CEFR Level B2 in all four components — reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This is an increase from the previous B1 requirement. You can satisfy the English language requirement by:
Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from a Home Office-approved provider, such as IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI, at the required B2 level
Holding an academic qualification at degree level or above that was taught in English
Being a national of a majority English-speaking country as defined by the Home Office, including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several others
Where you have already demonstrated English language proficiency in a previous successful UK visa application, you may not need to prove it again. Your employer should confirm this before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, but a failure to meet the English requirement at the date of application will result in refusal.
You must meet the financial maintenance requirement
You must demonstrate that you have at least £1,270 available in your bank account, held for 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling within 31 days of your visa application date. You are exempt from providing this evidence if:
You have been in the UK with valid leave for 12 months or more on the date of your application
Your sponsor certifies on your Certificate of Sponsorship that they will cover your maintenance costs of up to £1,270 during your first month in the UK
If you are bringing dependants, additional maintenance funds are required: £285 per partner, £315 for a first child, and £200 for each additional child.
You must meet the suitability requirement
You must not fall for refusal under the suitability grounds of the Immigration Rules. This includes consideration of your immigration history, any previous overstays, deception used in a previous application, or serious criminal convictions. A previous visa overstay does not automatically disqualify you from applying for a Skilled Worker Visa, but it must be disclosed and will be considered in the assessment. For certain regulated occupations (particularly healthcare roles) you may also be required to provide a criminal records certificate from any country in which you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Applying for a Skilled Worker Visa
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Your employer must hold a valid Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence. They log into the Sponsor Management System (SMS) and assign you a CoS, specifying your job title, SOC code, salary, start date, and visa duration. The CoS costs £525 to assign. Your employer also pays the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) — £1,000 per year for medium and large businesses, or £364 per year for small businesses and charities. The ISC cannot legally be passed on to you.
There are two types of Certificate of Sponsorship:
Defined CoS, used for out-of-country applications (applying from abroad). The employer must apply for and pay for a defined CoS specifically for you.
Undefined CoS, used for in-country applications, including extensions and changes of employer from within the UK.
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Once you have your CoS reference number, you can apply online through the UK Visas and Immigration portal. The application requires:
Your valid passport
Your CoS reference number
Proof of English language proficiency at CEFR B2 (if required)
Bank statements showing £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days (if required)
Relevant qualification certificates for regulated professions
A criminal records certificate, if required for your occupation
A tuberculosis test certificate, if you have lived in a country on the Home Office's required testing list for six months or more in the past ten years
This list is not exhaustive and you are advised to seek individual immigration advice on your specific circumstances.
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The visa application fee depends on whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK, the duration of leave you are requesting, and whether your role qualifies for reduced fees. You must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), currently £1,035 per person per year, in addition to the visa application fee.
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You must provide your fingerprints and photograph at a visa application centre. If you are applying from within the UK and are eligible, you may be able to use the UK Immigration ID Check app to provide your biometric information digitally. You must not start work in the sponsored role until your visa has been granted.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for Skilled Worker Visa
The Certificate of Sponsorship is not a physical document, it is an electronic record in the Home Office Sponsor Management System that links your identity to your employer's Sponsor Licence and confirms the details of your sponsored role. The CoS must accurately state:
Your full name as it appears in your passport
Your date of birth and nationality
The job title, SOC 2020 code, and a detailed description of the duties of the role
Your start date and the requested duration of sponsorship
Your gross annual salary and hourly rate — which must meet the applicable threshold
Whether the sponsor certifies maintenance on your behalf
A CoS is valid for three months from the date it is assigned. You must submit your visa application within this three-month window. If your start date on the CoS is more than three months away, you can still apply, but your visa will not be granted more than three months before the employment start date.
Accuracy on the CoS
A single error on the Certificate of Sponsorship, an incorrect salary figure, a wrong SOC code, or a start date that has passed, may result in visa refusal. The CoS cannot be amended after assignment without your employer withdrawing it and assigning a new one, at additional cost. JV LEGAL advises UK employers on CoS preparation, SOC code selection, and salary compliance as part of our employer immigration services.
Salary Requirements and Going Rate for Skilled Worker Visa UK
The salary requirements for the Skilled Worker Visa are one of the most technically demanding aspects of the route and one of the most common causes of refusal. There is not a single threshold: you must meet both the general minimum threshold and the going rate for your specific occupation code, whichever is higher.
The going rate: what it means and why it matters
Every eligible occupation code on the Skilled Worker list has a corresponding going rate, the median salary for that role. Your salary must meet the going rate for your specific SOC 2020 code, regardless of whether the going rate is above or below £41,700. The going rate is set at 100% of the median for standard applications, or 70% for new entrants. For roles on the Immigration Salary List, the going rate discount is 80% for standard applicants.
Going rates vary significantly by occupation. Some professional and senior roles have going rates well above £41,700 and the threshold increase in July 2025 raised individual occupation going rates alongside the general threshold. Before accepting a job offer, both you and your employer should verify the applicable going rate for the specific SOC code on the current Appendix Skilled Occupations.
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) is phasing out by December 2026
The Immigration Salary List is a list of occupation codes where sponsors can offer lower salaries than the standard going rate, subject to a discount of 20% (standard applicants must still meet 80% of the going rate). As confirmed in the July 2025 Statement of Changes, the ISL will be phased out by 31 December 2026 at the latest, unless the Migration Advisory Committee recommends retention of specific roles. Employers and applicants should not rely on the ISL discount for applications planned for late 2026 or beyond without verifying its continued existence at the time of application.
Who qualifies as a 'new entrant'?
A new entrant is a worker at the start of their career. The new entrant threshold of £33,400 applies if you meet any one of the following conditions:
You are under 26 years old at the time of application
You are applying for a job for which a UK bachelor's, master's, or PhD degree is a standard requirement and you were awarded that degree within the last 12 months of application
You are currently in, or were last granted permission in, a student or graduate visa category
You are currently in, or were last granted permission in, a Skilled Worker role and you are switching to a job where a doctorate is a standard educational requirement
New entrant status is time-limited, so you cannot rely on the new entrant threshold indefinitely. Once the new entrant criteria no longer apply to you, you must meet the standard threshold.
Skilled Worker Visa: Changing Jobs and Switching Routes
One of the most important things to understand about the Skilled Worker Visa is that it ties you to a specific employer and role, including the occupation code. Any significant changes can affect your visa and you need to ensure any reportable changes are processed accordingly. Explore the possible scenarios.
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If you want to move to a different employer while in the UK on a Skilled Worker Visa, your new employer must hold a valid Sponsor Licence and assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship. You must then apply for a new Skilled Worker Visa or submit an application to update your permission before starting work with the new employer.
You cannot start working for a new employer on the basis of your existing visa. Starting work before your new visa application is submitted or approved is a breach of your visa conditions and can affect your future immigration applications.
There is no restriction under the Skilled Worker route, you can change employer and apply for a new visa immediately, subject to meeting all the eligibility criteria for the new role.
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If your sponsorship ends, whether because you are made redundant, your employer withdraws your sponsorship, or your employer's Sponsor Licence is revoked, your visa is not immediately cancelled. You have a 60-day curtailment period from the date your sponsorship ends to take one of the following steps:
• Apply for a new Skilled Worker Visa with a new licensed sponsor
• Switch to a different visa category for which you are eligible
• Leave the UK
During the 60-day curtailment period, you cannot work in the UK. If your current visa has fewer than 60 days remaining on the date your sponsorship ends, the curtailment period is your original visa expiry date, whichever is the shorter period.
If your employer's Sponsor Licence is revoked rather than your individual sponsorship being withdrawn, you should receive a curtailment letter from the Home Office. However, you do not need to wait for this letter before submitting a new application, you can apply for a new visa as soon as you have a new Certificate of Sponsorship.
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You are permitted to undertake supplementary work (additional work for a different employer) alongside your sponsored role in certain circumstances:
The supplementary work must be in the same occupation code (SOC code) as your sponsored role, or a different occupation code at the same skill level or above
The supplementary work must not exceed 20 hours per week
You must continue to work for your licensed sponsor in your primary sponsored role
Supplementary work does not require a separate Certificate of Sponsorship from the supplementary employer. However, the conditions are strict and the primary sponsored role must remain your main employment.
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Most people in the UK on a different visa can switch to the Skilled Worker route without leaving the UK, provided they have a valid CoS from a licensed sponsor and meet all the eligibility criteria. Switching is not permitted from certain visa categories, including the Standard Visitor Visa, the Short-term Student Visa, the Parent of a Child Student Visa, and certain seasonal worker routes.
If you are currently a Student Visa holder who has recently graduated, you may be able to switch directly to the Skilled Worker route, including from the Graduate Visa, provided you have a valid job offer in an eligible role at the required salary.
Skilled Worker Visa ILR Requirements
The Skilled Worker Visa has historically been one of the most direct routes to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. ILR grants you the right to live and work in the UK permanently, without any further visa requirement.
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Once you hold ILR, you can apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after a further 12 months of residence in the UK as a permanent resident, provided you meet the standard residence and good character requirements. The Skilled Worker Visa remains one of the principal routes to British citizenship for overseas professionals.
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When you apply for ILR as a Skilled Worker, you must demonstrate that you:
Have completed the required qualifying period of continuous lawful residence in the UK as a Skilled Worker (or a combination of qualifying routes)
Have not spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the qualifying period
Have been continuously employed in a sponsored role throughout the qualifying period and continue to be sponsored at the time of your ILR application
Are being paid at least the applicable salary threshold at the time of your ILR application, the threshold at the time of settlement, not the threshold that applied when you were first sponsored
Have passed the Life in the UK test
Have demonstrated English language proficiency at CEFR B2
Meet the general grounds of suitability: you have not fallen for refusal under any suitability grounds
How JV LEGAL Can Help
At JV LEGAL we advise both individual Skilled Worker Visa applicants and UK employers sponsoring overseas workers.
We start with a detailed consultation and assessment of your specific circumstances and guide you through every step of the process to a successful decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Skilled Worker Visa can be granted for up to five years. You choose the duration of leave requested at the time of application, the visa will be granted for the period specified in your Certificate of Sponsorship, up to the maximum five-year period. There is no restriction on the number of times you can extend your Skilled Worker Visa. There is also no maximum total time limit on how long you can spend in the UK on successive Skilled Worker Visa grants, provided you continue to meet the eligibility criteria for each application.
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Yes — but not without applying for a new visa first. If you want to move to a new employer, your new employer must hold a valid Sponsor Licence and assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship. You must then submit a new Skilled Worker Visa application or an in-country application to update your immigration permission before starting work with the new employer. You cannot simply transfer your existing visa to a new employer. There is no cooling-off period under the Skilled Worker route, so you can make this application as soon as you have the new CoS.
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Your dependants do not automatically need to apply for new visas when you change employer and obtain a new Skilled Worker Visa. If your dependants already hold leave in the UK as dependants of a Skilled Worker, their existing leave remains valid until its current expiry date. However, when you apply for your new Skilled Worker Visa, your dependants' leave will typically be synchronised with your new visa period at their next extension. JV LEGAL recommends taking specific advice on your dependants' position when you change employer, to ensure there are no gaps in their leave.
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If your sponsorship ends for any reason you have a 60-day curtailment period to find a new licensed sponsor, switch to a different visa category, or leave the UK. You cannot work during this period. If your current visa has fewer than 60 days remaining, your curtailment period is your original visa expiry date. During the curtailment period, you can submit a new Skilled Worker Visa application if you have a new Certificate of Sponsorship, without waiting for a curtailment letter from the Home Office.
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After five continuous years of qualifying residence in the UK whether all on the Skilled Worker route or on a combination of qualifying routes you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). You must take individual legal advice to understand exactly how the upcoming changes to ILR will apply to your situation. After receiving ILR, you can apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after a further 12 months.
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Yes, supplementary work is permitted under the Skilled Worker Visa in specific circumstances. You can work for a different employer for up to 20 hours per week, provided the supplementary work is in the same occupation code as your sponsored role or a different occupation code at the same or higher skill level. The supplementary work does not require a separate Certificate of Sponsorship, but you must continue to work in your primary sponsored role for your licensed sponsor. Self-employment is not permitted under the Skilled Worker route.