UK Skilled Worker Visa Application In 2026

If you’re planning to work in the UK as a non-UK national, understanding the skilled worker visa is your first step. This visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa and has become the main route for overseas workers looking to build their careers in Britain. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, IT specialist, engineer, or teacher, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about applying successfully.

In this skilled worker visa guide, we explain the rules and requirements to apply for a skilled worker visa, including the eligibility criteria, and the required documents. We also look at application fees and processing time, and the conditions that skilled worker visa holders have to comply with once they come to the UK for work.

Table of Contents

What is the UK Skilled Worker Visa?

The skilled worker visa allows you to come to the UK or stay here to do an eligible job with an approved employer. It’s part of the UK’s points-based immigration system, which means you’ll need to score 70 points by meeting specific requirements.

This isn’t just a simple work permit. The visa ties you to your sponsoring employer, and both you and your employer have ongoing responsibilities throughout your stay. Think of it as a three-way relationship between you, your employer, and the Home Office that requires everyone to play by the rules.

Who Can Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa?

You can apply if you’ve been offered a job by a UK employer who holds a valid sponsor licence. The role must be on the list of eligible occupations and meet the minimum skill and salary requirements. Your employer will issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship, which is essentially your golden ticket to start the application process.

The visa is open to people from anywhere in the world, though the application process differs slightly depending on whether you’re applying from outside the UK or switching from another visa type while you’re already here.

How Long Does a Skilled Worker Visa Last?

Your visa will be granted for the length of your job, up to a maximum of five years at a time. Most employers initially sponsor workers for three years, and you can apply to extend before it expires. After five continuous years on a skilled worker visa, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, which is permanent residence in the UK.

There’s no limit on how many times you can extend your skilled worker visa, as long as you continue to meet the requirements and your employer maintains their sponsor licence.

Skilled Worker Visa Requirements 2026

Getting a Skilled Worker visa isn’t just about having a job offer. You need to meet several criteria, and the rules can be quite detailed. Let’s break down what you need.

Certificate of Sponsorship Explained

Your Certificate of Sponsorship, or CoS, is not a physical document but rather a digital reference number that your employer assigns to you. This confirms that they’ve offered you a genuine job that meets all the visa requirements.

There are two types: defined and undefined. Defined CoS are for applications made from outside the UK, while undefined CoS are used when you’re already in the UK and switching from another visa category. Your employer needs to apply for and pay for a defined CoS, which costs £525.

The CoS contains crucial information about your job, including the occupation code, salary, and start date. UKVI uses this information to assess whether you qualify, so any errors can lead to refusal.

Salary Thresholds and Going Rates

This is where things get technical, but it’s important to understand because salary is a major factor in your application.

From July 2025, the general salary threshold for most skilled worker roles is £41,700 per year. However, that’s not the only hurdle. You also need to meet the “going rate” for your specific occupation, which varies depending on your job code.

The going rate is based on official salary data from the annual survey of hours and earnings. For instance, if you’re a software developer, your salary must meet both the £41,700 minimum and the going rate for that particular role, whichever is higher.

There are some exceptions. If you have a PhD relevant to your job, you might qualify for a lower threshold of £37,500. If your PhD is in a science, technology, engineering, or maths subject, that threshold drops to £33,400. New entrants to the job market, which includes those under 26 or switching from a Student visa, can also qualify at the £33,400 level.

Healthcare workers under the Health and Care Worker visa route have different thresholds, starting from £25,000 for certain roles, and they’re exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

It’s worth noting that only your guaranteed salary counts. Bonuses, overtime, and allowances don’t count towards meeting the threshold.

Can You Pay Less? (Salary Discounts)

You may qualify for a “tradeable point” discount depending on your age, qualifications, or visa history. Use the table below to see which “Option” applies to you:

English Language Requirements (B2 from January 2026)

You need to prove you can speak, read, write, and understand English. Until 7 January 2026, the required level is B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which is roughly equivalent to GCSE level.

However, from 8 January 2026, new Skilled Worker applications will need to demonstrate B2 level English, which is A-level equivalent. If you’re extending your existing Skilled Worker visa, you’ll still only need B1, but anyone applying for the first time will need the higher standard.

You can prove your English ability in three ways:

• Passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) with a Home Office-recognised provider
• Holding a degree taught in English and verified by UK ENIC (formerly UK NARIC)
• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country like the USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand

If you’ve already met the English requirement in a previous successful UK visa application, you typically won’t need to prove it again.

Skills and Occupation Codes

Your job must be at the right skill level and match an eligible occupation code. From July 2025, the skill threshold increased to RQF level 6, which means graduate-level roles. This effectively closed off many supervisory and technician-level positions that were previously eligible.

The UK uses Standard Occupation Codes (SOC 2020) to classify jobs. Your employer needs to assign the correct code when they issue your Certificate of Sponsorship. Getting this wrong can lead to a refusal, so it’s crucial that the job description matches the SOC code requirements.

Some roles below graduate level remain eligible temporarily under transitional arrangements, particularly in healthcare and on the Immigration Salary List, but these concessions are time-limited.

Financial Maintenance Requirements

You need to show you can support yourself when you first arrive. The requirement is £1,270 in your bank account, held for at least 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling within 31 days of your application.

You don’t need to show this if you’ve been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months, or if your employer certifies on your Certificate of Sponsorship that they’ll cover your maintenance costs for your first month.

If you’re bringing family members, you’ll need additional funds: £285 for a partner, £315 for your first child, and £200 for each additional child.

Recent Changes to Skilled Worker Visa Rules

The skilled worker visa has undergone significant changes in 2025, and understanding these is vital for anyone applying now.

RQF Level 6 Skill Threshold

The biggest change was the increase in the minimum skill level from RQF 3 to RQF 6 from 22 July 2025. This means that roles now need to be graduate-level to qualify.

Jobs that were previously eligible at supervisory or technician level are generally no longer available for new sponsorship, except under specific transitional arrangements. If you were already sponsored in one of these roles before April 2024, you may be able to continue being sponsored by the same employer until 2030, but this route is closed to new applicants.

Updated Salary Thresholds from July 2025

The salary thresholds increased across the board in July 2025. The general threshold rose from £38,700 to £41,700, and the going rates for individual occupations were updated based on 2024 salary data.

A new hourly minimum of £17.13 also applies to most graduate-level roles, calculated on no more than 48 working hours per week. This means part-time workers need to be particularly careful about meeting both the annual and hourly requirements.

Immigration Salary List Updates

The Immigration Salary List replaced the previous Shortage Occupation List and allows for lower salary thresholds in certain roles where the UK has identified skills gaps. Roles on this list can qualify at £33,400 rather than the standard £41,700.

However, the list is under review and is set to expire by December 2026, so it’s important to check current eligibility when applying.

How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa

Applying for a Skilled Worker visa involves several steps, and timing is important throughout the process.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Secure Your Job Offer Your UK employer must have a valid sponsor licence and be willing to sponsor you. They’ll need to advertise the role and follow their own recruitment procedures before offering you the position.

Step 2: Receive Your Certificate of Sponsorship Once you accept the offer, your employer assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship with a unique reference number. This is valid for three months from the date of issue.

Step 3: Gather Your Documents Collect all required documents, including your passport, proof of English, financial evidence, and any qualifications. Make sure everything is current and in the right format.

Step 4: Complete the Online Application Fill out the application form on the UK government website. You’ll need your CoS reference number, and you’ll pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge at this stage.

Step 5: Book Your Biometric Appointment You’ll need to attend a visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and photograph. If you’re in the UK, you may be able to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app instead.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision Standard processing takes up to three weeks for applications from outside the UK, or up to eight weeks if you’re applying from within the UK. Priority services are available for faster processing.

Step 7: Receive Your Visa If approved, you’ll receive your visa either as a vignette in your passport (if applying from overseas) or as a biometric residence permit or eVisa (if applying from within the UK).

Required Documents Checklist

Getting your documents right is crucial. Here’s what you’ll typically need:

• Valid passport with at least one blank page
• Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
• Proof of English language ability (test certificate, degree certificate, or exemption)
• Bank statements showing maintenance funds for 28 days
• Tuberculosis test certificate if you’re from a country where this is required
• Criminal record certificate if your job is in healthcare, education, or social care
• Degree certificates if claiming points for qualifications

Keep in mind that all documents not in English must be officially translated.

Visa Processing Times

Standard processing times are:

• Outside the UK: up to 3 weeks
• Inside the UK: up to 8 weeks

Priority processing options may be available depending on where you apply:

• Priority service: Around 5 working days (additional cost)
• Super priority service: Next working day (additional cost)

Processing times can vary, especially during busy periods, so apply well before your intended start date.

Application Fees and Costs

The costs add up quickly, so budget carefully:

Visa application fees:

• Up to 3 years: £769 (outside UK) or £885 (inside UK)
• More than 3 years: £1,519 (outside UK) or £1,751 (inside UK)
• Immigration Salary List roles: £590 (up to 3 years) or £1,160 (more than 3 years)

Immigration Health Surcharge: Currently £1,035 per year for most applicants (£776 for healthcare workers on the Health and Care Worker route, who may be exempt)

Other costs:

• English language test: £150-£200
• TB test (if required): Around £80-£120
• Document translations: Variable
• Priority processing: From £500

Don’t forget that your employer will also need to pay the Immigration Skills Charge, which is £1,000 per year for large sponsors or £364 per year for small sponsors and charities.

Skilled Worker Visa for Dependants

You don’t have to make this journey alone. Your family can join you in the UK.

Bringing Your Family to the UK

Your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner can apply to come with you or join you later. For unmarried partners, you’ll need to prove you’ve been living together in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years.

Your children under 18 can also apply as dependants. Children who are already 18 or over can apply if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant and haven’t married, entered a civil partnership, or formed their own family.

Financial Requirements for Dependants

You’ll need to show additional maintenance funds for each family member:

• £285 for your partner
• £315 for your first child
• £200 for each additional child

Each dependant also needs to pay the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, so the costs increase substantially for families.

Your dependants will generally have the right to work in the UK without restriction and can study. However, if you’re sponsored in certain sub-degree roles under transitional arrangements, you won’t be able to bring new dependants.

Switching Jobs on a Skilled Worker Visa

ife doesn’t always go according to plan, and you might need to change jobs while in the UK.

Changing Employers

If you want to switch to a new employer, they’ll need to hold a valid sponsor licence and assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship. You must apply for a new Skilled Worker visa based on this new CoS and pay the application fees again.

You cannot start working for the new employer until your application is approved. Your existing visa remains valid during this process, so you can continue with your current employer while you wait.

If you lose your job, the Home Office will typically curtail your visa to 60 days or until your visa expiry date, whichever is sooner. During this grace period, you can find a new sponsor or switch to another visa category if eligible.

Taking Additional Work

You’re allowed to take on supplementary employment outside your main sponsored role, but strict conditions apply:

• You must still be working for your original sponsor
• The additional work must be limited to 20 hours per week
• It must be outside your sponsored working hours
• The job must be at the same skill level as your main role
• The occupation code must be listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations

If your second job doesn’t meet these conditions, the new employer will need to sponsor you separately, and you’ll need to apply to add them as a sponsor while maintaining your primary role.

Path to Permanent Residency (ILR)

After five continuous years on a Skilled Worker visa, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which gives you permanent residence in the UK.

To qualify, you’ll need to:

• Have spent five continuous years in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa (or certain other qualifying visas)
• Not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during those five years
• Still be employed by a licensed sponsor in an eligible role
• Meet the salary requirement (which may be higher than when you first applied)
• Pass the Life in the UK test
• Prove your English ability at the required level (B2 from 8 January 2026 for new applications)
• Meet the good character requirement

ILR isn’t automatic, and the rules can change, so it’s wise to start planning for this well before your five years are up.

Health and Care Worker Visa Route

If you’re coming to work in the NHS or UK social care sector, you may qualify under the Health and Care Worker visa route, which is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker visa with some important benefits.

Healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, and social workers in eligible roles can benefit from:

• Lower visa application fees (£304 for up to 3 years, £590 for more than 3 years)
• Full exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge
• Lower salary thresholds in some cases (starting from £25,000 for certain roles)

The role must be in a listed healthcare occupation, and you’ll need to meet all other standard Skilled Worker requirements including English language and qualifications.

Bear in mind that care worker and senior care worker roles (SOC codes 6135 and 6136) were closed to new overseas applicants from 22 July 2025, though in-country switching is still permitted until July 2028 for those already working in the UK.

Please note that the Skilled Worker route is designed for eligible paid employment. If the position involves unpaid voluntary work rather than a salaried role, you may instead need to apply under the Charity Worker visa category.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many applications fail due to avoidable errors. Here are the most common pitfalls:

1. Incorrect or Mismatched SOC Code If the job description doesn’t match the occupation code on your CoS, or if the wrong code has been assigned, your application will be refused. Make sure your employer chooses the right code from the start.

2. Insufficient Salary Evidence You need to show you’ll be paid enough to meet both the general threshold and the going rate for your occupation. Only guaranteed salary counts, not bonuses or benefits.

3. Missing Financial Documents Bank statements must cover the full 28-day period and be dated correctly. Many applications fail because the maintenance funds weren’t held long enough or the statements are outdated.

4. Wrong English Test Level From January 2026, you’ll need B2, not B1. Taking the wrong level test will result in refusal. Make sure you check the requirements at the time you’re applying.

5. Expired Certificate of Sponsorship Your CoS is only valid for three months. If you don’t apply within this window, your employer will need to assign a new one.

6. Incomplete Application Forms Take your time and double-check every section. Missing information or inconsistencies between your application and your CoS can lead to rejection.

7. Failing to Notify Changes Once you have your visa, you must report any changes to the Home Office, such as changes in salary, working hours, or address. Your employer also has ongoing reporting duties. Failing to comply can result in your visa being curtailed.

Get Professional Help with Your Skilled Worker Visa Application

Applying for a Skilled Worker visa involves detailed requirements and strict deadlines. One mistake can lead to refusal, wasted fees, and significant delays to your plans.

At Deluxe Law Chambers, our immigration specialists provide clear, practical advice on every aspect of the Skilled Worker visa process. Whether you’re an employer looking to sponsor overseas workers or an individual seeking to work in the UK, we’ll guide you through the application with confidence.

Contact us today:  0161 464 4140 or Book your appointment online

Our team understands the UK immigration system inside out, and we’re here to help you succeed. Don’t leave your future to chance get the support you need from qualified immigration advisers who care about your outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Clients Choose Deluxe Law Chambers?

With offices in Manchester and London, Deluxe Law Chambers provides expert legal advice for all UK visa and immigration matters. Our experienced immigration lawyers are committed to making the visa process clear, efficient, and stress-free from start to finish.

• Our team has over 11 years of practical experience of working in UK immigration law firms and stays fully up to date with the latest Home Office rules and guidance, ensuring accurate and reliable legal advice.
• Every immigration case is different. Our immigration solicitors take the time to understand your circumstances and provide tailored legal solutions that meet your specific needs.
• Where eligible, we offer Priority and Super Priority UK visa services to help you obtain faster immigration decisions.
• We offer flexible video, telephone, and in-person appointments from our Manchester office, assisting clients across the UK and overseas.
• Our immigration lawyers are available seven days a week, including weekends, for urgent and time-sensitive immigration matters.
• We provide clear fixed-fee pricing, with instalment options available and no hidden costs.

At Deluxe Law Chambers, our SRA-regulated immigration solicitors are committed to delivering professional, honest, and results-driven UK immigration advice you can trust.