UK Skilled Worker Visa Guide

UK skilled worker visa enables international workers to work in the UK with licenced UK employers. The visa now is for those with skills at RQF Level 3 (this is equivalent to A-level in the UK) or above in an eligible occupation codes.

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.

Please note: as immigration solicitors, we don’t assist you to find a job / sponsor in the UK.

What is the Skilled Worker Visa?

The skilled worker visa was previously known as Tier 2 General visa, which is the main UK work visa for international workers.

The skilled worker visa allows foreign workers to enter the UK and work for licence employers if the meet the requirements. The visa is open to worker if they secure 70 points by meeting specific eligibility requirements such as skill and salary level, English language ability, and a qualifying job offer from a UK employer with a valid sponsorship licence.

The Skilled Worker visa is granted for up to five years, after which the migrant worker can become eligible to apply for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain and then British Citizenship.

As specialist skilled worker visa solicitors, we bring extensive experience and expertise to assist you with your skilled worker visa application. A refused application for a skilled worker visa will result in the loss of the application fee and further expense of making a new application or challenging the same decision.

Skilled Worker Visa Requirements In 2025

The major skilled worker visa eligibility requirements are:

  • Have a job offer from a UK employer
  • Your employer must have a valid sponsor licence under the relevant category
  • You need a certificate of sponsorship to make an online application
  • The job role must be on the list of eligible occupations
  • You must meet the skill level requirement: at least equivalent to RQF level 3
  • You must meet the minimum salary requirements: £38,700 per year
  • You must meet the English language requirement
  • You must have £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK or your employer has certified your maintenance

When you can be paid less salary for skilled worker visa

You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the standard going rate for your job if your salary is at least £30,960 per year and you meet one of the following criteria:

  • you’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
  • you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job (if you have a relevant PhD level qualification in any other subject your salary must be at least £26,100)
  • you have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

If your job is on the immigration salary list

The immigration salary list is a list of skilled jobs which have lower salary requirements.

If your job is on the immigration salary list you also pay a lower fee to apply for your visa. You must be paid at least £30,960 per year if you are being sponsored for a job on the immigration salary list. You must still be paid at least the standard going rate for your job. Check the standard going rate for your job in the going rates table. View the immigration salary list to see if your job is included and how much you’ll need to be paid.

If you’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training

You can be paid at least 70% of your job’s lower going rate if your salary will be at least £30,960 per year.

Your total stay in the UK cannot be more than 4 years. This includes any time you’ve already spent in the UK on a Tier 2 (General) or Graduate visa.

If you have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job

If your job is eligible for a PhD salary discount, you can be paid 80% or 90% of the job’s standard going rate, depending on which subject you are qualified in.

If you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) qualification, you can be paid 80% of your job’s standard going rate, as long as you will still be paid at least £30,960 a year.

UK Skilled Worker Visa required documents

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

  • your certificate of sponsorship reference number – your employer will give you this
  • proof of your knowledge of English
  • a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
  • your job title and annual salary
  • your job’s occupation code
  • the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship

Other documents you may need

Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide:

To qualify for a skilled worker visa, you must meet certain criteria set by the UK Home Office. You can speak to our skilled worker visa immigration lawyers for comprehensive guidance and assistance with your skilled worker visa application. If you meet all the skilled worker visa requirements, your application will be successful.

Application Process for a Skilled Worker Visa

The process to apply for a UK skilled worker visa may vary depending on whether you are applying for a skilled worker visa from outside the UK or inside the UK. However, our immigration lawyers are experts and trained to deal with skilled worker visa applications from inside and outside the UK.

Here is the process that you must follow to obtain a skilled worker visa:

  • You will need to find an employer with a skilled worker sponsor licence and willing to offer you a skilled job under skilled worker occupation.
  • Once your employer is willing to sponsor you, you will need a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from your employer detailing your job title, job duties, working hours, and your skilled worker visa salary.
  • After obtaining CoS, you will need to prepare and submit your skilled worker visa application online. You will need to pay for skilled worker visa fee to the Home Office.
  • After online submission for your UK skilled worker visa, you will need to schedule an appointment to provide your fingerprints.
  • Once the appointment is booked, you will need to upload all the supporting documents.
  • Visa Decision: Once you have your fingerprints, you will need to wait for a decision on your visa application.

Criminal Record Certificate For Skilled Worker Visa

You’ll need to provide a criminal record certificate if you’re applying from outside the UK and you work in:

  • education, for example, teachers, education advisers and school inspectors, childminders, teaching assistants
  • healthcare, for example, nurses, doctors, paramedics, managers, pharmacists, dentists and dental nurses, ophthalmic opticians
  • therapy, for example, psychologists, speech and language therapists, counsellors
  • social services, for example, social workers, managers, probation officers, welfare and housing officers

If you work in healthcare, you might be able to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

Skilled Worker Visa salary requirement

The minimum ‘standard’ salary for the type of work you’ll be doing is whichever is the higher of:

  • £38,700 per year
  • the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

How to apply for a skilled worker visa?

You will need to apply for a UK skilled worker visa online using the Home Office’s website. No matter where you live, our experienced immigration lawyers can help you to apply for a skilled worker visa from the UK. Our experienced immigration lawyers will take care of the whole process from filling out the form until you receive the outcome of your visa application.

Changing Employers On A Skilled Worker Visa

If you have a UK Skilled Worker visa and have a new employment offer, you will need to apply for a new visa to start working with your new employer. This is the case if you wish to:

  • Change employer
  • Change occupation
  • Change occupation code
  • Change from occupation on the shortage occupation list for one not on the list

Switching to the Skilled Worker visa

It is possible in many circumstances to apply to apply from within the UK ‘switch into’ the Skilled Worker route, provided you meet the switching requirements. The immigration rules will largely depend on the type of visa the individual is looking to switch from.

Student visa holders, for example, must generally have completed their studies before they can switch to a Skilled Worker visa unless the job starts after the course has been completed or they have been studying on a Ph.D. course for at least 24 months.

Skilled Worker Visa to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

One of the key advantages of the Skilled Worker visa is the opportunity it provides to settle permanently in the UK. If you plan to make the UK your long-term home, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after spending five continuous years in the UK under this visa route.

To qualify for ILR, you must meet the continuous residence requirement, which means you must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the five-year qualifying period.

Once granted ILR, you will enjoy a range of benefits:

  • No further visa applications or renewals
  • No more immigration healthcare surcharge
  • Eligibility to apply for British citizenship after 12 months (subject to meeting additional requirements)

Visas That Count Towards the 5-Year ILR Period

Time spent in the UK under the following visa categories can contribute towards the five-year requirement for ILR:

  • Skilled Worker visa (and its predecessor, the Tier 2 General visa)
  • Representative of an Overseas Business visa
  • Innovator visa
  • Global Talent visa
  • Tier 2 Minister of Religion or Sportsperson visa
  • Tier 1 visa (excluding Graduate Entrepreneur)

Note: Time spent on the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa cannot be counted towards ILR.

Additional Requirements for ILR as a Skilled Worker

To successfully apply for ILR, Skilled Worker visa holders must also demonstrate that:

  • They have passed the Life in the UK Test (applicable to applicants aged 18 to 65)
  • They are still employed by a UK sponsor that holds a valid sponsor licence
  • They continue to meet the minimum salary threshold required for their occupation
  • They possess sufficient English language proficiency

Why choose Deluxe Law Chambers For Your UK Visa Immigration Cases?

Looking for trusted immigration solicitors in Manchester or London? At Deluxe Law Chambers, we offer expert legal advice for all UK visa and immigration matters. Our team is here to make your visa application process smooth, simple, and stress-free.

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