The Skilled Worker Visa makes foreign nationals eligible to come to the United Kingdom and work in a designated role under the approval of a sponsor. This article will prove helpful irrespective of whether you’re an employer looking to employ an experienced worker or an individual wanting guidance during the process of the skilled worker visa application.
It is vital to understand the skilled worker visa UK eligibility and pre-requisites in order to go through the process with minimum hurdles. As you read through this comprehensive guide on skilled worker visa application, pay special attention to the new rules and regulations, eligibility criteria, cost, and the documents required as proof of legality.ย
What is the Skilled Worker Visa?
At the end of 2020, the Skilled worker Visa replaced the Tier 2(General) Visa. The Skilled worker visa is a work visa that equips international workers with eligibility to work in the UK under licensed employers also known as sponsors. This visa covers a vast range of jobs and professions across various industries. If your job does not fall under any one of the UK’s work visas, it will likely be covered by the skilled worker visa.ย
It is a long-term visa and is initially granted to an individual for about 5 years. This usually depends on your Certificate of Sponsorship. After the initial period of 5 years, the worker can apply for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain and for citizenship 1 year later. However, you must meet all eligibility criteria which includes your income, English language skills, and employment. This visa also makes provisions and legal exceptions for spouses, ‘durable’ partners, and/or children to join you in the UK as dependents.ย
Who Can Be Called A Skilled Worker?
A skilled worker in the United Kingdom is categorized as an individual who works in a company which has an eligible occupation code at RQF level 3 or higher. In the UK, an RQF Level 3 qualification is comparable to an A-level or a BTEC National. This level of qualification is needed to begin advanced vocational training or higher education programs. The employer must also possess a standard occupation code(SOC) which is an identifier in the list of eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker Visa.
Jobs Eligible For The Skilled Worker Visa
You can find out which jobs are eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa as of 2024, from the table mentioned on the government official website, Gov.uk. If youโre unable to find your job title, try searching for the industry in which you work. If you can’t find your job on the list, you will have to search for similar job titles or occupation codes instead.ย
If you are not aware of your occupation code, the UK government has a tool to help you with the same called the CascotWeb occupation coding tool.
Skilled Worker Visa: Eligibility Criteria and Requirements
The skilled worker visa UK new rules came into effect on 4 April 2024. You are required to meet 70 points out of the list of rules and requirements in order to meet the eligibility criteria. This is broken down into 2 parts- 50 points of which is for mandatory or โnon-tradeableโ criteria that will be explained later down below, and the rest 20 points is categorised as โtradeableโ criteria.
Skilled Worker Visa: Minimum Salary
When it comes to the minimum salary required, the threshold for most interested individuals is ยฃ38700. Your employer has to meet the standard salary rate of at least ยฃ38700 or more alternatively known as the โgoing rateโ for your job. Whichever is higher will be considered going forward.ย
Apart from this, the skilled worker visa minimum salary must also meet the hourly rate of ยฃ15.88 per hour. It should be aligned with the โ going rateโ as mentioned in the Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. Please take a look at the different options of the skilled worker visa minimum salary that the candidate can choose from depending on their jobs.
Sl. No.ย | Description | Discount Applicable | Minimum Salary Threshold | Point Weightage |
|
Salary Only | No Discount | Your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
|
PhD in field relevant to employment | 10% discount on general threshold and respective going rate | You have a PhD in a field relevant to the job you are working in and your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
|
PhD in STEM Subject relevant to employment | 20% discount on general threshold and respective going rate | You have a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job you are working in and your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
|
Employer listed in Immigration Salary List | 20% discount on general threshold only | Your sponsor is an employer listed in the Immigration Salary List and your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
|
New Entrant | 20% discount on general threshold and 30% discount on the going rate | You are a new entrant and are about to start your professional journey and your offered salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
|
Salary Only (Specified Health and Care jobs and Transitional Provision) | No Discount | You happen to work in the healthcare industry and your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
|
PhD in field relevant to employment
(Specified Health and Care jobs and Transitional Provision) |
10% discount on general threshold and respective going rate | You have a PhD in a field relevant to the job you are working in and your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
|
PhD in STEM Subject relevant to employment
(Specified Health and Care jobs and Transitional Provision) |
20% discount on general threshold and respective going rate | You have a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job you are working in and your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
|
|
Employer listed in Immigration Salary List
(Specified Health and Care jobs and Transitional Provision) |
20% discount on general threshold only | Your sponsor is an employer listed in the Immigration Salary List and your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
|
|
New Entrant
(Specified Health and Care jobs and Transitional Provision) |
20% discount on general threshold and 30% discount on the going rate | You are a new entrant and are about to start your professional journey and your offered salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
|
Eligible Health or Education Occupation Code
(Specified Health and Care jobs and Transitional Provision) |
No Discount | Your sponsor is an employer listed in the Health and Education section and your salary equals or exceeds the following:
|
20 |
Take a look at a more detailed explanation down below:
- Immigration Salary List(ISL): The ISL consists of specific skilled jobs with lower salary requirements. This option provides a 20% discount on the salary threshold. Youโll still need to be paid a minimum of ยฃ30,960 but the โgoing rateโ for the job might be lower. The skilled worker visa application fee for the jobs mentioned on this list is also lower.
- New Entrants: If you are under 26 years of age and are currently working towards a professional qualification or even a recent graduate, you can qualify for this option. This choice offers you a 20% discount on the salary threshold and an additional 30% on the โgoing rateโ as long as you are earning a minimum salary of ยฃ30,960. This option has a validity of up to 4 years in the UK including any time left on your Graduate Visa. In summary, the job you are applying for must pay you at least ยฃ30,960 in order to meet the skilled worker visa UK eligibility criteria.ย
- PhD Qualifications: The salary criteria for this selection depends on the field of PhD you are opting for. They are broadly divided into 2 categories – STEM PhD and non-STEM PhD. If you are currently pursuing a PhD in a STEM subject, you will be eligible for a 20% discount on the salary threshold but the โgoing rateโ remains the same at ยฃ15.88 per hour. If you are currently pursuing a PhD in a non-STEM subject, but relevant to the job, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on the salary threshold but as stated before, the โgoing rateโ will remain at ยฃ15.88 per hour. For any PhD qualification, a certificate of graduation or an equivalent overseas qualification verified by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) is required for the skilled worker visa application.
- Healthcare Professionals: There is a different set of thresholds applicable on the minimum salary for healthcare professionals. The skilled worker visa minimum salary starts at ยฃ23,200 per year depending on the role and profession.
Skilled Worker Visa: Financial Requirements
Along with meeting the above salary requirements, there are some other financial requirements for the skilled worker visa requirements. You need to have funds of ยฃ1,270 in your account or in cash in order to sustain in the UK. It is advised to hold this amount within a period of 28-30 days before your application for the visa.
If you plan on bringing family members, you will need additional funds, including ยฃ285 for a partner, ยฃ315 for the first child, and ยฃ200 for each subsequent kid born after.
Skilled Worker Visa: Sponsored Role Requirement
In order to apply for the skilled worker visa, you must hold a legitimate job offer from a licensed employer in the UK. This contributes to 20 points for the skilled worker visa UK eligibility as mentioned above.ย
In regards to the sponsor for you, your employer must hold an A-rated sponsorship licence and must be present in the skilled worker visa sponsor list. The occupation must also meet the skills requirements of RQF level 3 or above.ย
To verify the legitimacy of the employer, the company is required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge. Upon this, the Home Office will verify the employment relationship and job opening to ensure its authenticity.
Skilled Worker Visa: Certificate of Sponsorship
Before the candidate submits the visa application, your skilled work visa UK sponsor has to submit a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) which is confirmation that youย and the sponsor have abided by the Skilled worker visa UK new rules.
The CoS is a reference number unique to you and only you, which you have to provide along with your Home Office application. There are two types of Certificates:
- Undefined CoS: This is for individuals who already reside in the UK who are applying to switch to the skilled worker visa route from another immigration visa.
- Defined CoS: This is for individuals who are applying for the visa and live outside of the UK.
In most scenarios, your sponsors will be applying for a defined CoS. This application is specifically submitted to the Home Office along with details of your job and salary. UK Visas and Immigration(UKVI) allocates undefined CoS on an annual basis to sponsors. The number of undefined CoS allocated depends on the volume of workforce in your employment and the domain of business.ย
Any unused Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are removed from the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) at the end of each CoS period which is generally 12 months long. The sponsor also has the liberty of applying for additional undefined CoS throughout the year.
Skilled Worker Visa: Skills Requirement
During the assessment of the company/firm for whether or not it is eligible to be a sponsor, there are codes which the Home Office use, called the Standard Occupation Codes(SOC). What the sponsor has to do in order to identify its eligibility is identify the correct SOC code for the job role of its employee. This can be identified by using the ONS Occupation Coding Tool. It should be a complete match in order to be further eligible to be a sponsor.ย
Once your sponsor has identified the code, it has to be cross-referenced with the list of eligible jobs to ensure that it is included and qualifies for the Skilled Worker visa application. Sponsors will be in violation if they exaggerate the requirements of the job you will be employed in in order to fit a certain SOC. The Home Office will request for further legal documents to prove that the job is matching the SOC specified. This non-compliance could lead to scrutiny, application rejection and legal consequences. However, a genuine error can be rectified as well.ย
Skilled Worker Visa: English Language Requirement
You will have to showcase your proficiency in English to be eligible for the skilled worker visa. You will have to attain a minimum level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale for reading, writing, speaking and understanding English. You could also be eligible if you match one or all of the following requirements:
- You can be a citizen of a majority English-speaking country.
- You have attained a GCSE/A Level or Scottish Highers in English while at school in the UK. Scottish Highers are credentials obtained by studentsย in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland aged 16-18 that are equivalent to A-Levels.
- You have been awarded a teaching degree in English or have taught English in the UK.
You can be exempted from this requirement if you belong to the following countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
Skilled Worker Visa UK Application: Required Documents
When you are in the process of visa application, you will need documents supporting your claim that you meet the eligibility criteria.
- A Certificate of Sponsorship Reference Number – This will be provided by your employer. It is advised to keep a copy of the CoS with you.
- Proof of Proficiency in English
- Valid Proof of Identity and Nationality – A passport will be the best option as legal proof.ย
- Your Job Title and Annual Salary – Your offer letter is advisable to show as proof of employment.
- Your sponsorโs Occupation Codeย
- Name of your Sponsor and their License Number – This will be mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Depending on your situation, you might be asked to provide the following:
- Bank Statements to attest that you have enough funds in your possession.
- Proof of relationship with dependent (if any)
- Medical Records (if any)
- A Criminal Record (if any) if youโre applying for the visa from outside the UK. You can get a criminal check on the UK government website from overseas.
- A valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you have been awarded a PhD certificate for a sensitive subject
- Your PhD certificate if you are a PhD graduate
- Your unique Ecctis number(formerly known as UK NARIC reference number) if your qualification is from outside the UK
Skilled Worker Visa Cost
The application fees that the candidate has to pay depends on a number of factors as given in the table below:
Application Type | Application Fee Per Person |
Applying from outside of the UK |
|
Applying from inside of the UK
(with the intention of switching, updating or extending) |
|
If your job is on the Immigration Salary List |
|
Immigration Health Surcharge
Most UK Visa applicants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. It allows you to have access to the National Health Service(NHS) without having to pay any further charges with the exception of certain services.ย
The Immigration Health Surcharge for a skilled worker visa applicant is around ยฃ1,035 per year of residency granted in the UK. If you happen to be a student or have a child, there is a discounted health surcharge of ยฃ776. The Immigration Health Surcharge has to be paid upfront during the skilled worker visa application. The total IHS is calculated on the basis of how many years of residence has been granted to you.
Have a look at the table down below to understand the fees in a better way.
Visa Duration | Number of Applicants | Immigration Health Surcharge |
3 years | 1 Adult Applicant | ยฃ3,105 (3 x ยฃ1,035) |
3 years | 2 Adult Applicants | ยฃ6210 (2 x 3 x ยฃ1,035) |
3 years | 2 Adult Applicants, 2 Children | ยฃ10866 (2 x 3 x ยฃ1,035 + 2 x ยฃ776) |
5 years | 1 Adult Applicant | ยฃ5175 (5 x ยฃ1,035) |
5 years | 2 Adult Applicants | ยฃ10350 (2 x 5 x ยฃ1,035) |
5 years | 2 Adult Applicants, 2 Children | ยฃ18110 (2 x 5 x ยฃ1,035 + 2 x ยฃ776) |
Note: If you are deciding to live in the UK for less than 6 months, then you will have to pay only half of the Immigration Health Surcharge for that year.ย
If you are deciding to live in the UK for less than a year but more than 6 months, then you will have to pay the full Immigration Health Surcharge for that year.
Priority Charges
There are provisions made for expedited processing of the skilled worker visa application. They are categorised as priority and super priority services. The UK skilled worker visa processing time varies from country to country. Have a look at the table below to understand the services and their respective fees better.
If you are applying from outside the UK:
Type of Service | Fee |
Priority Visa Services: Non-settlement | ยฃ500 |
Super Priority Visa Services | ยฃ1000 |
User-pay Visa Application Centre | ยฃ76.50 |
International Contact Centre: Email Servicesย | ยฃ2.74 per query |
International Contact Centre: Telephone Helpline Services | ยฃ0.69 per query |
If you are applying from inside the UK:
Type of Service | Fee |
Super Priority Visa Services | ยฃ1000 |
Expedited Processing: Priority Visa Services | ยฃ500 |
Mobile Biometric Enrolment: On-Demand Services | ยฃ650 per hour per representative providing the service |
Immigration Officer delivering service to a Government Entity for transit services in the UK | ยฃ57.33 |
Immigration Officer delivering service to an applicant for transit services in the UK | ยฃ77.40 |
Administrative Officer providing premium status checks, advice or training | ยฃ0.80 per minute |
Executive Officer providing premium status checks, advice or training: Inside Business Hours | ยฃ0.88 per minute |
Executive Officer providing premium status checks, advice or training: Outside Business Hours | ยฃ1.10 per minute |
Higher Executive Officer providing premium status checks, advice or training: Inside Business Hours | ยฃ0.97 per minute |
Higher Executive Officer providing premium status checks, advice or training: Outside Business Hours | ยฃ1.23 per minute |
Skilled Worker Visa Processing Time
The processing time for the skilled worker visa application generally ranges from 3 weeks to up to 8 weeks depending on where youโre applying from. If youโre applying from within the UK it usually takes 3 weeks. If youโre applying from outside the UK, it usually takes up to 8 weeks for the application to go through. There is also a provision for fast-track processing which also depends on where the skilled worker visa application is being processed.
Skilled Worker Visa Extension
You can apply for a skilled worker visa extension under the following circumstances:
- You still are under the same employment as when you had first applied for the skilled worker visa.
- Your skilled worker visa eligible occupations and codes must be the same as when you had first applied for the skilled worker visa.
- You are in some capacity still working for the same company or employer who provided you your first CoS.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
1. What is the difference between a skilled worker visa and health and care visa ?
Healthcare professionals who wish to work in the UK can apply for either of the visas mentioned above. Both a skilled worker visa and health and care visa can help the individual reside in the UK for up to 5 years and work. They also still hold a right to extend either of the visas as long as their eligibility still holds up.ย
However, the main difference between a skilled worker visa and health and care visa is that a skilled worker visa stands valid for workers from a wide range of fields. Whereas, the Health and Care Visa is only intended for individuals who work in the medical industry such as doctors, nurses, caretakers, etc.ย
2. What happens if you lose your job on a skilled worker visa in the UK?
If you lose your job while still having the skilled worker visa, then you will no longer be in compliance with the rules. Your sponsor will then have 10 working days to report your termination of employment to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). You will then have 60 days from the termination date to make arrangements to leave the UK, switch jobs, renew your skilled worker visa, or switch to a different visa category.
3. How long can I stay outside the UK with a skilled worker visa?
In order to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain(ILR) as a skilled worker visa holder after 5 years, the individual has to submit proof of continuous residence in the UK for that period of time. This implies that you must show proof that you have previously not been outside of the UK for more than 180 days in the last 5 years.ย
Additionally, in order for you to get ILR, your employer must continue to attest that you are employed by them and that you receive at least the minimum wage for your position.
4. Can I switch from skilled worker visa to dependent visa?
No, unfortunately, you cannot switch from a skilled worker visa to a dependent visa in the UK as the purpose of both visas are contradictory to each other. The purpose of a skilled worker visa is for solely work. Dependent visas are for people who are financially dependent on someone already working in the UK. Additionally, there is no legal provision made to switch from one visa to another in this category.ย
5. What happens to your dependents if you change jobs on a skilled worker visa?
If you are facing a situation where you are switching between jobs while being a skilled worker visa holder, then your dependents can still live in the UK along with you. This is only possible if you remain compliant with the skilled worker visa UK new rules and your switch does not affect your eligibility.ย
6. Can I start a business on a skilled worker visa in the UK?
Yes, you can definitely start a business while being a holder of the skilled worker visa. This is called the Self-sponsored skilled worker visa process. However, the downside to this is that you must still be employed in the job you are being sponsored for. Your business has to be in an eligible occupation code. Once your business is eligible for a sponsor license, your company can be the sponsor for your own visa.ย
7. Can I take additional work in the UK while having the skilled worker visa?
If you are taking on overtime while being in the same company you were sponsored for, then it should not be an issue. You do not need to update your skilled worker visa for additional work. You can also take employment in another company as long as you are still working for the job you were sponsored for. However, for the safer side, you should get a new CoS from your new employer.
8. What level of English proficiency do I need to have for the visa?
You have to have Scottish Higher or GCSE/A level certifications that are recognized in the UK in order to qualify for the skilled worker visa. You can demonstrate proficiency in the English language by showing proof of degrees taught in English or the Secure English Language Test (SELT). If you have already taken an exam recognized by the appropriate regulated professional body, you won’t need to demonstrate your English proficiency if you are being sponsored to work in the healthcare industry.
Need Assistance?
It is very important you understand the entire process of applying for the skilled worker UK visa in depth. There has been a recent change in the rules surrounding the eligibility criteria and minimum salary. If you have any doubts or queries, please do fill out the queries form on the Student Ports Homepage. Our representatives will reach out to you personally and help you understand clearly what it is you have to look out and be prepared for.
We, at Student Ports, are always glad to help you every step of the way. Our representatives hold substantial expertise when it comes to helping our clients throughout the immigration and transit process.
In partnership with Holmes & Partners Ltd, a leading solicitor firm with OISC Registration: F202000183.