Visa & Immigration

UK Skilled Worker Visa: Step-by-Step Guide

A complete guide to the UK Skilled Worker visa, what it is, the 70-point requirements, the role of the licensed sponsor and Certificate of Sponsorship, how to

Reviewed by the GetInfoUs research teamLast reviewed: 2026-06Editorial policy

Flat illustration of a professional with a work visa and suitcase in front of London landmarks.

What the Skilled Worker Visa Is

The Skilled Worker visa is the United Kingdom’s principal route for people coming to do a job, and it sits at the centre of the post-Brexit points-based immigration system. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa and is designed for workers who have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence. The role must be a genuine vacancy at an eligible skill level and must pay at least the relevant salary threshold. Its biggest attraction is that it is a route to settlement: after five continuous years you can normally apply for indefinite leave to remain, and later British citizenship. It also allows you to bring your partner and children, to change roles or employers within the rules, and to do some supplementary work. Because it is tied to a licensed sponsor, however, the employer relationship is central to the whole visa.

The Points-Based Requirements

To qualify you must score a total of 70 points. Fifty of these are mandatory and non-tradeable: 20 for a job offer from an approved sponsor, 20 for the job being at the required skill level, and 10 for English language ability at the required standard. The remaining 20 points are "tradeable" and usually come from salary, meeting the general salary threshold set by the Home Office and the specific "going rate" for your occupation. Where your salary is lower, you may still reach the points through specific tradeable options, such as holding a relevant PhD, working in a listed shortage occupation, or qualifying as a new entrant early in your career. Because the thresholds and going rates are updated periodically and differ by occupation, you should always check the current figures on GOV.UK rather than relying on older numbers.

You cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa on your own, a licensed employer must sponsor you. Once you have a job offer, the employer assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), an electronic record confirming the details of the role, its skill level, and the salary. This certificate is essential to your application and contains a reference number you enter when you apply. The sponsor takes on duties to the Home Office, including reporting if you stop working for them, which is why the relationship is so important to your status. If you lose your job, your visa can be curtailed, though there is usually a grace period to find a new sponsor, switch routes, or leave. When you change employer, the new employer must assign a fresh CoS and you generally must make a new application before starting.

How to Apply Step by Step

The application is made online, usually from outside the UK before you travel, though many people already in the UK on another visa can switch into the Skilled Worker route from within the country. The steps are consistent: secure a job offer from a licensed sponsor, receive your Certificate of Sponsorship, prove your English ability at the required level (through an approved test or an exempting qualification), and confirm you have enough personal savings to support yourself unless your sponsor certifies maintenance. You then complete the online form, pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and verify your identity and documents, increasingly through an app and an eVisa rather than a physical sticker. Processing times vary, and a priority service is sometimes available for an extra fee. Once granted, your visa is tied to the sponsored role.

Bringing Family and Living in the UK

A major benefit of the Skilled Worker visa is that it allows dependants. Your partner, spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner, and your children under 18 can normally apply to join you or come with you, provided you can show the required funds for each person. Dependants can usually work and study in the UK, which makes the route attractive for families relocating together. Each dependant submits their own application and pays the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, which gives them access to the National Health Service on the same basis as residents. Time spent in the UK on this visa counts toward settlement for you, and dependent partners can often build their own path to settlement alongside you. Keeping careful records of your time in the country and your continuous employment is important for later settlement applications.

Settlement, Switching, and Common Pitfalls

The Skilled Worker visa leads to indefinite leave to remain (ILR), normally after five continuous years on qualifying visas, provided you have not spent too many days outside the UK, you still meet the salary requirement at that point, you pass the Life in the UK test, and you meet the English requirement. After holding ILR you can usually apply for British citizenship. Common pitfalls include letting your visa lapse, not realising that changing jobs requires a new application and a fresh CoS, falling below the required salary, or spending too long outside the UK and breaking the continuity needed for settlement. Another frequent issue is misjudging the going rate for an occupation. The safest approach is to monitor your salary against current thresholds, apply for extensions or changes before any deadline, and keep meticulous records throughout your five-year journey.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer for the Skilled Worker visa?+

Yes. The Skilled Worker visa requires a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence, and that employer must assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship. You cannot apply independently or arrive to look for work on this route.

How many points do I need?+

You need 70 points. Fifty are mandatory, 20 for a sponsored job offer, 20 for the required skill level, and 10 for English ability. The final 20 are tradeable, usually from meeting the salary threshold and going rate, or through options like a relevant PhD, a shortage occupation, or new-entrant status.

Can I bring my family?+

Yes. Your partner and children under 18 can normally join you, provided you show the required funds for each. Dependants can usually work and study, and each pays the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge to access the National Health Service.

Does the Skilled Worker visa lead to settlement?+

Yes. It normally leads to indefinite leave to remain after five continuous years on qualifying visas, provided you meet residence, salary, English, and Life in the UK test requirements. After holding ILR you can usually apply for British citizenship.

What happens if I lose my job?+

Losing your sponsored job can lead to your visa being curtailed, but there is usually a grace period to find a new licensed sponsor, switch to another route, or leave the UK. To change employer you must obtain a new Certificate of Sponsorship and generally make a fresh application before starting.