Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa uses a points-based system in which you must score 70 points. Fifty mandatory points come from having a job offer from a licensed sponsor, at the required skill level (RQF 3 / A-level equivalent or above), and English language ability at B1. The remaining 20 points come from salary, which must meet the relevant thresholds.

Your sponsor must hold a valid sponsor licence and assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) confirming the role, salary and start date. The job must be a genuine vacancy in an eligible occupation code. You also need to prove your identity, provide a criminal record certificate for certain roles (such as healthcare and education), and in some cases show maintenance funds of £1,270 unless your sponsor certifies they will cover your costs.

Salary is where many applications succeed or fail. You generally must be paid at least the general threshold of £41,700 a year or the going rate for your specific occupation, whichever is higher, and at least £17.13 per hour. Lower thresholds can apply to 'new entrants' (for example, those under 26, recent graduates, or people switching from a Student visa) and to certain health, care and education roles on national pay scales. Because the going rate is occupation-specific, two people with the same salary can have different outcomes depending on their job code. Before accepting an offer, check the going rate for your occupation code and confirm your sponsor will pay at or above it. Underpaying, even slightly, is a frequent cause of refusal, so get the figures in writing on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

Once your employer assigns your CoS, you apply online on GOV.UK, usually from your home country. You enter the CoS reference number, provide your passport, prove your knowledge of English, and pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. You then verify your identity, either at a visa application centre giving biometrics, or using the UK Immigration: ID Check app for eligible nationalities. Standard processing is about three weeks for applications made outside the UK and eight weeks from inside, with a priority service available for an extra fee. Keep your CoS, payslips and qualification documents ready in case of questions. Once approved you receive permission to enter, and your immigration status is increasingly held digitally through a UKVI account (eVisa) rather than a physical card.

Visa fees range from about £819 to £1,865 depending on how long the visa lasts and whether you apply from inside or outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year for each applicant. You can include your partner and children under 18 as dependants; each pays their own fee and surcharge, and your partner can usually work freely. The Skilled Worker visa is a recognised route to settlement. After five continuous years in the UK on qualifying routes, meeting salary requirements, absence limits and the Life in the UK test. You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). ILR removes work restrictions and is normally followed, after a further 12 months, by eligibility to apply for British citizenship, making this visa a long-term pathway rather than just a temporary work permit.

Planning around the real numbers makes the Skilled Worker Visa far less stressful. On cost, Visa fee from £819 to £1,865 plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035/year). On timing, About 3 weeks for applications made outside the UK. Budget a little extra for document translation, certified or notarised copies, any required medical examination, photos to specification, and travel to a consulate or biometrics appointment. These smaller costs add up and are easy to overlook. Start gathering your documents early. A job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence, a Certificate of Sponsorship, a role at the required skill level (RQF 3 or above), a salary at or above the general threshold of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the occupation (whichever is higher), and English language ability at B1. Beyond those specifics, almost every applicant needs a passport valid well beyond the intended stay, recent photographs, and proof of funds or income. Where papers are issued in another language, official translations and sometimes an apostille or legalisation are expected, so confirm the exact format before booking your appointment.

Because this is an employer-driven route, the biggest factor in a smooth outcome is a well-prepared sponsor. Make sure your employer's registration and filings are current, that your job title and salary match every supporting document, and that your qualifications clearly map to the role. Most delays come from inconsistent paperwork, a name spelled differently across files, an expired registration, or missing proof of the company's standing. Respond quickly to any request for evidence, keep copies of every submission, and avoid booking flights until the visa is physically issued. If you might change employers later, learn the notification steps in advance so you never work outside the terms of your permit.