APPLY FOR A SKILLED WORKER VISA
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker visa lets you come to the UK, or stay here, to work for an employer that the Home Office has licensed to sponsor overseas workers. You’ll need an eligible job offer, a certificate of sponsorship, and to meet the salary, English language and other immigration requirements.
You can apply from outside the UK, or in many cases switch to this visa from another visa while you’re already here. If you already have a Skilled Worker visa, you can apply to extend it or to change job.
Whether you qualify depends on the job, the salary, your employer’s sponsor licence and, sometimes, your previous immigration history.
Who can apply?
You’ll normally need to:
- have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence
- have a valid certificate of sponsorship for the job
- be offered a job that’s eligible for this visa
- be paid at least the minimum salary and the going rate for the job
- meet the English language requirement, unless you’re exempt
- meet the financial and general suitability requirements
A high enough salary isn’t enough on its own. The job itself must qualify, and your employer must be licensed to sponsor it.
Which jobs qualify?
The Home Office uses occupation codes to decide which jobs can be sponsored. What matters is what you’ll actually be doing, not just your job title. Two jobs with similar titles can fall under different codes with different rules.
Changes in July 2025 stopped new applicants being sponsored for many medium-skilled jobs. Some roles are still eligible through specific lists or transitional rules.
It’s important to get the right occupation code and confirm the job qualifies before you apply.
What is a certificate of sponsorship?
A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) is an electronic record your employer creates to support your visa application. It includes details of the job, such as the occupation code, salary, duties and how long you’ll be sponsored.
A CoS isn’t a visa. You still need to apply and be granted permission before you can start work. You’ll normally need to use your CoS within three months of it being assigned.
Does my employer need a sponsor licence?
Yes. Your employer must hold a Home Office sponsor licence before they can sponsor you. They’re also responsible for making sure the job meets the rules, and for keeping records and reporting to the Home Office once you start.
If your employer doesn’t have a licence yet, they’ll need to get one first. We can help them with this.
How much do you need to be paid?
The usual minimum is £41,700 a year, or the going rate for your job if that’s higher. Every eligible job has its own going rate, so a salary above £41,700 won’t always be enough.
There are also rules on how salary and working hours are worked out, and the salary on your certificate of sponsorship has to meet them.
Can you qualify on a lower salary?
Some people can. This includes certain new entrants, people with a relevant PhD, and workers in some health and education jobs. For example, some applicants can qualify on a salary of at least £33,400.
There are also transitional rules for people who were sponsored before certain rule changes. Each of these has its own conditions, so don’t assume a lower salary will be accepted just because you’re a recent graduate or already have a Skilled Worker visa.
If you’re a doctor, nurse or other eligible health professional, you may be able to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. It’s a version of the Skilled Worker visa with lower fees, and you don’t pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
English language
New applicants need English at level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You can usually prove this with an approved English test, an eligible qualification or another accepted method.
Some people are exempt. If you’re extending a Skilled Worker visa and proved your English before, different rules may apply. If you’re relying on an overseas degree taught in English, you may need an Ecctis assessment.
How much does it cost?
Applying from outside the UK costs £819 if your certificate of sponsorship is for up to three years, or £1,618 if it’s longer. From inside the UK it’s £943 or £1,865. You’ll also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 for each year of your visa, unless you’re exempt.
Fees correct at October 2026. You can check the latest Home Office fees on GOV.UK.
Personal savings
You’ll normally need at least £1,270 in savings, held for 28 days in a row. You won’t need to show this if you’ve been in the UK with permission for 12 months or more, or if your employer confirms on your certificate of sponsorship that it will cover your costs. If family members are applying with you, extra money may be needed.
Can you switch from another visa?
If you’re already in the UK, you may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker visa without leaving. It depends on your current visa and whether you meet the requirements.
You can’t switch from some visas, and there are extra restrictions for some people, including students. Check you’re allowed to switch before you apply or change your job.
Can you change employer?
Your visa is tied to the job you were sponsored for. If you want to move to a new employer, you’ll normally need a new certificate of sponsorship and a new visa application. Some changes to your existing job may also need a new application.
Don’t start a new sponsored job until your new permission has been granted.
How long does the visa last?
A Skilled Worker visa can be granted for up to five years, depending on your certificate of sponsorship. You can extend it as many times as you like, as long as you still meet the requirements, including those on your job, sponsor and salary. Extensions aren’t automatic.
Can your partner and children join you?
Usually, yes. Your partner and children under 18 can apply to come with you or join you later. Each of them must meet the requirements, including showing their relationship to you and that they can be supported.
There are restrictions for some jobs, particularly some care and medium-skilled roles, though transitional rules may help if you were sponsored before the changes. Check your family’s eligibility before you make plans to move.
Can you get Indefinite Leave to Remain?
You can currently apply for ILR after five years on the Skilled Worker route, but it isn’t automatic. You’ll need to meet the continuous residence, salary and sponsorship requirements, and the other settlement rules in force when you apply.
The government has proposed changes to the settlement rules, so check with us before you plan around a date.
Frequently asked questions
No. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid certificate of sponsorship before you can apply.
Possibly. Some people, including certain new entrants and people covered by transitional rules, can qualify on a lower salary, in some cases from £33,400. You’ll still need to meet the going rate for your job.
Usually around three weeks if you apply from outside the UK and eight weeks from inside the UK, once you’ve given your fingerprints and photo. Some applications take longer if extra checks are needed.
You may be able to do some extra work alongside your sponsored job, within set limits. Taking on a new main sponsored job will normally need a new visa application.
Your employer will usually have to tell the Home Office. Your visa may then be shortened or cancelled, and you may need to make a new application to stay. Get advice quickly if this happens.
Usually, yes, as long as they meet the requirements and your job doesn’t restrict dependants.
Skilled Worker visa advice from Fusco Browne
A Skilled Worker application has two sides: you need to meet the visa rules, and your employer needs to meet its sponsorship duties. A wrong occupation code, salary calculation or sponsorship detail can lead to a refusal.
We can advise on whether you’re eligible, the evidence you’ll need, and the rules on extensions, changing jobs and settlement.
If you’ve been offered a job by a UK employer, or need advice about your current Skilled Worker visa, call us for a free initial assessment.