Overview

The Skilled Worker Visa is the UK’s primary work visa route for individuals who have a job offer from a licensed UK employer and who meet the required skill, salary, and English-language criteria.
It replaced the former Tier 2 (General) route and forms part of the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System.

Visa Duration and Extension

The visa may be granted for up to 5 years (or the length of the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 1 month, whichever is shorter).
You may extend your stay under the Skilled Worker route if you continue to meet the criteria, including having a job offer from a licensed sponsor and satisfying the skill and salary thresholds.
After 5 years of continuous residence in the UK under a qualifying route, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:

Have a job offer from a UK employer who holds a valid sponsorship licence.
Possess a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer detailing your role, salary, and start date.
Be employed in a role that meets the appropriate skill level (currently RQF Level 6 or above for most roles).
Meet the minimum salary threshold, currently £41,700 per year or the going rate for the role (whichever is higher).
Demonstrate English-language proficiency at level B1 (CEFR) or higher.
Have sufficient maintenance funds (at least £1,270) unless your employer certifies maintenance on your behalf.

Documents Required

Applicants should provide the following:

Valid passport or travel document.
Certificate of Sponsorship reference number.
Official job offer letter or employer confirmation.
Proof of salary meeting the threshold or going rate.
Evidence of English proficiency (test certificate or qualifying degree).
Proof of maintenance funds (bank statements if applicable).
Tuberculosis test results (if required).
Certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh.

What You Can and Cannot Do

You can:

Work in the job specified in your Certificate of Sponsorship.
Study while living in the UK.
Bring your partner and children as dependants.
Travel freely in and out of the UK.
Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years, if eligible.

You cannot:

Work in a role not covered by your sponsorship without applying for a new visa.
Change employers without obtaining a new Certificate of Sponsorship and visa approval.
Access public funds or state benefits.
Work in unskilled or casual employment.

Processing Times and Priority Service

Applications made outside the UK are typically processed within 3 weeks after biometrics submission.
Applications made inside the UK (for switching or extension) take around 8 weeks.
Priority (5-day) and Super Priority (24-hour) services may be available for an additional fee.

Home Office Fees

Skilled Worker visa:
- Up to 3 years – £719
- Over 3 years – £1,420
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per person per year.
Certificate of Sponsorship (employer fee): £239.
Immigration Skills Charge (employer fee): between £364 and £1,000 per worker per year.
Fees are accurate as of October 2025 and are subject to change by the Home Office.
Fees are non-refundable if the application is refused.

Dependants

Your partner and children can apply to join or accompany you as dependants.
Each dependant’s visa will be valid for the same period as yours.
Dependants must meet financial requirements, showing:
- Partner: £285
- First child: £315
- Each additional child: £200

Additional Notes and Key Updates

From July 2025, the general salary threshold increased to £41,700 and the skill level requirement to RQF Level 6.
Roles below RQF Level 6 may still qualify if listed on the Temporary Shortage Occupation List.
Employers must remain compliant with sponsor duties throughout the worker’s stay.