Skilled Worker Visa UK

The UK Skilled Worker visa is a work route allowing international workers with the right skills to take up employment with a licensed UK employer. It replaced the Tier 2 visa at the end of 2020.

This is a long-term visa, initially granted for up to five years depending on the details of the Certificate of Sponsorship. Importantly, the visa remains valid only for as long as the holder stays in the same role with the sponsoring employer — a change of role or employer requires a new application.

Holders can extend their visa before it expires and, after five qualifying years, apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), with British citizenship becoming available a year after that. Anyone considering this route will first need to secure a job offer and confirm they meet the eligibility criteria set out below.

EU nationals holding EU Settled or Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme don't need a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK. Anyone without either status will need a work visa to take up UK employment. Where the Skilled Worker route isn't the right fit, Migratia can advise on alternative work visa options.

Eligibility Requirements (2026)

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, applicants must:

• Have a job offer from a UK employer
• Have an employer listed on the Home Office's register of licensed sponsors
• Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from that employer
• Be taking up a role on the list of eligible occupations
• Meet the required skill level — at least RQF level 6
• Meet the minimum salary requirement — the general threshold of £41,700 per year, or the job's "going rate," whichever is higher
• Meet the English language requirement — at least CEFR level B2
• Hold £1,270 in savings, evidencing the ability to support themselves in the UK

Job offer. A valid job offer must come from an A-rated business on the licensed sponsor list, for a role on the eligible occupations list, meeting the minimum salary threshold. A valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer is also required.

Licensed sponsor status. It's worth confirming that the employer is licensed specifically for the Skilled Worker route and holds an A-rating — B-rated employers cannot issue new Certificates of Sponsorship until they meet the Home Office's compliance standards and are upgraded. Migratia recommends checking this before applying, to avoid delays or refusal.

Certificate of Sponsorship. The CoS is a digital record containing details of the sponsored role, including job title and type, start and end dates, gross salary, the sponsor's licence number, and the certificate's expiry date.

Eligible occupation. UKVI only grants Skilled Worker visas for roles on the eligible occupations list, and applicants must have the relevant skills or experience for the role. Employers can confirm the standard occupation code (SOC) for the role if needed.

Skill level. Applicants need skills equivalent to RQF level 6 (broadly, bachelor's degree level) — this reflects the skill level of the role rather than requiring a specific qualification.

Minimum salary (2026). The general salary threshold rose to £41,700 from 22 July 2025. Unless a discounted rate applies, applicants must be paid at least this amount or their occupation's "going rate," whichever is higher — going rates are set out in Appendix Skilled Occupations, which covers different salary tables depending on the scenario, including transitional rules and whether standard or national pay scale data applies.

Lower salary thresholds may apply in the following circumstances:

• Relevant PhD (Option B): at least £37,500, or 90% of the going rate, whichever is higher
• PhD in a STEM subject (Option C): at least £33,400, or 80% of the going rate, whichever is higher
• New entrants (Option E): at least £33,400, or 70% of the going rate, whichever is higher
• Role on the Immigration Salary List (Option D): at least £33,400 for degree-level (RQF 6+) roles, or £23,200 for sub-degree (RQF 3–5) roles, or the going rate, whichever is higher in each case

The exact minimum salary depends on factors including the specific role, the applicant's qualifications, and whether this is a new application or an extension. Migratia's separate guide on the 2025 Skilled Worker salary requirements goes into this in more detail.

Personal savings. Applicants must evidence at least £1,270 in savings for their first month in the UK, typically via a bank statement — alternatively, an employer letter confirming they will cover this requirement may be accepted.

English language proficiency. From 8 January 2026, applicants must demonstrate English ability to at least CEFR level B2, which can be met in one of four ways:

• Passing an approved English language test
• Holding a degree-level qualification taught in English (qualifications from outside the UK need to be verified through Ecctis as equivalent to a UK degree)
• Holding a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification (level 4 or 5), or Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher in English, from a UK school attended before age 18
• Qualifying for an exemption, including being a national of a recognised English-speaking country such as Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, or the USA

Required Documents

Applicants should generally expect to provide:

• A valid passport, with a blank page
• Their Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
• Job title and annual salary details
• The occupation code for the role
• The employer's name and sponsor licence number (as shown on the CoS)
• Evidence of sufficient personal savings
• Proof of relationship to a spouse, partner, or children, where applicable (e.g., marriage and birth certificates)
• A criminal record certificate, where required for certain roles (such as healthcare or education, involving vulnerable people)
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• TB test results, where required based on country of origin
• A UK PhD certificate, or an Ecctis reference for a PhD gained outside the UK

Applicants will also be advised how to verify their identity and provide biometrics for their Biometric Residence Permit — either at a visa application centre, or using the Home Office's "UK Immigration: ID Check" app to scan and upload identity documents.

How to Apply

Applications from outside the UK are completed online via the Home Office website, once the applicant has a job offer, Certificate of Sponsorship, and the supporting evidence outlined above. It's possible to save progress and complete the form later if needed.

The general steps are:

1. Confirm eligibility for the Skilled Worker route
2. Secure a job offer from a licensed sponsor
3. Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer
4. Prepare the required supporting documents
5. Complete the relevant online application form (this differs depending on whether the applicant is applying from outside the UK or switching from another visa within the UK)
6. Pay the application fee, biometric fee, and healthcare surcharge
7. Upload supporting documents
8. Attend a biometric appointment for fingerprints and a photograph

Decisions are typically issued within 3 weeks for applications submitted from outside the UK. UKVI will make contact directly if further information is needed.

Changing Employers

A Skilled Worker visa holder wishing to change employer, occupation, occupation code, or move from a shortage occupation to one not on the shortage list will need to apply for a new visa. Provided the current visa remains valid, this application can be made from within the UK, and the applicant can continue living and working in the UK while a decision is pending.

A new visa is also required for anyone taking on a second role with a different employer in a different occupation.

Applications to change job or employer can be submitted up to 3 months before the new role's start date. Since decisions can take up to 8 weeks, Migratia recommends applying as early as possible — and applicants should not begin their new role until a positive decision has been received. Our detailed guide on changing employers on a Skilled Worker visa covers this process further.

Extending the Visa

Holders can extend their visa before it expires, provided they remain with the same sponsor and in the same occupation (matching their current occupation code). A change of job or employer requires a new visa rather than an extension. There's no limit on how many times the visa can be extended.

Migratia's dedicated guide to Skilled Worker visa extensions has more detail, and our employment immigration solicitors are available to advise on the extension process.

Route to ILR

A key advantage of the Skilled Worker route is the path to permanent residence: after five years, holders can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain rather than continuing to extend their visa. This requires meeting the continuous residence requirement — no more than 180 days spent outside the UK in any of the five qualifying years. Once ILR is granted, no further visa applications or healthcare surcharge payments are needed, and applicants become eligible for British citizenship after a further 12 months.

The five qualifying years can be made up of time spent across several visa categories, including the Representative of an Overseas Business visa, Innovator visa, Global Talent visa, or certain Tier 1 or Tier 2 visas — though time spent on the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur scheme does not count towards this.

To qualify for ILR, applicants must also show that they:

• Have passed the Life in the UK test (for those aged 18 to 65)
• Remain employed by the same sponsor licence holder
• Continue to meet the minimum salary requirement
• Have sufficient English language skills