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Skilled Worker Visa UK
Stop worrying about complex immigration rules. From your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to your Skilled Worker Visa submission, our experts carefully prepare and review your application to align with Home Office requirements, helping you start your UK career with clarity and confidence.
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Struggling With a Complex Skilled Worker Visa Process? Get Help Now
No more confusion or wasted time. Tell us about your case, and we’ll provide an expert-backed, realistic plan to secure your UK visa.
The UK Skilled Worker visa is a work visa that allows overseas nationals to live and work in the UK in an eligible role for a Home Office-licensed sponsoring employer. Applicants must have a confirmed job offer and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the specific role they will perform.
The Skilled Worker visa applies only to roles that meet the required skill level and are listed as eligible under the UK Immigration Rules. Not all jobs qualify, and each application is assessed against occupation, salary, and sponsorship requirements.
To qualify, applicants must meet several conditions, including minimum salary thresholds, English language requirements, and job eligibility criteria set by UKVI.
A Skilled Worker visa can be granted for up to five years at a time. It may be extended, and after completing the required qualifying period, some applicants may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided they meet the settlement requirements.
Skilled Worker Visa at a Glance
Visa Duration
The Skilled Worker Visa is normally granted for the period stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship, for up to a maximum of five years at a time. There is no limit on the number of extensions, provided you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. After completing five continuous qualifying years, some applicants may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), subject to meeting settlement rules.
Benefits of Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker Visa provides a structured route to working in the United Kingdom with an approved employer. Key benefits include the ability to bring eligible dependants, access the National Health Service through the Immigration Health Surcharge, and apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after completing the qualifying period. This can support long-term residence and, in some cases, future British citizenship applications.
Skilled Worker Visa Requirements
To apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for an eligible role at RQF Level three or above from a Home Office-licensed employer. Applicants must meet the relevant salary or going-rate threshold, demonstrate English language ability at CEFR Level B1, and meet the maintenance requirement unless exempt.
Documentation Checklist
You will normally need your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number, a valid passport, evidence of English language ability, and details of the sponsored role, including salary and occupation code. Additional documents, such as proof of funds, family relationship evidence, a tuberculosis certificate, ATAS clearance, or a criminal record certificate, may be required depending on your role and personal circumstances.
Skilled Worker Visa applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge to access NHS services during their stay in the UK. The surcharge is charged per year of leave granted and must be paid upfront as part of the application process.
In addition to visa application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge, applicants may need to show maintenance funds of £1,270, unless their sponsor certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship. Optional priority processing services are available for an additional fee.
Skilled Worker Visa applications made from outside the UK are usually decided within three weeks. Applications to extend or switch inside the UK are typically processed within eight weeks. Priority services may allow a faster decision, in some cases within one to five working days, depending on availability.
Skilled Worker Visa holders cannot access most public funds, such as benefits or the State Pension. You must not change your main job or employer without applying for a new visa and receiving a new Certificate of Sponsorship. Limited supplementary work may be permitted in certain circumstances, but the visa does not allow unrestricted self-employment.
Worried about your Skilled Worker Visa approval?
Let our trusted solicitors handle the complex rules and paperwork, ensuring your application is prepared carefully and submitted correctly from the outset. We provide a solicitor-led review of your eligibility, salary, and sponsorship requirements, carefully organise supporting documents in line with Home Office guidance, and clearly identify any potential risks or issues before submission so you can proceed with confidence.
Benefits
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Our experienced UK Immigration Solicitors provide structured, solicitor-led support for Skilled Worker Visa applications, ensuring accurate preparation, compliant evidence, and submission in line with current UKVI requirements.
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From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
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Evidence-based case preparation
-
Home Office compliance checks
-
Success rate optimisation
-
Risk mitigation strategies
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
Work With Trusted, SRA-Regulated UK Immigration Experts
Your immigration journey is too important to risk on unqualified or unregulated help. Every case we handle is prepared by SRA-regulated solicitors who apply structured legal reasoning, precise documentation checks and full compliance with Home Office and UKVI rules.
Our accreditations are your assurance that you are working with a reputable, experienced and highly trained legal team. We combine decades of immigration expertise with strict professional standards to give you clarity, confidence and complete peace of mind — no matter which visa or application route you are pursuing.
What is a Skilled Worker Visa?
The Skilled Worker Visa enables individuals of any nationality to reside and work in the UK, provided that they have received an employment offer in an eligible skilled position from a UK employer that has been approved and licensed by the Home Office to sponsor workers.
Applicant must demonstrate proficiency in English in addition to meeting salary and skill level requirements for the position. After five years of continuous residence and employment in the UK, the visa might lead to indefinite leave to remain. Dependent partners and children of applicants are also eligible to live, work, and attend school in the UK.
Who Qualifies as a Skilled Worker?
A Skilled Worker in the UK is defined as someone employed in an eligible occupation code at RQF level six or above.
Previously, UK A-levels could meet the requirement. Roles below RQF six must appear on either the Immigration Salary List (ISL)Â or the Temporary Shortage List (TSL).
Certain roles sponsored under the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List may be subject to restrictions on bringing dependants, depending on the specific occupation and transitional rules in force. The role must also carry a Standard Occupation Code (SOC)Â listed as eligible for the Skilled Worker visa.
Skilled Worker Visa Changes 2025
Published in May 2025, the UK Government’s Immigration White Paper set out proposed reforms to the Skilled Worker visa pathway. Although some aspects are still under consultation or awaiting review, a number of significant amendments have already been introduced through Statements of Changes to the Immigration Rules, with most taking effect from 22 July 2025.
- The minimum salary threshold has risen to £41,700 or the specific going rate for the role.
- To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, applicants must now meet at least RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree).
- Limited exceptions remain but will be phased out by December 2026.
- Newly sponsored workers in ISL or TSL occupations at RQF levels 3–5 cannot bring dependants.
- The Immigration Skills Charge increased by 32% on 9 April 2025.
- Further changes proposed in the May 2025 Immigration White Paper (not yet implemented) include:
- Replacing the ISL with the Temporary Shortage List (with both lists co-existing during a transitional phase).
- Incentives for sectors reliant on overseas recruitment to invest in domestic training.
Skilled Worker Visa UK Requirements
You need to fulfil certain criteria set out by UK Visas and Immigration in order to be eligible for a UK Skilled Worker Visa. Your age, the amount of the job offer, your level of education, your proficiency in English, and other factors will be considered.
To meet UK work permit visa requirements, you must show that:
- You must be 18 or older to apply.
- You possess a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)issued by a UK employer authorised to sponsor Skilled Worker migrants.
- Your offer is for a legitimate position that satisfies the requirements for sponsorship under the skilled worker route.
- This role requires RQF Level 6 (degree level equivalent) or higher skills.
- According to the SOC 2020 regulations, you will be paid a wage that matches the minimum pay standards, which include a general salary threshold as well as the ‘going rate’ for your occupation.
- Your sponsor paid the Immigration Skills Charge if needed for your employment.
- To prove that you can communicate effectively in English, you need to show that you can reach CEFRLevel B1, which is similar to IELTS 4.0-5.0 in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- Unless your sponsor verifies that they will pay for your support, you will have sufficient funds to maintain yourself upon arrival in the UK.
- Your criminal record certificate is submitted if the employer demands one (e.g., education, health, or social care).
If you are applying from a country where TB screening is required, you must produce a valid tuberculosis (TB) test certificate.
Genuine Job Offer Requirement
An important step in the process of approving a UK work visa is the “genuine vacancy” requirement, which the Home Office uses to verify the legitimacy of the sponsoring job.
According to the Home Office, a genuine vacancy is one that:
- The jobholder must perform the job’s specific duties and obligations, as well as meet all of the requirements of the applicable route.
- Does not cover dissimilar and/or mostly lower-skilled duties.
- Is appropriate for the business based on its business strategy, plan, and scale.
So, both the company and the sponsored worker need to make sure that the job is legitimate and suitable.
A few instances of fake job openings are:
- Positions that do not exist.
- Roles with an overstated or false job description to make it appear to fulfil the standards of the route when it does not.
- Roles whose primary purpose is to facilitate the entry or residency of foreign nationals in the UK.
- Advertisements with prerequisites that are improper for the job on offer (for example, language abilities that are not relevant to the job) or incompatible with the firm offering the employment, and have been customised to exclude settled workers from being recruited.
- The Home Office has the authority to reject a Skilled Worker application if it determines that the job offer is not from a legitimate employer.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
If you want to work in the UK as a skilled worker, you’ll need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)Â for that particular employment. In order to apply for a CoS under the Skilled Worker route, your employer must hold a valid licence from the Home Office.
If your company is not yet licensed, you may learn more about how to apply for a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence.
Sponsor Requirements
Unless you were most recently granted permission as a Skilled Worker and you are requesting to continue working for the same sponsor as in your most recent permission, your sponsor must be registered as A-rated on the Home Office’s Register of Licensed Sponsors.
CoS Validity and Required Information
You are required to have your Certificate of Sponsorship issued no later than three months prior to the date on which you apply for your UK Skilled Worker Visa.
There is necessary information that must be included in your Certificate of Sponsorship as well:
- Name, title, and salary information for you;
- A start date that is no later than three months from the date of your Skilled Worker visa application;
- Verification that your sponsor has not revoked the CoS.
Immigration Skills Charge Rules for Skilled Worker
Sponsors
Your Certificate of Sponsorship cannot be assigned until your sponsor pays the entire Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), the amount of which is determined by the size of the sponsoring organisation and the duration of employment being sponsored.
But there are a few important exceptions.
- Employers are exempt from paying the fee if they are sponsoring individuals for specific research or academic positions, such as those in the fields of chemistry, biology, biochemistry, physics, sociology, research and development management, and higher education teaching.
- Employees whose certificates were issued before April 6, 2017, and their families, as well as the primary applicant, are exempt from the fee.
- Sponsors are also not required to pay to extend a student’s stay if the student converts to a Skilled Worker visa.
Job Skill Level Criteria
To be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa, the job you are being sponsored for must fulfil the minimum skill level standard established by UK Visas and Immigration.
- The Skilled Worker route requires the role to be skilled to at least RQF Level 6, which is roughly similar to a degree level.
- Having a degree or other official qualification is not necessary.
Instead, eligibility is determined by the job’s skill level, as specified by the Home Office.
Eligible Jobs and SOC Codes
The Home Office specifies suitable jobs in Appendix Skilled Occupations, Appendix Immigration Salary List, and Appendix Temporary Shortage List of the Immigration Rules.
Your sponsor is responsible for choosing a SOC 2020 occupation code that is reflective of your position, as each qualified role has a unique code. A job listed in one of the aforementioned appendices is required to sponsor you.
How to Choose the Correct Job Code
Your sponsor is responsible for selecting the most appropriate occupation code for the role. The Home Office has the authority to reject your Skilled Worker Visa application if they have valid reasons to suspect that your sponsor has chosen an incorrect code.
The Home Office will evaluate your application based on a number of factors, including the following: whether your sponsor has shown a real need for the job, your qualifications, experience, and skills for the position, and your sponsor’s history of meeting immigration requirements.
Selecting an incorrect or inflated occupation code is a common reason for rejection, so make sure that both the job description and your background fit the chosen role.
Pro Tip: Check if your job is eligible & on an Approved Occupation List. Not every job qualifies. The job role, its SOC code, and employer licence status must all align with UKVI’s requirements.
English Language Test Requirements & Exemptions
To apply for a Skilled Worker Visa UK, you must fulfil the English Language requirements.
- According to the Home Office, your country has a majority English-speaking population.
- You have completed a Secure English Language Test (SELT) in speaking, hearing, reading, and writing at CEFR Level B1 or higher with an approved test provider.
- You have earned a degree or higher qualification taught in English that is equal to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher. If the qualification was gained outside of the UK, Ecctis(previously UK NARIC) must affirm that it meets the requirements.
- You received a GCSE, international GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification at level four or five, or Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher, in English, from an approved qualification body while attending school in the UK and under the age of 18.
- When applying for entrance clearance or UK residency, you had to prove that you could speak English at a B1 level.
Each of these routes has its own set of evidential criteria, so make sure to provide the proper documents with your application.
Salary Thresholds for Skilled Worker Jobs
To sponsor a worker via the UK Skilled Worker Visa route, UK companies must (subject to any applicable transferable points) pay a wage that meets or surpasses both:
- The general salary threshold,
- The ‘going rate’ for the applicable job, as determined by the SOC 2020 occupation code in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
Therefore, as a Skilled Worker, your income should typically meet or surpass the following:
Category | General Salary Threshold | With Tradable Points | Notes |
Most jobs | £41,700 per year | £37,500 or £33,400 | Applies to the majority of Skilled Worker roles |
Workers granted Skilled Worker permission before 4 April 2024 (and applying before 4 April 2030) | £31,300 | £28,200 or £25,000 | Transitional arrangement for existing visa holders |
Health and Care ASHE salary jobs | £31,300 | £28,200 or £25,000 | Applies to Health & Care roles under ASHE salary rules |
Health or Education SOC 2020 jobs (based on national pay scales) | £25,000 | N/A | Going rates set by national pay scales |
SOC 2020 Occupation Code jobs (Appendix Skilled Occupations) | Going rate for the role | Percentage of the going rate | Tradable points may reduce salary requirement |
Going Rate Requirement for UK Work Permit Visa
The “going rate” for each occupation code is detailed in the Skilled Occupations appendix. You are entitled to receive a minimum wage equal to the going rate, unless the general threshold is exceeded. Your salary must be at least the general threshold, if it is higher.
The going rate is calculated on a 37.5-hour workweek and needs to be adjusted accordingly to align with the hours listed on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Financial Requirements for Skilled Work Visa UK
You must fulfil additional financial criteria in addition to the minimum salary criterion. While in the UK, you’ll need at least £1,270 to cover your expenses. The applicant must have kept the funds in their bank account for a minimum of 28 days prior to the application.
Exemptions from the Financial Requirement
Your financial requirement will not be applicable if your sponsor is an A-rated individual who certifies on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that they will pay for up to £1,270 of your maintenance costs during your first month of employment in the UK. This certification is also known as the maintenance certification.
If you have been lawfully living in the UK for 12 months or more on the date of your application, you will meet the financial criteria and will not need to prove cash. This applies to in-country applications for permission to stay.
Requirement of Criminal Record Certificate
Applicants from outside the UK seeking entrance clearance (a visa application) may be asked to present a criminal record certificate if they are being sponsored for specific positions that involve vulnerable individuals, such as those in the education, health, welfare, or care industries.
When to Show a Criminal Record Certificate?
You must give a criminal record certificate, unless it is not reasonably reasonable to do so, if
- Your sponsored job requires a criminal record check from the Appendix Skilled Occupations.
- You have resided in any country for a total of 12 months or more (either all at once or over several trips) since you turned 18 and in the 10 years before you applied.
This criterion applies to each country; you must present a certificate from each country that meets the above requirements.
Documents Required for Skilled Workers Visa UK
When applying for a Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to attach a number of documents to prove your eligibility.
Applicants must provide the following as part of their Skilled Worker visa application:
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number.
- Evidence of English language proficiency.
- A valid passport or recognised travel document.
- Employment contract or equivalent document confirming job title and annual salary.
- Occupation code for the sponsored role.
Depending on individual circumstances, the following may also be required:
- Evidence of sufficient funds to maintain yourself in the UK (unless financial support is confirmed on the CoS by the sponsoring employer).
- Proof of relationship to dependent family members, where they are accompanying or joining you in the UK.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate, if applying from a country where this is mandatory
- Criminal record certificate, where required for the role.
- An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)certificate, if undertaking employment or research in specified sensitive fields.
- Proof of UK educational qualifications, or an ECCTIS reference number confirming comparability of overseas qualifications.
Do You Know?
If you change jobs or employers, you’ll need a new Skilled Worker Visa application and a fresh CoS, even if your visa hasn’t expired yet.
Skilled Worker Visa UK Fee
Depending on your specific situation, the cost of the Skilled Worker visa might vary from £769 to £1,751.
|
Application Type |
Duration |
Visa Fee (per applicant) |
|
Applying from outside the UK |
Up to three years |
£769 |
|
Applying from outside the UK |
Over three years |
£1,519 |
|
Applying from within the UK (switching, updating, or extending) |
Up to three years |
£885 |
|
Applying from within the UK (switching, updating, or extending) |
Over three years |
£1,751 |
|
Roles on the Immigration Salary List |
Up to three years |
£590 |
|
Roles on the Immigration Salary List |
Over three years |
£1,160 |
Â
Additional Skilled Worker Visa Costs
|
Expense |
Amount |
Notes |
|
Healthcare surcharge |
£1,035 per year |
Payable for each year of the visa |
|
Maintenance funds |
£1,270 |
Must show proof of funds, unless exempt (e.g., in the UK for 12+ months or employer certifies maintenance) |
UK Skilled Worker Visa Processing Time
You can apply for a UK visa up to three months before starting work in the UK. You may find this date on your sponsorship certificate.
The amount of time it takes the Home Office to examine your paperwork and verify your identity could vary according to your situation. So, make sure you give yourself plenty of time and submit your application on time.
Outside the UK:Â Three weeks
Inside the UK: Eight weeks
Extending Your Skilled Worker Visa in the UK
After five years, your Skilled Worker visa will expire. You are eligible to apply for a skilled worker visa extension in the UK if you fulfil the following criteria:
- You hold the same job as when you first received your visa.
- You were authorised to enter the UK for a certain reason, and your job falls within the same occupation code.
- Also, you are still employed by the same company that sponsored your current application.
- Your family members can apply for visa extensions, but they must do so separately.
Do you know?
Unpaid absences can affect your Skilled Worker Visa extension. Extended unpaid leave (over four weeks) without a valid reason can break your continuity for settlement.
From Skilled Worker Visa to ILR in the UK
After 5 years in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, you may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), generally known as permanent residency.
Once you have obtained ILR, you won’t need to worry about visa extensions again; you can live and work in the UK permanently. Furthermore, your employment status in the UK will not be dependent on the legality of your job, and you will be free to work for any business in the country.
As a skilled worker, you need to fulfil certain standards to be eligible for ILR. It is essential that you:
- Be a permanent UK resident for a minimum of five years.
- Been outside the UK for no more than 180 days in the past year.
- Maintain the same minimum wage level as when you initially filed for your visa. For instance, you must continue to meet the applicable salary requirement for settlement based on the rules in force at the time your permission was granted. If you obtained your visa after April 4, 2024, you must pay £41,700 each year.
- Still needed in your job.
- Pass the Life in the UK Test.
To apply for ILR, you need to go to the gov.uk website. The application fee for ILR is £3,029.
When is a Skilled Worker Visa Refused?
Your application for a Skilled Worker Visa could be rejected for several reasons. Some of the most likely reasons are:
- Filing out the application form incorrectly.
- Not covering all of the expenses, including the application fee.
- Missing a valid sponsorship certificate’s reference number or codes for a certain position.
- Failing to provide the necessary paperwork to back up your application and prove your eligibility.
- Not meeting the 70-point criteria on the points-based system.
- Not having a clear immigration and criminal record.
Alternatively, if your employer does not have the proper sponsor licensing and documents, you may be denied Skilled Worker status.
Steps to Take After a Skilled Worker Visa Refusal
If your application for a Skilled Worker Visa is denied, there are several options that you might consider, taking into account your specific situation. The most popular choice is administrative review.
In some cases, applications may not be approved:
- Applying for the visa for the first time
- Switching into the Skilled Worker category
- Renewing or extending an existing visa
Within a certain time frame after receiving an application rejection notification, you may request an administrative review of the decision. If you applied from outside the UK, you have 28 days to submit the request; if you applied from inside the UK, you have 14 days.
Within 28 days, you will get a decision from the Home Office regarding your request. A pre-action approach for judicial review may be available to you if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of this decision. If this decision leaves you feeling unsatisfied, you might be able to seek a judicial review.
Applying With Dependants on a Skilled Worker Visa
If you have a spouse and children who meet the eligibility requirements, they can seek to become your dependants in the UK. Your application can include the following family members:
- Your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner
- Your children are under the age of 18.
- If your children are over the age of 18 and are not married, they can stay in the UK as dependants.
When you submit your application, you must include proof of your relationship.
Switching to a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK
It is possible to switch to the Skilled Worker category if you are already in the UK on another type of immigration, so long as you are eligible and not in a restricted category.
Switching from a Student Visa to Skilled Worker Visa
Student leave can be switched to Skilled Worker leave if one of the following applies:
- You have finished the course of study for which your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)was issued; or
- The training finished before the commencement date of your sponsored job, as specified on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS); or
- You completed at least 24 months of study as part of a PhD program.
Who Is Not Eligible to Switch to the Skilled Worker Visa?
If you are a visitor, short-term student, parent of a child student, seasonal worker, domestic worker in a private household, or have been given leave outside of the immigration rules, you cannot convert into the Skilled Worker route.
There are additional restrictions on moving to being sponsored as a Care Worker during the transition period, which will end on July 22, 2028. You must have worked for the sponsor for a minimum of three months before the CoS is granted.
Can You Be Self-Employed on a Skilled Worker Visa?
It is usually not allowed for Skilled Worker Visa holders to be self-employed. You must work for your sponsoring employer as specified in your Certificate of Sponsorship and be paid through PAYE. You must work for your sponsoring employer in the role stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship, and unrestricted self-employment or freelance work is not permitted under this route.
An exemption to this general restriction may apply if an individual establishes a UK firm that holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence and sponsors themselves under a self-sponsorship arrangement. To verify employment and sponsor duties, severe restrictions apply.
A skilled worker visa holder should consult an expert immigration lawyer before starting a business or taking on freelancing work to make sure they won’t break any immigration rules.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To be eligible, you need a job offer from a UK company with a valid sponsorship licence. Additionally, your English proficiency, salary requirements, and skill level must all be met.
Yes. You may be able to bring your spouse or partner and dependent children as long as they apply for and meet the requirements for a dependant visa. In some cases, children over the age of 18 may also qualify if they meet the dependency criteria.
A Skilled Worker Visa can be granted for up to five years at a time. You can apply to extend your visa or submit a new Skilled Worker Visa application before your current permission expires, provided you continue to meet the requirements.
If you lose your job, the Home Office will normally curtail your permission and allow a period of up to 60 days, unless your visa expires sooner, to find a new sponsor, switch visa category, or leave the UK.
The Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa and follows a similar sponsorship-based structure, but with changes to skill levels, salary thresholds, and eligibility rules.
Yes, but you must apply for a new Skilled Worker Visa before starting the new job. Your new employer must hold a valid Home Office sponsor licence and issue a new Certificate of Sponsorship.
In many cases, yes, provided you meet the eligibility requirements and are not in a restricted visa category. Each application is assessed under the Immigration Rules in force at the time of application.
Not directly. Some Skilled Worker Visa holders may become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and British citizenship may be possible later if all requirements are met.
Limited supplementary work may be allowed in certain circumstances. Any additional work must meet Home Office conditions, and unrestricted self-employment is not permitted.
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