What is the Skilled Worker Visa?

Skilled Worker Visa Requirements

To determine if the respective job is eligible for the Skilled Worker route, the sponsor needs to identify the relevant SOC code (a 4-digit occupation code) for the role.

This can be done using the ONS occupation coding tool here. - The job description for the SOC code must match the respective position to be filled.

Salary Requirement

The general salary threshold for a Skilled Worker is £25,600 per annum, unless the ‘going rate’ for the particular role is higher. Therefore the applicant must be paid at least a basic salary which equals or exceeds these thresholds.

In some cases, applicants can still be eligible to apply for the Skilled Worker visa if they are paid less than the thresholds mentioned above, where they can trade points against a lower salary to satisfy the minimum of 70 points to qualify for the Skilled Worker route: 

• An applicant with a PhD qualification which is relevant to the job may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £23,040 per year and 90% of the going rate for the occupation;
• An applicant with a PhD qualification in a STEM subject which is relevant to the job may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £20,480 per year and 80% of the going rate for the occupation;
• An applicant with a job offer for a job in a shortage occupation* may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £20,480 per year and 80% of the going rate for the occupation;
• An applicant who is a new entrant to the labour market* may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £20,480 per year and 70% of the going rate for the occupation;
• An applicant for a job in a listed health or education occupation may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £20,480 per year and 80% of the going rate for the occupation.

Shortage Occupation

A ‘shortage occupation’ is a skilled job where there is deemed to be a shortage of workers in the UK.  - The list for which is maintained by the Home Office here

New entrant to the labour market
A new entrant is someone who is under 26 on the date of making the application and is applying for a maximum period of 3 years’ leave as a skilled worker, those sponsored in postdoctoral research positions, those in professional training or studying for professional qualifications, registration or chartered status, a recent graduate, or in professional training.

Visa Fees and Financial Requirement

Visa Application Fee

Applying from outside the UK:

• Up to 3 years - £719 per person
• Over 3 years - £1,420 per person

Applying from inside the UK:

• Up to 3 years - £827 per person
• Over 3 years - £1,500 per person

Note that if your job is on the shortage occupation list, the application fee is lower (and is the same for applications being made outside and inside the UK):

• Up to 3 years - £551 per person
• Over 3 years - £1,084 per person

Healthcare surcharge

You will also need to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay - this is currently £624 per year

Financial maintenance

Applicants must evidence that they have money to support themselves when they come to the UK and have at least £1,270 in their bank account at the time of applying for the visa. These funds must have been available for at least 28 consecutive days, the 28th day of which must be within 31 days of applying.  This must be evidenced, unless either:

• The applicant has been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
• The employer can cover their costs during the first month of being in the UK, up to £1,270

If the employer can support the skilled worker, the certificate of sponsorship must confirm this by the employer completing the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on the certificate, under ‘Additional data’.

Note that if there are also dependants applying, additional funds will be required to prove they can support themselves when they come to the UK.

English Language Requirement

Unless the Applicant for the Skilled Worker visa is from a majority-english-speaking country such as the USA or Australia, they must be able to demonstrate they can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

This can be satisfied by any of the following:

• Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT)
• Obtained a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English from a UK school
• Having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English
• Already proven that the minimum level of B1 was met as part of a previous UK immigration application that was successful

Switching to the Skilled Worker visa

If you are currently in the UK on a another Visa category, you may be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route.

Note that you cannot switch to the Skilled Worker Visa if you are currently in the UK on one of the following visas:

• visitor visa
• short-term student visa
• parent of a Child Student visa
• seasonal worker visa
• domestic worker in a private household visa
• on immigration bail
• leave to remain outside the immigration rules

What happens if you change your Job or Employer?

You will need to apply to update your Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) visa:

• If you start a new job with a new employer
• if you change jobs with your current employer and the new job is in a different occupation code
• If your job changes to a different occupation code, and you are not in a graduate training programme
• If your current job is on the shortage shortage occupation list and change jobs to one that is not on the list