The Skilled Worker Visa is a UK work visa that allows skilled overseas nationals to come to the UK to work in an eligible skilled job for an approved employer sponsor. Here are the key points about the Skilled Worker Visa:
It replaced the previous Tier 2 (General) work visa route.
To be eligible, you must have a job offer from a UK employer that is an approved sponsor with a valid sponsorship license.
Your job must be at an appropriate skill level (RQF level 3 or above, equivalent to A-level) and in an eligible occupation code.
You must score 70 points on the points-based system - 50 mandatory points for meeting requirements like the job offer, English language, and skill level, plus 20 tradeable points usually met through salary thresholds.
There are minimum salary thresholds, typically the higher of £38,700 or the "going rate" for that occupation.
You must meet the English language requirement at least B1 level.
The Skilled Worker Visa offers several benefits:
Pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): After 5 continuous years on the Skilled Worker Visa, you can apply for permanent residency (ILR) in the UK.
Bring Dependants: Your spouse/partner and dependent children can apply as your dependants on the same visa.
Spouse Can Work: Your spouse/partner is allowed to work in the UK without needing a separate work visa.
No Immigration Health Surcharge: Unlike some other visa routes, there is no requirement to pay the expensive Immigration Health Surcharge upfront.
Lower Salary Threshold: The minimum salary threshold is lower compared to the previous Tier 2 visa at £25,600 or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
If you are holding a Skilled Worker visa, here are some key points to pay attention to:
Work Restrictions
You can only work in the specific job you were sponsored for by your employer. Working in a different job is not permitted.
You are allowed to undertake supplementary employment (up to 20 hours per week) as long as it is in the same occupation code and at the same skill level as your sponsored job, or the role is listed on the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations.
If taking supplementary employment outside of these conditions, you must get prior approval from the Home Office by requesting a change to your visa conditions.
Voluntary work is permitted in addition to your sponsored job.
Studying
You are allowed to undertake further study of any level or mode (part-time, full-time, etc.) while on the Skilled Worker visa.
However, it's advisable to check with your sponsoring employer if they permit studying alongside the sponsored job.
Dependants
Your spouse/partner and dependent children can be included on your Skilled Worker visa application as dependants.
Your spouse/partner is permitted to work in the UK without needing a separate work visa.
Settlement
The Skilled Worker visa is a pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or permanent residency after 5 continuous years in the UK on this visa.
Other Conditions
No access to public funds is permitted while holding a Skilled Worker visa.
You must continue meeting the English language requirement at B1 level or above throughout your stay.
Notify the Home Office if your personal circumstances change, like getting married/divorced or having children.
It's crucial to adhere to all the conditions of your Skilled Worker visa to maintain your legal immigration status in the UK.
The primary requirements for the Skilled Worker Visa applicant are:
Have a qualifying job offer from an approved UK employer sponsor at the appropriate skill level (RQF level 3 or above, equivalent to A-level).
The job must match an eligible occupation code listed by the Home Office.
Be issued a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by the employer to use in the visa application.
Meet the minimum salary threshold, which is usually the higher of £38,700 per year or the "going rate" for that occupation.
The "going rate" refers to the minimum salary requirement for a specific occupation code that a Skilled Worker visa applicant must meet.
The going rates are set out in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules. They vary based on the specific occupation code (also called Standard Occupational Classification or SOC code) that the sponsored job falls under.
A few key points about the going rates:
They represent the minimum salary threshold in addition to the general salary threshold of £38,700 for new Skilled Worker applicants or £29,000 for existing visa holders extending/switching.
The going rates are being updated from April 2024 to align with the latest UK salary data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
There will be two separate tables of going rates published:
Table 1 with higher going rates for new Skilled Worker applicants
Table 2 with lower going rates for existing visa holders extending/switching
The going rates in Table 1 for new applicants will increase from the current 25th percentile to the median (50th percentile) of ONS salary data for each occupation.
For occupations previously on the Shortage Occupation List, the 20% discount on going rates is being removed, resulting in a sharp increase.
New Skilled Worker applicants will be subject to the higher thresholds of at least £38,700 and the going rate for their role in Table 1, and those already on the route will need to be paid at least £29,000 and the going rate for their role in Table 2.
Please find some examples below of how the changes will apply to certain roles.
Example 1:
Role: Business Development Manager (the SOC code will change from 3545 to 3556)
Current minimum salary: £35,100 (the occupation’s going rate), which is higher than the £26,200 general threshold
New minimum for new Skilled Workers: £52,500 (the occupation’s going rate in Table 1), which is higher than the £38,700 general threshold
New minimum for existing Skilled Workers: £39,100 (the occupation’s new going rate in Table 2), which is higher than the £29,000 general threshold
Example 2:
Role: Chef (the SOC code will remain as 5434)
Current minimum salary: £26,200 (the general threshold), which is higher than the occupation’s going rate of £17,100
New minimum for new Skilled Workers: £38,700 (the general threshold) which is higher than the occupation’s going rate of £30,960 in Table 1
New minimum for existing Skilled Workers: £29,000 (the general threshold), which is higher than the occupation’s going rate of £23,200 in Table 2
Example 3:
Role: Care Worker (the SOC code will change from 6145 to 6135)
Current minimum salary: £20,960 (no going rate)
New minimum for new Skilled Workers: £23,200
New minimum for existing Skilled Workers: £23,200
New Immigration Salary List
The Shortage Occupation List currently allows workers with a role on the list to be paid 20% less than the general salary threshold and the going rate. From 4 April 2024, the Shortage Occupation List will be deleted and replaced by the new Immigration Salary List.
The 20% discount to the general threshold will still apply, but there will be no discount to the going rate.
The Immigration Salary List doesn’t include numerous roles that currently appear on the Shortage Occupation List, most notably programmers and graphic designers. The list will be updated in late 2024 once the Migration Advisory Committee carry out a full review of the occupations.
Supplementary employment
One unexpected change is the expansion of the supplementary employment provisions.
All Skilled Worker visa holders are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week in supplementary employment, outside of their main sponsored occupation. Currently, supplementary employment is strictly limited to jobs in the same role that they have been sponsored for and roles on the Shortage Occupation List.
From 4 April 2024, Skilled Workers will be permitted to undertake up to 20 hours per week of supplementary employment in occupations that are eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship, not just in the same occupation that they were sponsored for.
For the avoidance of doubt, this does not mean that Skilled Workers will be able to undertake supplementary employment in any role. The role must be at an appropriate skill level for Skilled Worker sponsorship. Occupations such as delivery driver, receptionist and cleaner are not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship and supplementary employment in these roles is not permitted.
The going rate must be pro-rated for different working patterns based on the weekly hours stated by the sponsor.
So in summary, the going rate is the minimum salary requirement specific to the occupation code, which applicants must meet in addition to the general salary threshold, with rates being increased substantially in April 2024.
Score 70 points on the points-based immigration system - 50 mandatory points for meeting the job offer, skill level, and English language requirements, plus 20 tradeable points usually met through salary thresholds.
Meet the English language requirement at least at B1 level CEFR in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Have sufficient personal savings to support themselves in the UK, usually for at least 28 days.
Hold a valid passport and any other required documentation like criminal record certificates.
Pay the visa application fee, which starts from £1,270 for up to 3 years.
The main applicant must secure the Skilled Worker job and sponsorship first before any dependants can apply to accompany them on a dependent visa.
The most popular occupations for obtaining a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK are:
IT and Technology Roles (around 20-25%)
IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
Information technology and telecommunications directors
Web designers and developers
Healthcare Professions (around 15-20%)
Medical practitioners like doctors and dentists
Nurses and midwives
Healthcare support workers
Paramedics
Pharmacists
Engineering and Technical Roles (around 15%)
Production, construction and operations managers
Civil, mechanical and electrical engineers
Aircraft and avionics engineers
Architectural technologists
Skilled Trades (around 10-15%)
Welders, metal workers and fabricators
Electricians and electrical fitters
Plumbers and heating engineers
Carpenters and joiners
Bricklayers and masons
Roofers and tilers
Other popular roles include financial managers, marketing/sales directors, human resource managers, and various management/professional positions across sectors like retail, agriculture, hospitality and transport.
The key criteria are that the job is skilled (RQF level 3 or above), in an eligible occupation code, and meets the required salary threshold set by the Home Office for the Skilled Worker route.
Healthcare roles in particular are often prioritized and fast-tracked under this visa.
The key requirements for a dependent applicant (spouse/partner or child) to obtain a Skilled Worker Dependent Visa are:
For Dependent Spouse/Partner:
Be over 18 years old at the time of application
Be in a legal marriage/civil partnership recognized in the UK, or have been living together for at least 2 years in a relationship akin to marriage
Provide evidence to prove the genuine and subsisting relationship
Meet the financial requirement of having at least £285 in funds available unless the sponsor certifies they will accommodate you
Provide a criminal record certificate from any country lived in since age 18 if the sponsored job is in certain occupations like healthcare, teaching, etc.
For Dependent Child:
Be under 18 years old at the time of first application
Not be married or in a civil partnership
Not be leading an independent life (e.g. financially independent, not living with parents) if over 16 years old
Have suitable care and accommodation arrangements in the UK
One parent must have permission to be in the UK already or be applying at the same time, unless specific exceptions apply
Meet financial requirement of £315 for first child, £200 for each additional child unless sponsor certifies maintenance
General Requirements:
Be applying from outside the UK or from inside the UK on another eligible visa
Pay the visa application fee which ranges from £610 to £1,408 depending on duration and location of application
Not have certain previous UK visas like visitor visas
The dependent visa is tied to the Skilled Worker's visa, so dependents can only extend as long as the main applicant extends their visa and meets requirements to settle permanently after 5 years.
The cost of a Skilled Worker Visa varies depending on several factors, but here are some examples:
For the main applicant applying from outside the UK:
For a visa up to 3 years in a non-shortage occupation: £719 application fee + £1,035 per year for the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). So for a 3-year visa, the total would be £3,824 (£719 + £3,105 IHS).
For a visa over 3 years in a non-shortage occupation: £1,420 application fee + IHS of £1,035 per year. For a 5-year visa, the total would be £6,595 (£1,420 + £5,175 IHS).
If the job is in a shortage occupation, the fees are lower - £551 for up to 3 years and £1,084 for over 3 years, plus the IHS.
For applications made from inside the UK to extend or switch to a Skilled Worker visa:
For a visa up to 3 years: £827 application fee + IHS of £1,035 per year.
For a visa over 3 years: £1,636 application fee + IHS.
There are also lower fees for Health and Care visa applications in eligible occupations like nurses, doctors etc.
In addition, the employer sponsor has to pay:
£239 for assigning each Certificate of Sponsorship required.
Immigration Skills Charge of £1,000 per year for large sponsors or £364 per year for small sponsors.
If the applicant has dependants (spouse/children), they also have to pay the visa application fee and IHS for each dependant.
So for example, a family of 4 (main applicant, spouse, 2 children) applying from outside for a 5-year Skilled Worker visa could pay over £20,000 in total visa fees and charges.
Here are some tips on how to find an employer who will sponsor you for a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK:
Identify roles and occupations eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa by checking the list of eligible occupations
Focus your job search on these roles at an appropriate skill level (RQF 3 or above).
Use job boards and recruitment websites to search for roles with companies that mention "Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship" or "Certificate of Sponsorship" in the job description. This indicates they are willing to sponsor overseas workers.
Attend job fairs, industry events, and networking meetups to connect with employers looking to hire international talent. Some events specifically cater to overseas skilled workers.
Check the Home Office's register of licensed sponsors to find companies already approved to sponsor Skilled Workers.
Reach out to them about relevant job openings.
Use your professional network, alumni associations, or online platforms like LinkedIn to inquire about companies needing overseas hires and their willingness to sponsor visas.
Consider recruitment agencies that specialize in placing overseas candidates with UK employers willing to provide sponsorship.
Research companies in your industry that frequently hire overseas nationals or have international operations and reach out directly about opportunities.
Be upfront about your visa needs from the start and ensure the employer understands the Skilled Worker visa requirements and process for sponsoring workers.
Highlight your qualifications, skills and experience that make you an ideal candidate worth sponsoring on a Skilled Worker Visa.
The key is proactively identifying employers with a need for your skills who are approved sponsors or willing to go through the process to hire you through this visa route.
Turn to recruitment agencies: Recruitment agencies can help you find jobs that match your skills and experience and offer sponsorship. You can find recruiting agencies that specialize in your industry or field of work.
● Aspire: specializes in the fields of media, digital technology and marketing.
● Charterhouse: Focuses on the financial services sector, including banking, asset management and insurance.
● Cobalt Recruitment: specializes in the real estate and property sectors.
● Frazer Jones: Specializes in recruitment in HR and talent management.
● Hunter Bond: specializes in the fintech and financial services sectors.
● La Fosse Associates: Focuses on technology recruiting across industries.
● Oakleaf Partnership: specializes in HR recruitment for financial and professional services.
● RedCat Digital: specializes in the sectors of digital technologies, creativity and technical services.
● Sellick Partnership: focuses on the legal services, finance and accounting sectors.
● Taylor Root: Specializes in legal and compliance recruiting.
It is possible to be self-employed while holding a Skilled Worker visa, but under very specific and limited circumstances:
You cannot be solely self-employed or start your own business on a Skilled Worker visa. The visa requires you to be sponsored by an approved employer for a specific skilled job.
However, you can work in a self-employed capacity for the employer that has sponsored you on the Skilled Worker visa, as long as there is a genuine contract of employment/services between you and the sponsoring employer.
In this scenario, you would establish your own limited company or register as a sole trader, and then invoice your sponsoring employer for the work you perform for them under the agreed contract.
Your sponsoring employer must pay you at least the minimum salary threshold for the sponsored skilled job, which is usually the higher of £38,700 or the "going rate" for that specific occupation code.
Your sponsoring employer must assign you a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and meet all other sponsorship duties and immigration requirements.
You are permitted to undertake supplementary employment of up to 20 hours per week, as long as it is in the same occupation code and skill level as your sponsored job.
So in essence, while pure self-employment is not allowed, you can work on a self-employed basis for your Skilled Worker sponsor, but you cannot start your own independent business on this visa. For that, you would need an Innovator or Start-up visa specifically designed for entrepreneurship.
The Skilled Worker route has very strict requirements around being sponsored in a skilled job by a licensed employer. Any self-employment has to be tied to and dependent on that core sponsored employment.
Why skilled worker visas are refused.
Not meeting the minimum salary requirement for the sponsored job role, which is usually the higher of £38,700 per year or the "going rate" for that specific occupation code.
Providing incorrect, incomplete or insufficient information/documentation to support the visa application, such as evidence of qualifications, work experience, finances, etc.
Not meeting the required skill level (RQF level 3 or above) or English language requirement (at least B1 level) for the sponsored job.
Issues with the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) provided by the employer sponsor, such as an invalid, expired or unused CoS.
Failure to disclose previous criminal convictions, immigration offences or other relevant information that is required.
Not having adequate personal savings or funds (usually £1,270 for 28 days) to support yourself upon arrival in the UK, unless exempt.
The sponsored job role is not considered a genuine vacancy by the Home Office caseworker and appears to have been created solely for obtaining a visa.
Concerns over the applicant's conduct, character or associations posing a risk to public good or national security.
Failure to meet other eligibility criteria like health requirements, maintenance funds for dependents, unpaid NHS debts over £500, etc.
If the sponsoring employer's license is revoked or they withdraw sponsorship during the application process.
Providing accurate information, meeting all mandatory criteria for the job, salary, skills, funds, and having a valid sponsorship are crucial to avoid refusal of a Skilled Worker visa application.
If you have received a Skilled Worker Visa as the main applicant, here are the typical next steps for you and any dependants:
For the Main Applicant:
Check the visa validity period, entry clearance date, and any conditions carefully before traveling to the UK.
Make arrangements to travel to the UK before the visa validity date. You must enter during the validity period.
Have your Certificate of Sponsorship and job offer details from your sponsoring employer ready to show when entering the UK.
After arriving, you must collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which contains your visa information and permissions.
Contact your employer to discuss your planned start date and any joining formalities like right to work checks.
Open a UK bank account, secure accommodation, apply for a National Insurance number, register for healthcare etc.
Ensure you understand the conditions of your visa - restrictions on supplementary work, traveling abroad rules etc.
Keep tracking your visa expiry date and apply to extend your stay if you wish to continue working in the UK.
For Dependants:
If granted a dependent visa, they can now travel to the UK and join you. Their visa will expire on the same date as yours.
Dependants have no restrictions on work or study in the UK under this visa route.
Your spouse/partner can work in any job without needing separate sponsorship.
Dependent children can study at any institution without restrictions.
Dependants can apply to extend their visa along with you when your visa is up for extension.
After 5 continuous years in the UK, dependants can also apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain along with the main applicant.
The key is to plan your move, follow all visa conditions, get registered and set up in the UK, and take steps to extend or settle if desired once you begin your sponsored skilled employment in the UK.
If the main applicant (the Skilled Worker visa holder) loses their job, there can be serious implications for their immigration status in the UK. According to the information provided in the sources, here are some key points:
Reasons for Losing the Job:
The sources highlight several common reasons why employees may lose their jobs, including:
Poor relationship with management/supervisor
Lack of development/growth opportunities
Inadequate compensation
Hiding important information during the hiring process
Failure to express genuine interest in the role/company
Confrontational behavior or badmouthing former employers during interviews
Lack of confidence or unprofessional conduct during interviews
Making too many demands before proving value
Implications if Main Applicant Loses Job:
The Skilled Worker visa is tied to the specific job and employer who sponsored you
If you lose that sponsored job, your visa may be curtailed (shortened)
You typically have 60 days to find another suitable job and sponsoring employer
During this period, you cannot access public funds and must rely on your own finances
If you cannot find new sponsorship within 60 days, you may have to leave the UK
Your dependent family members' visas are also impacted if your visa is curtailed
The key is to maintain a positive relationship with your employer, be upfront during hiring, exhibit professionalism, and have a backup plan in case your role is terminated to avoid jeopardizing your right to remain in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa.
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