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Skilled worker visa UK - requirements
o qualify for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence. The employer will assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which includes details about your role, salary, and working hours. The CoS is valid for three months and must be used within this time to apply for the visa.
Your job must be on the list of eligible occupations (SOC 2020 codes if the CoS is issued after 4 April 2024, unless covered by transitional arrangements). The salary must meet the general threshold of £38,700 or the specific going rate for your job—whichever is higher. A reduced salary threshold may apply if the role requires a PhD or appears on the Immigration Salary List, which replaced the Shortage Occupation List from 4 April 2024.
You must demonstrate English language ability at B1 level across speaking, listening, reading, and writing. If you’re applying under the PhD route for a lower salary, you must have a UK doctoral qualification or provide Ecctis confirmation that your overseas PhD is recognised in the UK.
A tuberculosis (TB) test may be required if you’ve lived in a country listed in Appendix TB within six months of your application date.
For expert assistance, get in touch with ZAR Immigration consultants
Transitional arrangements for Skilled Worker visa holders before 4 April 2024
Skilled Worker visa holders granted permission before 4 April 2024 can extend their visa under transitional arrangements. These allow for a lower general salary threshold of £29,000, which is higher than the previous £26,200 but still below the new £38,700 requirement. Additionally, the occupation-specific salary threshold is based on the 25th percentile of the annual earnings survey rather than the median, making the going rate for jobs lower compared to the new rules. For guidance on extending your visa, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
Minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa
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For Skilled Worker visa applicants applying after 4 April 2024 (and not under transitional arrangements), the minimum salary must meet the higher of two thresholds: the general threshold of £38,700 or the job-specific rate listed in SOC 2020 (the “going rate”).
Reductions to the salary threshold may apply if the job requires a PhD and qualifies for a PhD reduction, is listed on the Immigration Salary List (formerly the Shortage Occupation List), or if the applicant is a new entrant—such as someone under 26 or a recent UK graduate.
For expert support, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
PhD holders with relevant job offers
PhD holders with job offers related to their field can qualify with a reduced salary threshold of £34,830 or 90% of the going rate. Those with a PhD in a STEM subject may qualify with £30,960 or 80% of the going rate. Jobs on the Immigration Salary List also require a minimum of £30,960 and the applicable going rate under SOC 2020. New entrants, including those under 26 or recent UK graduates, can qualify with £30,960 or 70% of the going rate. For tailored advice, reach out to ZAR Immigration consultants.
What is a new entrant
A new entrant under the Skilled Worker route is someone who meets any of the following: they are under 26 at the time of application; have a job offer in a postdoctoral role in an approved science field or as a higher education teaching professional; are training for a recognised qualification in a regulated UK profession; are working towards registration or chartered status with a relevant professional body; previously held a Graduate visa (valid or expired within the last 2 years); or previously held a Student visa (valid or expired within the last 2 years), having studied at degree level or above and completed the course, be near completion, or studying towards a PhD.
New entrants can be sponsored for a maximum of four years. Salary thresholds for new entrants are based on 70% of the job’s going rate, which can be found in Appendix Skilled Occupations. Other reductions apply: 90% for PhD holders, 80% for STEM PhDs and jobs on the Immigration Salary List.
For expert visa support, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
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English language requirement for the Skilled Worker visa
To meet the English language requirement for a Skilled Worker visa, you must pass a B1 level SELT in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
You are exempt if you have a UK degree or an overseas degree taught in English, confirmed by Ecctis. You may also qualify if you studied in the UK and hold a GCSE, A-level, or Scottish National Qualification (level 4 or 5) in English language or literature—though these don’t count for indefinite leave to remain.
If you met the language requirement in a previous successful application on the same route, it’s considered fulfilled. Citizens of majority English-speaking countries also meet the requirement automatically.
For personalised support, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
List of majority English speaking countries
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
Financial (maintenance) requirement for the Skilled Worker visa
Skilled Worker visa applicants automatically meet the financial requirement if they’ve been in the UK for at least 12 months, such as those switching from the Student or Graduate route.
If not, the employer can certify maintenance by confirming they will support the applicant with £1,270 for the first month of employment. Alternatively, the applicant must show they’ve held at least £1,270 in a bank account for 28 days before applying.
For expert guidance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
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Skilled Worker visa fees
Skilled Worker visa fees vary based on visa length, job type, and where you apply from.
From outside the UK:
Up to 3 years: £625
Over 3 years: £1,235
From inside the UK:
Up to 3 years: £719
Over 3 years: £1,423
If the job is on the Shortage Occupation List, the fee is the same regardless of location:
Up to 3 years: £479
Over 3 years: £943
An Immigration Health Surcharge also applies, unless applying under the Health and Care Worker route.
For detailed advice, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
How long the Skilled Worker visa is for (duration of grant)
The Skilled Worker visa is issued for the length stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship, up to a maximum of five years. It can be extended if you choose not to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years.
The visa is tied to your sponsoring employer and specific job. Changing sponsors or making significant changes to your employment requires a new visa.
For expert help, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
Supplementary employment outside sponsorship
Skilled Workers can take supplementary employment alongside their main job with their sponsor. The additional work doesn’t need to be in the same SOC code and has no specific salary requirements.
For guidance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
Skilled Worker visa - procedure and documents
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need:
Certificate of Sponsorship reference from your employer
Valid passport
Job title and annual salary
Job’s occupation code
Employer’s name and sponsor licence number (on your CoS)
Additional documents may include: proof of English language ability; bank statements showing £1,270 held for 28 days if the sponsor doesn’t certify maintenance; a TB test certificate if applying from certain countries; and criminal record certificates for roles in education, healthcare, social services, or therapy (see Appendix Skilled Worker, paragraph SK16.1).
For application support, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
When and how to apply
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa up to 3 months before your job start date and within 3 months of receiving your Certificate of Sponsorship.
Applications are submitted online with supporting documents uploaded to the government portal. Occasionally, you may be asked to send original documents, but this is rare.
For help with your application, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
Indefinite leave to remain for Skilled Workers
Skilled Workers can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after five years of continuous residence on eligible visas, including Skilled Worker, Tier 1 (except Graduate Entrepreneur), Innovator, Global Talent, Scale-up Worker, and others.
To qualify, you must earn at least the going rate for your job (regardless of any previous PhD salary reductions) and show your employer still needs you, though sponsorship won’t be required after ILR is granted. Your sponsor must hold a valid licence on the ILR decision date.
The English requirement is usually met automatically unless you previously relied on GCSE or A-level English. You will also need to pass the Life in the UK test, which is valid for citizenship applications.
For ILR advice, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
Dependants of Skilled Worker visa holders
Dependants of Skilled Worker visa holders include spouses, unmarried partners, and children under 18. Children over 18 can remain dependants if they entered the UK under 18.
Dependants can apply with the main applicant or join later. They can switch to a Skilled Worker dependant visa from most long-term visas, but time as a dependant and main visa holder cannot be combined for ILR qualifying.
Dependants can work in the UK without sponsorship and don’t need to meet English language requirements.
For assistance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
ILR for dependants of skilled workers
Dependants of Skilled Workers must spend 5 continuous years in the UK as dependants to qualify for ILR; time spent as the main visa holder does not count. Continuous residence rules are complex due to recent changes.
Dependent children don’t need a qualifying period and can apply for ILR with or after their settled parents. Children under 18 are exempt from English and Life in the UK tests.
Dependent partners and adult children (18+) must prove English proficiency (B1 speaking and listening) and pass the Life in the UK test. English can also be proven via a degree from a recognized university or majority English-speaking nationality.
Limited exceptions exist for partners unable to meet language requirements after 15 years’ residence. Legal advice is recommended to avoid missing the first chance to apply.
For expert guidance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
Skilled Worker visa FAQs
Do I have to apply for dependent visa for my child born in the UK?
If your child is born in the UK, you don’t need to apply for a dependent visa, but NHS coverage for the child ends three months after birth.
The child can leave the UK on your national passport without a visa, but will need a visa to return. Obtaining the visa from within the UK may be faster if time is critical.
For advice, contact ZAR Immigration consultants
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Do I have to apply for ILR for the child born in the UK?
If your UK-born child is not included as your dependent, you don’t need to apply for their ILR. The child may qualify for British citizenship before ILR, especially if the parent doesn’t settle alongside the main visa holder.
If the child has a dependent visa, ensure they don’t overstay. If citizenship isn’t registered before the visa expires, an immigration application is needed to maintain their status. Legal advice is recommended to avoid errors.
For assistance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
How long can I be sponsored for?
You can be sponsored for up to five years. Your employer can extend sponsorship beyond five years if you need more time before qualifying for ILR.
For support, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
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How long does my “new entrant” status last?
New entrant status lasts up to four years, including time on the Graduate route, Skilled Worker, or Tier 2 visa. It cannot apply to part of a visa period—meaning you can’t get a five-year visa with new entrant reduced pay, as the maximum is four years.
For advice, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.
Can I be sponsored for a short periods of time, like 2 months?
Yes, you can be sponsored for short periods like 2 months, but it’s costly since each sponsorship requires a new visa. Visas under six months don’t require the health surcharge, but the visa fee remains the same for any period up to 3 years.
For guidance, contact ZAR Immigration consultants.