There are roughly 50,000 Skilled Worker visa holders in the UK who get the chance to work in a high-value job and remain in the country. This visa requires you to be sponsored for a profession that is considered skilled work.

Like all visas, successfully applying for a Skilled Worker visa can be challenging. To increase your chances of success, it is a great idea to get support from an immigration lawyer or adviser.

Defining the Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa UK is a type of “general” work visa, eligible for a range of different professions. If you receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for an eligible role, you will be allowed to apply for the visa. This allows you to remain in the UK for up to five years, with the chance to renew or apply for indefinite leave to remain once the visa runs out.

You can find out if a role is eligible by asking the hiring manager for the occupation code. You can then visit the UK government website to see if that occupation code is eligible.

This article gives you the best tips to apply for this highly valuable visa by helping you to understand the eligibility criteria, the documents you will need to compile, and the application process.

Required Documentation

Before you can check if you are eligible for the visa and begin the application process, you will need to check that you can gather the required documentation. The specific documentation required may have some variability depending on your case, but the standard documents are as follows:

• A valid passport.

• A CoS reference number. This will be given to you when you sign the contract with your UK-based employer.

• A certificate to show English language proficiency of level B1 or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

• A signed contract for your role, showing your job title and salary.

• Evidence you will be able to support yourself in the UK, with recent bank statements unless your employer agrees to support you when you first arrive.

• A negative tuberculosis test if you are from a high-risk country.

• A clean criminal record.

• Proof of qualifications that make you eligible for the role.

Furthermore, if you are conducting sensitive work, you may need a certificate to show you are legally able to conduct the work. The most common example is an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) required for some research work.

Skilled Worker Visa Financial Requirements

Successfully obtaining a Skilled Worker visa requires you to meet financial requirements. At the time of writing in 2024, this was an annual salary of £38,700 in most cases. If the ‘going rate’ is higher for your specific role, you will usually have to be paid that higher amount. On top of this requirement, you also need to have £1,270 available in your bank account so that you can support yourself when you first come to the UK. This money needs to have been in your account for at least 28 days prior to your application.

In some cases, the financial requirements are lower. You always need to earn at least £15.88 an hour, but the following lower amounts apply sometimes:

• £34,830 or 90% of the ‘going rate’ if you have a relevant PhD.

• £30,960 or 80% of the ‘going rate’ if your relevant PhD is in a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subject.

• £30,960 if your role is on the immigration salary list. There is no reduced amount for the ‘going rate’ requirement.

• £30,960 or 70% of the ‘going rate’ if you are at the start of your career.

The final financial consideration before you apply is the fee for the visa. This was £719 to £1,639 depending on your circumstances at the time of writing. You must also pay a healthcare surcharge of £1,035 annually so you can access NHS care.

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Applying for a Skilled Worker Visa

To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, head to the UK Home Office website and complete the online application. You will also pay your application fee and submit your documents here.

Having made the initial application, you will need to provide your biometric information, such as your photograph and a fingerprint. This is done via the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app or during a visit to a visa application centre.

Alternatively, you may be able to apply to switch your current visa in the UK to a Skilled Worker visa. This will usually have a simpler application process. However, this can’t be done with all UK visas. Visas like the Visitor visa, Seasonal Worker visa, and Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa are not eligible, so you need to leave the country before you can apply.

Skilled Worker Visa Application Times

Your application can be submitted a maximum of three months before the start date for your job, which can be found on your CoS. Applications made outside of the UK usually take three weeks while applications inside the UK can take 8 weeks.

Waiting times can be substantially longer if the Home Office has a backlog or there are issues with your application. For that reason, it is always a good idea to leave plenty of time when you apply so you don’t have to delay your start date.

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Starting Your UK Employment with a Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa is a great opportunity to come to the UK and work in one of the nation’s many high-value sectors. If you follow the top tips in this article, you will be able to check you are eligible, compile the right documentation, and submit the best possible application.

Regardless of how skilled you are at making a visa application, it is always advisable to consider working with an immigration lawyer or adviser. These experts can guide you through the application process and advise on the next steps should your application be rejected.

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