UK : Skilled Worker

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:

• work for a UK employer that�s been approved by the Home Office
• have a �certificate of sponsorship� from your employer with information about the role you�ve been offered in the UK
• do a job that�s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid a minimum salary - how much depends on the type of work you do
  

The specific eligibility depends upon your job ! 

You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.

Knowledge of English

You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You�ll usually need to prove your knowledge of english. 

• proof of academic qualification in english, or 
• IELTS SELT Consortium test from outside UK
  

How long you can stay

Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You�ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as �indefinite leave to remain�). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you�re eligible.

How much it costs

When you apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you�ll need to have enough money to:

• pay the application fee - the standard fee ranges from �625 to �1,423 depending on your circumstances
• pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually �624 per year
• support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you�ll usually need to have at least �1,270 available (unless you�re exempt)
  

You�ll pay a lower application fee if your job is on the shortage occupation list.

You�ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply.

Application fees

If you�re applying from outside the UK, the standard fee depends on whether you�ll be in the UK for:

• up to 3 years - �625 per person
• more than 3 years - �1,235 per person
  

Healthcare surcharge

You�ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay - this is usually �624 per year

Money to support yourself

You must have at least �1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You�ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

• you�ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
• your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to �1,270
  

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they�re in the UK

What you can and cannot do

With a Skilled Worker visa you can:

• work in an eligible job
• study
• bring your partner and children with you as your �dependants�, if they�re eligible
• take on additional work in certain circumstances
• do voluntary work
• travel abroad and return to the UK
• apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as �indefinite leave to remain�) if you�ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements
  

You cannot:

• apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
• change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa
  

If your application is successful, you�ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Skilled Worker visa.