The Skilled Worker visa is the most common path for international professionals to work in the UK. This visa requires a job offer from an approved UK employer and meeting strict salary and skill standards.
Because the process is so detailed, even a small error could impact your career plans. That’s where we come in. We ensure your application is flawless. We’ll partner with you and your employer to get every detail right, giving you a smooth and certain journey to your new job.
The Skilled Worker visa is the main way for international professionals to work in the UK. It was created in late 2020 to replace the old Tier 2 visa. This new visa is more flexible and helps UK employers sponsor a wider variety of jobs, making the UK a more attractive place for talented people from around the world.
The most important part of this visa is that a licensed UK employer must sponsor you for a specific, eligible job.
Note for Current Visa Holders: If you already have a Skilled Worker visa that was granted before this date, you will generally follow the previous rules when you Mandatory Points (50 Points Total)
The team at Ashbridge Solicitors will support you through your specific UK visa process, ensuring you are clear on the progress from start to finish
You need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer who has a valid sponsor license. This employer will give you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is an electronic document with a unique reference number.
After getting the 50 mandatory points, you must score an additional 20 points from your salary. The more you earn, the more points you get. If your salary is below the general threshold, you may still be able to earn these points if you have a relevant PhD or if your job is on a list of shortage occupations.
To get the final 20 points, your salary must meet a specific minimum amount. This amount is not the same for every job. It depends on your specific role, which has its own official “going rate” that you must earn at a minimum.
You can get the last 20 points you need based on your salary. The required amount you must earn depends on your specific situation. Here are the main options
If you have a PhD that is relevant to your job, your salary can be lower. It must be at least £37,500 per year and at least 90% of your job’s standard rate.
If your PhD is in a STEM subject (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Maths), your salary must be at least £33,400 per year and at least 80% of your job’s standard rate.
If your job is on the official list of shortage occupations in the UK, your salary must be at least £33,400 per year and at least 80% of your job’s standard rate.
If you are a “new entrant” to the job market (for example, you are under 26 or a recent graduate), your salary can be at least £33,400 per year and at least 70% of your job’s standard rate.
If your job is in a listed health or education profession, your salary must be at least £31,300 per year and meet or be higher than the official national pay scale for that role.
Note for Current Visa Holders: If you already have a Skilled Worker visa that was granted before this date, you will generally follow the previous rules when you Mandatory Points (50 Points Total)
The team at Ashbridge Solicitors will support you through your specific UK visa process, ensuring you are clear on the progress from start to finish
You need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer who has a valid sponsor license. This employer will give you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is an electronic document with a unique reference number.
You can apply for a visa for up to 5 years at a time. Before your visa expires, you can apply to extend it as many times as you need, provided you still meet the requirements. After 5 continuous years in the UK on this visa, you can usually apply for permanent settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
No. The previous cap that limited the number of Tier 2 visas has been removed, so there is no limit on how many people can come to the UK on the Skilled Worker route.
The application is made online through the GOV.UK website. After submitting the form and paying the fees (visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge), you will be asked to book an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).
Standard processing times are approximately 3 weeks for applications made from outside the UK and 8 weeks for applications made from within the UK. Priority services are often available for an extra fee, which can significantly speed up the decision.
In most cases, yes. If you are in the UK on another valid visa (such as a Student visa), you can typically switch to the Skilled Worker route without having to leave the country. However, you cannot switch if you are in the UK as a visitor or on certain other short-term visas.
Not necessarily. While passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) like IELTS is one way to meet the requirement, you can also meet it if you
Are a national of a majority English-speaking country.
Have a degree that was taught in English.
Have a GCSE or A-Level in English that you took while in the UK. Doctors, dentists, nurses, and midwives who have already passed an English language assessment accepted by their professional body are also exempt.
If you want to move to a new job with a different employer, your new employer must also be a licensed sponsor. They will need to assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship, and you will need to apply for a new Skilled Worker visa before you can start the new role.
Yes, you are permitted to study, as long as it does not interfere with the job you are sponsored to do.
A visa can be refused for many reasons, such as failing to meet the salary threshold or the Home Office not believing you are a genuine applicant. There is no standard right of appeal for a refusal. Your main options are to apply for an Administrative Review to check if an error was made, or in some cases, to pursue a Judicial Review. Often, the most practical solution is to submit a fresh, corrected application.
Your employer must hold a valid Sponsor Licence. To sponsor you, they must assign a Certificate of Sponsorship verifying that the job is genuine, meets the required skill and salary levels, and that you are suitable for the role. They also have ongoing duties to monitor your employment and report any significant changes to the Home Office.
Yes, you are permitted to study, as long as it does not interfere with the job you are sponsored to do.
