Grow your career in the UK
Get expert help with your Skilled Worker visa. We’ll assist you in securing a job offer and starting your life
in the United Kingdom.
Your career begins with us
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.
Key Requirements for the Skilled Worker Visa
Based on official GOV.UK guidance, you must meet several core requirements to be eligible.
Your career begins with us
To be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa, you must meet these four main requirements
Confirmed Job Offer
You need a job offer from a UK employer that has an official license to sponsor foreign workers. Your employer will give you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is a unique reference number with all your job details.
Eligible Occupation
The job you're offered must be on the official list of eligible occupations. Each job has a specific code, and your role must match one of these codes. This list includes jobs in many fields, like healthcare and education.
Minimum Salary
You must be paid a minimum salary. This is usually the higher of either a general minimum amount or the specific 'going rate' for your type of job. There are some exceptions where a lower salary might be acceptable if you have a relevant PhD.
English Language Skills
You must be able to prove you can read, write, speak, and understand English. This can be done by passing a test or, in some cases, by showing you have a degree taught in English or are from a majority English-speaking country.
How the UK Skilled Worker Visa Works
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.
Important Update for 2025
Please be aware of significant changes that took effect on July 22, 2025
Higher Salary
The general minimum salary has increased from
£38,700 to £41,700.
Higher Skill Level
The skill level for most new jobs must now be at RQF Level
6 or higher (which is the same as a bachelor's degree).
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)
You must meet all of these criteria to get 50 points
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
Sponsorship (20 points)
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.
Eligible Job (20 points)
The job you've been offered must be at or above RQF Level 6. This means it's a graduate-level position.
Appealing a Visa Refusal
If you've received a negative decision on your application, our lawyers can help you challenge it and fight for your rights.
Tradeable Points (20 Points Required)
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.
Earning the Final 20 Points (Salary-Based)
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
Standard Route
Your salary must be at least £41,700 per year (as of July 22, 2025) and also meet or be higher than the standard rate for your specific job.
Relevant PhD
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.
Relevant STEM PhD
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.
Shortage Occupation
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.
New Entrant
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.
Health or Education Role
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General Information
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).
Yes, you can bring your partner (spouse or unmarried partner) and any children under 18 with you to the UK as your dependants.
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.
Application Process & Documents
A valid passport.
Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number from your employer.
Proof of your English language ability.
Evidence that you can support yourself financially when you arrive in the UK (unless your sponsor certifies this on your CoS).
A tuberculosis (TB) test result, if you are from a listed country.
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).
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.
Requirements & Conditions
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.
Refusals and Employer Duties
Secure Your UK Career Path
Contact us for a free assessment of your situation. Our specialists will explain how we can help you and your employer navigate the visa process successfully.
