Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker visa is the main immigration route for migrants who wish to work in the UK.
Overview
The Skilled Worker visa is the main work route under the Points Based Immigration System. It was introduced on 1 December 2020 and has replaced a visa previously known as Tier 2 (General).
The Skilled Worker visa is a sponsored visa. Your visa can be sponsored for the length of your employment, up to 5 years. You can extend it as many times as you like, but after 5 years you may be eligible to apply to settle permanently in the UK.
You can check the GOV visa page for a brief Skilled Worker overview and about how much it costs.
Eligibility criteria
The Skilled Worker visa is a points-based visa. To be eligible, you must score a minimum of 70 points in total (50 points toward mandatory or 'non-tradeable' criteria and 20 points toward 'tradeable' criteria).
Mandatory points requirements
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must obtain 70 points (50 mandatory points and 20 tradeable points). You must also meet other mandatory requirements.
You must have a qualifying job that is sponsored by an employer with a Skilled Worker licence. The employer will issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for you to use in your visa application.
Job at an appropriate skill level (20 points)
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You must be being sponsored for a job at, or above, the minimum skill level. This is described as Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3, which equates to an A-level qualification in the UK.
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You must be sponsored for a job in an eligible occupation code as listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules. Your sponsor must choose an appropriate occupation code
You must demonstrate that you have an English language level of at least B1 or higher. You can evidence these skills by meeting one of the requirements listed in Appendix English language.
Tradeable points requirements
In addition to scoring 50 points for the above criteria, you must also score 20 'tradeable' points based on your salary and other criteria if necessary and applicable (for example, relevant academic qualifications you hold or because you are a ‘new entrant' to the UK’s labour market).
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes are assigned to each role that can be sponsored under the Skilled Worker route.
For applicants who are sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa for the first time on or after 04 April 2024:
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Your salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £38,700 per year and the ‘going rate’ for the job’s SOC code. |
20 points |
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You have a PHD in a subject relevant to the job (the sponsor must provide a “credible explanation” as to how it is relevant) and your salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £34,830 per year and 90% of the going rate for the SOC code. |
20 points |
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You have a PHD in STEM subject relevant to the job and the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £30,960 per year and 80% of the going rate for the SOC code. |
20 points |
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The job is in the Immigration Salary List and your salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £30,960 per year and 80% of the going rate for SOC code. |
20 points |
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You are a new entrant* to the labour market and your salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £30,960 per year 70% of the going rate for SOC code. |
20 points |
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Your job is in a listed health or education occupation and your salary equals or exceeds both £23,200 per year and the going rate for SOC code. |
20 points |
*Please see more information under the 'Who is a "new entrant'' section
There are several ways to meet the definition of 'new entrant' one of which is on the basis of recent graduate level study. To qualify, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- you are under the age of 26 on the date of application
- your most recent visa was a Student visa, your Student visa is still valid or it expired less than 2 years before the date of application, you were sponsored to study a UK bachelor's/UK master's/UK PhD or other doctoral qualification/PGCE/PGDE
- your most recent visa was a Graduate route visa and it is still valid or it expired less than 2 years before the date of application
- the job is a postdoctoral position under specific occupation codes (see Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 12.2 (b))
- you are working towards a recognised professional qualification in a UK-regulated profession (as listed on the CPQ website)
- you are working towards full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body for the job you are being sponsored for
Applicants can be considered new entrants for a maximum of 4 years. This means that if you are applying under the Skilled Worker route for more than 4 years, or if granting the application would mean you would have more than 4 years’ permission in total (whether continuous or not) as a Tier 2 migrant and/or as a Skilled Worker, you cannot score tradeable points as a new entrant. You will need to score tradeable points in another way.
Other requirements
If you are applying in the UK and have been living here with a valid visa for at least 12 continuous months, you do not need to provide evidence of your finances/maintenance. Additionally, if your employer can confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will cover your living costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1270, then you do not need to provide evidence of your finances/maintenance. You must check this with your employer.
If you do not meet either of the above provisions, you must show evidence that you have held at least £1270 in your own name for at least 28 days ending no more than 31 days before the date you apply. The funds must have been held in your own name and cannot be in your parent's name.
The job and vacancy must be genuine, and the Home Office may check this. The Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker explains that the UKVI caseworker assessing your application must not have reasonable grounds to believe that the job "does not exist, or is a sham, or has been created mainly so the applicant can apply [under the Skilled Worker route]" and "whether the sponsor has shown a genuine need for the job as described".
You must also be genuinely intending to undertake the role as described on your certificate of sponsorship, and be capable of said role. This is assessed by a caseworker when your application is under review.
If you are a Student switching to the Skilled worker route within the UK, your employer will not be liable for the Immigration Skills Charge.
If you are applying from outside the UK, you'll need to provide a criminal record certificate for certain jobs.
If you've lived in more than one country, you'll need to provide a certificate from each country you've stayed in for 12 months or more since you were 18 years old.
You may need to obtain Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance as part of a Skilled Worker route application. For further details about whether you will require ATAS, speak to your employer.
If you have had your living costs and tuition fees paid by a government and/or an international scholarship agency within the 12 months prior to your Skilled Worker route application, you must provider a consent letter. This letter must be from your financial sponsor and it must state that they consent to your application under the Skilled Worker route.
When to apply
If you hold a Student visa for your programme of studies and you plan to apply for a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, you need to pay attention to your timeline for submitting the application.
The options for when you are able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK are mainly based on the type of study you are undertaking:
If you are studying a UK bachelor's/UK master's/PGCE/PGDE
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You can apply once their course of study is complete
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You can apply if the start date on your CoS is after your programme completion date
If you are studying a PhD
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You can apply once their course of study is complete
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You can apply if the start date of the CoS is no earlier than 24 months after the start date of your PhD programme
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You can apply if the start date on your CoS is after your PhD completion date
The absolute deadline for applying is the expiry date of your current permission.
If you are plan to apply for a Skilled Worker visa from outside the UK, you can apply as soon as you have received your job offer, you meet the requirements, and you have received your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer.
Further information
We do not provide a checking service for Skilled route applications. You’ll find full information about Skilled route by reading the resources listed on this page. However, if there is anything you do not understand about this information, we are happy to answer general enquiries.
The University does not endorse or recommend any specific firm/adviser or the service(s) they offer. You should make direct contact and satisfy yourself with regard to the quality of firms/advisers before requesting legal advice.
Most regulated advisers will charge a fee for services, but you should be told about costs from the outset.
You can find further information about the Skilled worker route from the following sources:
Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker
Gov UK: Guidance for applicants
UKCISA: Skilled Worker information
Skilled Worker visa information for University staff members sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa (only sponsored workers at the University may use the Staff Immigration Service)