Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker route replaced Tier 2 (General) on 1st December 2020. This page was last updated 16.08.23
This visa is for foreign nationals who have a job offer for a skilled job which cannot be fulfilled by a settled national, and requires the applicant to be sponsored to remain in the UK by that company.
Please note this information is intended as a guide only and you should always consult the relevant Home Office policy guidance as linked to below.
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa and be issued a certificate of sponsorship from any employer/prospective employer, an applicant must score a minimum of 70 points.
They must:
- have a current job or job offer from a UK employer which has been approved by the Home Office (20 points)
- do a job on the list of eligible occupations, at an appropriate skill level (RQF Level 3, at least A-Level or equivalent) (20 points)
- be paid a minimum salary which is dependent on the job (20 points)
- speak, read and write English and be able to prove knowledge of English on application at level B1 (10 points).
It is possible to ‘trade points’ by holding a relevant PhD, a job in a shortage occupation or by being a ‘new entrant’ to the labour market.
The visa can last for 5 years before needing to extend it. There is no limit on how many times the visa can be extended if the eligibility requirements are met. After 5 years it may be possible to apply to settle permanently in the UK.
The Home Office has a full guide to the Skilled Worker route for all types of applicant, including students and former students.
There are also separate routes for some specialised areas of skilled work: Health and Care Worker visa, Intra-company visas, Minister of Religion visa and Sportsperson visa.
If you are in the UK and plan to switch to the skilled worker route, you must apply before your current visa expires.
New rules which came into force on 17th July 2023 state that students cannot switch from Student Route to Skilled Worker until after they have completed their course. PhD students can still switch from a student visa to a Skilled Worker Visa, but not until they have completed a minimum of 24 months study.
Course completion is based on the date on your CAS Statement but if you have any resits, repeats or queries about course completion we recommend you contact the IISA team before switching to this visa.
It is possible to apply for the Skilled Worker visa from your home country, and there is no time limit for this. You may also still be considered a 'new entrant' and benefit from the lower minimum salary, but you and your employer will need to check the guidance on this carefully.
No evidence of maintenance (living costs in a bank account) will be required if you are applying in the UK and you have been living here with a valid for visa for at least 12 months before the date of application.
This is the same for any dependants who are applying in the UK and have also been in the UK for at least 12 months before the date of application .
If you are applying in your home country or you have not been in the UK to meet the provision above, you must show evidence that you have held at least £1270 in your own bank account for at least 28 days before applying.
You cannot use a parent or guardian's bank statement to support a skilled worker application.
If you have dependants and they are applying from overseas or do not meet the 12 month provision above, then you must show an additional:
- 285 for your partner,
- £315 for the first dependant child, and
- £200 each for any further dependants.
Money for your partner's application can be in a bank account in your name or in yours, but money held for a child's application can be in their name or either of their parents' names.
The employer can confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that they will cover your living costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1270. There is no requirement for an employer to do this. If the employer confirms this on the CoS then you will not need to show maintanance.
The employer can also choose to cover your dependants maintanance on the Cos.
In all cases your evidence must be no more than 31 days old on the date you apply.
If you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, you can normally start work as soon as you have applied. However, if your Tier 4 visa was granted before 1st October 2019 your working conditions are different and you will either need to wait for the Skilled Worker visa to be granted or start work on a temporary only basis.
Some employers will not allow you to start work until you know if your Skilled Worker visa is granted. Check with your employer when they expect you to start work.
If you studied in the UK on a Part Time Tier 4 or Student visa, then you must wait for your Skilled Worker permission to be granted before starting work. This is because the part time routes for study do not attract working rights.
UKCISA have produced a much more detailed guide on applying for the Skilled Worker Route. We advise you read through this guide, in addition to the Home Office Guidance linked on this page.
If you need further advice on your application, please either speak to your employer who may be able to assist or we can provide referal to a local solicitor or immigration adviser for you.