How to apply for a UK skilled worker Visa

The UK Skilled worker visa replaced the Tier 2 visa, allowing a person seeking to work in the UK to stay to do an eligible job with an employer. 

To apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you must follow a series of steps and meet specific eligibility criteria. Below is a detailed guide:

Check Eligibility

Ensure you meet the following requirements:

·       You must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer with a valid Sponsor Licence approved by the Home Office.

·       The job must be at a required skill level (RQF level 3 or above, equivalent to A level).

·       The job must meet the minimum salary requirements. Usually, this is at least £38,700 per year. You must be paid at least £30,960 per year if you are being sponsored for a job on the immigration salary list

·       English Language: You must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English at least at B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

·       Get a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Your employer needs to provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship. This document includes a reference number that you will need for your visa application.

Documents to provide

You will need to prepare the following documents:

·       Certificate of Sponsorship reference number.

·       Proof of your knowledge of English.

·       A valid passport or other documents that show your identity and nationality.

·       Job title and annual salary.

·       Job’s occupation code.

·       Name of your employer and their Sponsor Licence number.

·       Evidence of personal savings (if required).

·       Tuberculosis test results (if from a listed country).

Apply Online

Apply for the visa online on the UK government website. The application process includes:

·       Filling out the application form.

·       Paying the visa fee (the fee varies depending on your circumstances and the length of your stay).

·       Paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for access to the NHS.

How long can you stay in the UK?

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 employers.

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. 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.

Fees and Costs

·       The visa fee is generally between £719 to £1,639 depending on your situation. £719 if you are applying for a visa for up to 3 years and £1,420 for more than 3 years. 

·       If you are extending your visa, the fees will be  £827 to £1,639 per person

·       Immigration Health Surcharge is usually £1035 per year of your stay.

·       support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

·       Additional costs might include translation of documents and attending a visa application centre if needed.

Update your visa if you change job or employer

You’ll need to apply to update your Skilled Worker work visa if:

·       You want to change your job and your new job is with a different employer

·       your job changes to a different occupation code, and you’re not in a graduate training programme

·       You leave a job that’s on the immigration salary list for a job that is not on the list

You do not need to apply again if you stay in the same job, but your job is taken off the immigration salary list.

If you’ll be doing a different job for your current employer, you only need to apply to update your visa if your new job is in a different occupation code.