Skilled Worker visa

The Skilled Worker visa lets you come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) work visa. It is the route most people mean when they talk about getting a UK work visa with sponsorship.

You cannot apply without a confirmed job offer. The employer has to hold a sponsor licence from the Home Office, and it must give you a certificate of sponsorship for the role. If you are still looking for work, start with the list of employers that are allowed to sponsor, then apply for jobs with them.

GOV.UK sets out four core conditions. You need all of them:

• The employer is a UK employer approved by the Home Office.
• You have a certificate of sponsorship for the job.
• The job is on the list of eligible occupations.
• You are paid at least the minimum salary for that job.

You must also be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You usually prove this when you apply. Your employer must also follow UK minimum wage and working hours rules, and GOV.UK says an application will be refused if they do not.

The certificate of sponsorship is an electronic record with a reference number. You must apply within 3 months of receiving it. If you apply from outside the UK, you can apply no more than 3 months before the start date on the certificate.

Every eligible job has a four digit occupation code. Your employer should tell you yours. If you need to check it yourself, GOV.UK points to the CASCOT occupation coding tool, and it warns that not every job title is listed, so try similar titles.

Check that the job description matches your real duties, because similar jobs can carry different codes. GOV.UK gives an example: bricklayers, roofers and carpenters are eligible, but construction labourers are not.

Higher skilled jobs are eligible. Medium skilled jobs are eligible only if they are on the immigration salary list or the temporary shortage list. Prison officers (code 3314) are a special case for people extending or switching. If you work in care in England, the employer for care workers and senior care workers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission.

The general rule is a salary of at least £41,700 a year, or the going rate for your occupation code if that is higher. Going rates are set for each occupation code and published in a separate table, so look yours up before you accept an offer.

Some people can be paid less. The minimum can be lower when you are extending, updating your visa for a new job or employer, or switching to become a prison officer. GOV.UK also says that if you do not work in healthcare or education, you may qualify with a salary of at least £33,400 a year in some cases, and it links to a separate page that explains when you can be paid less. Healthcare and education jobs follow national pay scales instead.

The thresholds change from time to time, so always check the going rates table and the salary page on GOV.UK on the day you plan to apply.

The application fee depends on where you apply from and how long the visa lasts:

• From outside the UK: £819 for up to 3 years, or £1,618 for more than 3 years.
• From inside the UK, to extend, switch or update: £943 for up to 3 years, or £1,865 for more than 3 years.
• If your job is on the immigration salary list: £628 for up to 3 years, or £1,235 for more than 3 years, inside or outside the UK.

You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is usually £1,035 for each year of your visa. Your partner and children each pay the same fees for the same length of time, plus their own surcharge.

You must show that you have at least £1,270 in savings, held for 28 days in a row. You usually do not need to show this if you have already been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your employer certifies on your certificate of sponsorship that it will cover your costs for your first month, up to £1,270.

If you work in health or social care, check the Health and Care Worker visa. GOV.UK describes it as cheaper to apply for, and you do not pay the healthcare surcharge.

After you apply online, prove your identity and provide your documents, you usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you are outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you are inside the UK. You may be able to pay for a faster decision. You may also need an appointment to prove your identity, so allow extra time.

A visa can last up to 5 years before you must extend it. You can extend as many times as you like while you still meet the requirements. After 5 years in the UK you may be able to apply for settlement, also called indefinite leave to remain.

Your partner and children may be able to apply as your dependants if they meet the requirements. Each of them pays the application fee, the healthcare surcharge for each year, and has to show they can support themselves. Because dependants pay for the same length of time as you, the total cost for a family adds up quickly, so work it out before you commit.

On this visa you can work in your eligible job, study, travel abroad and return, and do unpaid voluntary work for specified organisations. You can take on extra work in certain circumstances.

You cannot apply for most public funds or the State Pension. You also cannot change jobs or employer without applying to update your visa first.

• Confirm you meet the requirements and have a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship.
• Choose the route that fits you: from outside the UK, extending, or switching from another visa.
• Apply online.
• Prove your identity and provide your documents. Book an appointment if you are asked to.
• Pay the application fee and the healthcare surcharge, and show your savings.
• Wait for the decision email, which explains your next steps.
• If you change job or employer later, apply to update your visa.