The Skilled Worker route is for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and non-EEA nationals who are sponsored to do a specific skilled job for a Home Office licensed sponsor. Formerly known as the Tier 2 (General) Visa, the Skilled Worker Visa is tailored for individuals offered a skilled job by a UK employer. This visa category aims to address skill shortages in the UK labour market by enabling employers to hire qualified professionals from overseas. The Skilled Worker Visa presents a compelling opportunity for skilled professionals worldwide to pursue their career aspirations in the United Kingdom. By understanding the eligibility criteria, application process, and associated rights and benefits, prospective applicants can navigate the visa journey with confidence. Whether you're an employer seeking to recruit international talent or an individual aspiring to work in the UK, the Skilled Worker Visa opens doors to a world of possibilities, fostering innovation, diversity, and economic growth in the UK workforce.
- Page Contents
- Free Immigration Advice
- Specialist Solicitors
- Skilled Worker Visa Applications
- New Changes to Skilled Worker Visa Route
- Key Features
- Processing Time
- Challenge Refusal
- Fees for Skilled Worker Visa
- Get a Quote
- Related Services
- FAQs
Dependent partners and children can apply on this route (with some exceptions for dependants of care workers and senior care workers).
The Immigration Rules on the skilled worker visa route changed on 4 April 2024 and then on 22 July 2025 to increase the minimum salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker route, with transitional arrangements put in place for workers already on the route.
Free Immigration Advice Online For Skilled Worker Visa UK
Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can provide one-off free immigration advice regarding your skilled worker visa application. Ask a question to our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice with our specialist skilled worker visa solicitors concerning your application for a skilled worker visa in the UK.
Specialist Skilled Worker Visa Solicitors in the UK
Our committed team of skilled worker visa solicitors possesses in-depth expertise in UK immigration law, with a specific focus on the Skilled Worker Visa pathway. We are well-versed in the nuances of securing this visa and remain up-to-date with the latest regulations and prerequisites, ensuring precise guidance for our clients. Our immigration solicitors specialise in Skilled Worker Visa applications, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a demonstrated history of effectively managing such cases. We provide prompt, accessible, and reliable fixed-fee immigration advice and legal assistance customised to meet the requirements of your UK Skilled Worker Visa application.
Premium Solicitors are specialist solicitors for skilled worker visa applications. The high quality of services provided by our best team of fully qualified and experienced skilled worker visa solicitors is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients.
Applications Under The Skilled Worker Visa Category
Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly and reliable fixed-fee legal services for the following applications for skilled workers:
- Skilled Worker Visa UK as a New Entrant
- Entry Clearance For Skilled Worker Visa UK
- Switching To a Skilled Worker Visa
- Switching From a Student Visa To a Skilled Worker Visa UK
- Extension Of Skilled Worker Visa UK
- Updating Skilled Worker Visa UK
- ILR as A Skilled Worker
- Skilled Worker Dependants
- Administrative Review Of UK Visa Refusal
Key Changes to the Skilled Worker Visa Rules – Effective from 22 July 2025
Following the Home Office UKVI’s Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules published on 1 July 2025, significant amendments have been introduced to the Skilled Worker visa route. The key changes are summarised below:
1. Increase in Job Skill Level Requirement
The required skill level for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route is being raised from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6. New applicants must be sponsored for jobs at RQF Level 6 or above.
However, transitional arrangements will allow applicants to be sponsored for jobs below RQF Level 6 if:
- They are already in the Skilled Worker route or have a pending successful application before the changes take effect; or
- The job is listed on the Immigration Salary List or the newly introduced Temporary Shortage List.
2. Increased Salary Thresholds
Standard salary thresholds are being increased across multiple levels:
| Previous Salary Threshold | New Salary Threshold |
| £38,700 | £41,700 |
| £34,830 | £37,500 |
| £30,960 | £33,400 |
| £29,000 | £31,300 |
| £26,100 | £28,200 |
3. Introduction of the Temporary Shortage List
A Temporary Shortage List has been introduced to replace the Immigration Salary List over time. Key features include:
- Only occupations below RQF Level 6 listed on this new list will qualify for sponsorship after 22 July 2025.
- The list is time-limited and conditional, with removal dates (generally end of 2026) already set, except for adult social care roles, which have separate arrangements.
- The Government retains discretion to bring forward the removal dates if compliance issues arise.
4. No Dependants for RQF Level 3–5 Jobs
From 22 July 2025:
- Skilled Workers sponsored for jobs at RQF Levels 3 to 5 (CoS assigned for initial skilled worker visa application on or after 22 July 2025) will not be allowed to bring dependants.
This restriction does not apply to:
- Workers sponsored at RQF Level 6 or above;
- Workers already in the Skilled Worker route prior to the changes;
- UK-born children or dependants for whom the Skilled Worker has sole parental responsibility, in line with existing care sector exemptions.
5. Closure of Overseas Applications for Care Workers
From 22 July 2025:
- Entry clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136) will be closed.
- These roles will no longer qualify for initial Skilled Worker visa applications from outside the UK.
6. New In-Country Switching Requirement for Care Workers
Applicants switching to care worker or senior care worker roles from within the UK must:
- Have been legally employed by their sponsoring provider for at least 3 months before their Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned.
- The previous requirement for employers to seek candidates from the Skilled Worker pool has been removed.
- Switching from other visa categories will remain possible until 22 July 2028, after which these roles will be removed from both the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List.
7. Clarification on Occupation Code 6131 (Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants)
To address potential misuse, the Home Office has clarified that occupation code 6131 only applies to roles within clinical settings where registered nurse positions also exist.
8. Transitional Provisions for Existing Skilled Workers
Workers already in the Skilled Worker route before 22 July 2025 (CoS must have been assigned before 22 July 2025)—or those with pending applications that are later granted—will benefit from transitional protections:
- They may continue to be sponsored in jobs below RQF Level 6.
- These protections also apply to those switching into the route before the final cut-off date of 22 July 2028.
What Are the Key Features of the Skilled Worker Visa UK?
The key features of the skilled worker visa UK include the following:
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer with a valid sponsor license.
- The job offer must meet specific skills, salary, and language proficiency requirements.
- Individuals must score the requisite number of points based on various factors, including job offer, skill level, English language proficiency, and salary.
Sponsorship
- Employers seeking to hire skilled workers from outside the UK are required to hold a sponsor license issued by the Home Office.
- Sponsors play a crucial role in the visa application process, issuing Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to prospective employees and ensuring compliance with immigration regulations.
If your prospective employer does not hold a sponsor licence, our specialist team of solicitors for sponsor licence can provide priority service to your prospective employer with an application for skilled worker sponsor licence to get decision on the sponsor licence application within 10 working days.
Points-Based Criteria
The Skilled Worker visa falls under the Point-Based System (PBS) visa category, where points are allocated based on several factors. These include possessing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), the skill level of the job, proficiency in English, meeting the required salary threshold, holding a PhD-level qualification, working in a shortage occupation, and being a new entrant to the workforce. To be eligible to apply for the Skilled Worker visa, a total of 70 points is necessary. Among these, 50 points are obtained from mandatory non-tradable criteria, while the remaining 20 points can be acquired through tradable factors.
Application Process
- Prospective applicants must submit their visa application online, providing relevant documentation and personal details.
- Upon successful submission, applicants may need to attend a biometric appointment at a designated visa application centre.
- The processing time for a Skilled Worker Visa application typically varies depending on the type of service you use. An application submitted through the standard service can take a few weeks. An application submitted through Priority Service is typically decided within five working days, and an application submitted through Super Priority Service is usually decided within 24 hours.
Rights and Benefits
- The Skilled Worker Visa holders are entitled to work in the UK for the sponsoring employer in the specified role.
- Dependent family members, including spouses/partners and children, can accompany the primary visa holder and may be eligible to work or study in the UK, subject to certain conditions.
Pathway to Settlement
- The Skilled Worker Visa provides a pathway to settlement in the UK, with individuals eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years of continuous residence.
- ILR grants individuals the right to live and work in the UK indefinitely, paving the way for British citizenship, if desired.
Processing Time for Skilled Worker Visa
The processing time for the skilled worker visa application varies depending on the type of service you use:
Standard Service: An out-of-country application through standard service takes up to 3 weeks, and an in-country application through standard service takes up to 8 weeks.
Priority Service: An application for a skilled worker visa submitted through Priority Service takes up to 5 working days.
Super Priority Service: An application for a skilled worker visa submitted through Super Priority Service is normally decided within 24 hours.
UKVI Fees for Skilled Worker Visa
The fees for a skilled worker visa vary depending on whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.
Skilled Worker Visa Fees From Outside The UK
If you're submitting your skilled worker visa application from outside the UK, the standard fee varies depending on the duration of your stay in the UK:
- For stays up to 3 years, the fee is £769 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
- For stays exceeding 3 years, the fee is £1,519 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
Skilled Worker Visa Fees From Inside The UK
If you're applying for a skilled worker visa from within the UK to switch, extend or update your skilled worker visa, the standard fee also depends on the duration of your intended stay:
- For stays up to 3 years, the fee is £885 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
- For stays exceeding 3 years, the fee is £1,751 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
Skilled Worker Visa Fees For Jobs On The Immigration Salary List
Individuals whose occupations are listed on the immigration salary list are eligible for reduced application fees for themselves and their families:
- The fee for each person applying is £590 for stays up to 3 years and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year
- For stays exceeding 3 years, the fee is £1,160 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
It's worth noting that the application fee remains the same whether you're applying from within or outside the UK.
Challenge Refusal of Skilled Worker Visa
If the Home Office UKVI refuses your application, you can challenge the refusal decision by requesting an Administrative Review of your refusal decision. Read More
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Other Related Services
The following are various other related services offered by our specialist team of UK immigration solicitors:
FAQs - Skilled Worker Visa UK
The following are various Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about a skilled worker visa:
The Skilled Worker Visa is a category within the UK immigration points-based system designed for individuals who have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer and meet specific eligibility criteria for skill level, salary, and English language proficiency.
Eligible applicants include individuals offered a skilled job by a UK employer with a valid sponsor license. Among other criteria, applicants must meet the required skill, salary, and language proficiency thresholds.
Essential requirements include having a job offer from a UK employer with a valid sponsor license, meeting the minimum skill and salary thresholds, demonstrating English language proficiency, and scoring the requisite points based on various factors.
A total of 70 points is required to be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa, with 50 points obtained from mandatory non-tradable criteria and the remaining 20 points from tradable factors.
Yes, applicants must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from their prospective UK employer, who must hold a sponsor license issued by the Home Office.
Yes, dependent family members, including spouses/partners and children, can accompany/join the primary visa holder and may be eligible to work or study, subject to certain conditions. However, the care workers and senior care workers who submitted their initial skilled worker visa application after 11 March 2024 are not permitted to sponsor their dependants under the skilled worker visa route.
Additionally, applicants applying for a skilled worker visa using a CoS assigned from 22 July 2025 can only bring dependents if the sponsorship is for an eligible job for which dependents are permitted.
Yes, holders of the Skilled Worker Visa can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after completing 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, which grants them the right to live and work in the UK indefinitely.
Yes, in many cases, individuals already in the UK under a different visa category may be able to switch to a Skilled Worker Visa, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and requirements.
The Skilled Worker visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. According to paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules, a “Skilled Worker” means a person who has, or had, permission under Appendix Skilled Worker, or as a Tier 2 (General) migrant under the rules in force before 1 December 2020.
Any time spent on a Tier 2 General visa counts towards the 5-year qualifying period for ILR. If you currently hold a Tier 2 General and want to extend or apply for ILR, you will submit your application as a Skilled Worker.
The relevant jobs for which a Skilled Worker visa is possible are those listed in the Appendix Skilled Occupations, Appendix Immigration Salary List, and Temporary Shortage List in Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules.
You must apply online.
How you apply depends on whether you’re:
- outside the UK and are coming to the UK
- inside the UK and extending your current visa
- inside the UK and switching from a different visa
You must apply to update your visa if you want to change your job or employer.
You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.
“Supplementary employment” means employment in a job (other than the job for which the person is being sponsored) which either:
- appears in the Appendix Immigration Salary List; or
- is in the same profession and at the same professional level as the job for which the person is being sponsored; or
- if the person has permission as a Skilled Worker, is in an eligible SOC 2020 occupation code listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations;
provided in all cases that:
- The person remains working for the sponsor in the job for which the Certificate of Sponsorship records the person is being sponsored (except where the other employment takes place during the 4-month period referred to in SW 18.1A of Appendix Skilled Worker, where that provision applies); and
- The other employment does not exceed 20 hours per week and takes place outside of the hours when the person is contracted to work for the sponsor in the job for which the person is being sponsored.
A Skilled Worker can apply for a second job that does not qualify as supplementary employment. This secondary job may involve more than 20 hours of work per week and may not be eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa. To pursue this second job, the individual will require a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and must apply for a variation of permission in addition to their existing CoS and permission for their primary job. This is necessary because the terms of their existing permission do not cover work in the second job.
However, they cannot seek further permission to remain solely for the purpose of the second job until they have commenced working for their initial sponsor. Subsequently, they must submit a new application, explicitly expressing their intention to modify their existing permission. The confirmation provided in this application should include the applicant's full name, date of birth, CoS reference number from the current permission, and confirmation of the expiry date of the current permission.
Upon approval of their secondary employment, the applicant's initial permission will be varied, and they will have two sponsors concurrently during the validity period of both CoS certificates. In cases where the applicant holds a biometric residence permit (BRP), arrangements will be made for a new BRP card to be issued. The revised BRP card should now indicate '2 CoS as Letter' where the CoS reference number is displayed, indicating the individual's secondary employment status.
Furthermore, the UKVI will update the applicant's approval letter to specify both primary and secondary sponsors and include the end dates of employment for each. The applicant will be informed that they must retain the approval letter alongside their BRP card as evidence of their right to work.
"Certificate of Sponsorship” means either:
- an electronic document, with a unique reference, issued by a sponsor using the Sponsorship Management System; or
- the record linked to a Sponsorship Reference Number, given by a sponsor to an applicant through an invitation to apply, using the “Sponsor a Worker” scheme operated by the Secretary of State,
that confirms the job details for which the sponsor is sponsoring the applicant.
“Skilled Worker” means a person who has or had permission to work as a Skilled Worker under Appendix Skilled Worker or as a Tier 2 (General) migrant under the rules in force before 1 December 2020.
