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Schengen Visa Ltd | Schengen Travel

UK Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa (which replaced Tier 2 General) lets non-UK nationals work in the UK for an approved employer that holds a sponsor licence. It is the UK’s main work route and, after five years, a path to settlement.

The core requirements

A Skilled Worker application rests on four building blocks:

  • A licensed sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship — your employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and assign you a CoS for the specific role.
  • An eligible occupation at the required skill level — the job must appear in the current Appendix Skilled Occupations and meet the skill threshold.
  • Salary — you must be paid at least the general threshold (currently £41,700 a year) or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher, with lower thresholds for certain applicants and roles.
  • English language — you must demonstrate English at CEFR level B1 across all four components.

You’ll also pay the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently £1,035 per year), which gives you access to the NHS for the duration of your visa.

Sub-routes and dependants

The Health and Care Worker sub-route offers reduced fees, exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge and a lower salary floor for eligible medical and care roles. Most Skilled Workers can bring a partner and children as dependants, who are generally free to work and study, though some care-sector codes restrict this.

The process

Once your employer assigns your CoS, you apply online, prove your identity, and submit supporting documents — passport, CoS reference, proof of English, and, where required, evidence of savings and qualifications. Decisions typically take around three weeks from outside the UK. The most common causes of delay are inconsistent documents and salary or occupation-code mismatches — exactly the points we check before submission.

How we help

We check your eligibility against the current rules, review the Certificate of Sponsorship and sponsor details, assemble the English-language and financial evidence, and manage the submission and any post-decision follow-up — including dependants and, later, your route to settlement.

Get advice

Book a 10-minute eligibility call and we’ll confirm whether your role and salary qualify.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer to apply for a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. You need a confirmed job with a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence, and that employer must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for an eligible occupation. Without a licensed sponsor and a valid CoS, you can’t apply on this route.
What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa?
The general threshold is currently £41,700 a year, or the ‘going rate’ for the specific occupation, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds apply to some applicants — for example new entrants, and roles on the Immigration Salary List or in health and care. Because the figures and occupation rates change, we check your specific job code against the current Appendix Skilled Occupations before you apply.
Can I bring my family on a Skilled Worker visa?
In most cases yes — your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants and can work or study in the UK. Some sub-routes, notably care workers sponsored from within certain codes, have restrictions on bringing dependants, so this is worth confirming for your exact role.
Does the Skilled Worker visa lead to settlement?
Yes. After five years of continuous residence on the route, and provided you still meet the salary and other requirements, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, which can lead to British citizenship a year later. Time on the Skilled Worker route can often be combined with time on certain other work routes.
How long does a Skilled Worker decision take?
Standard processing is usually around three weeks for applications from outside the UK and up to eight weeks inside the UK, though a priority service is often available for an extra fee. Applying with a complete, consistent file is the best way to avoid delays and requests for further information.
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