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What is the Skilled Worker Visa?
The Skilled Worker visa is the main UK work route for non‑UK and non‑Irish nationals who have an eligible job offer from a Home Office approved sponsor. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) work visa and allows you to come to, or stay in, the UK to do an eligible job with a licensed employer. To qualify, you need a confirmed job offer, a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and you must meet the skill level, salary and English language requirements.
This page gives a concise overview of the Skilled Worker visa for applicants. For a more detailed guide, including visa duration, what you can and cannot do, and settlement, please see our Skilled Worker Visa (formerly Tier 2) page.
Who is Eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa?
Under the Skilled Worker points‑based system you need at least 70 points made up of mandatory and “tradeable” characteristics. In practice this means you must:
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Have a job offer from an approved sponsor for an eligible skilled role.
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Meet the English language requirement.
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Meet or exceed the applicable minimum salary or going rate for your occupation, taking into account any discounts for new entrants or certain Health and Care roles.
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Meet with the maintenance requirement.
| Characteristic | Mandatory / tradeable | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Offer of job from approved sponsor | Mandatory | 20 |
| Job at appropriate skill level (RQF 6 or above) | Mandatory | 20 |
| Speaks English to the required standard (B1) | Mandatory | 10 |
The Home Office regularly updates salary thresholds. For the latest figures, including the 2025 general salary threshold and going rates by occupation, see our detailed Skilled Worker Visa: 2025 Salary Thresholds guide.
| Characteristic (salary/other) | Mandatory / tradeable | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Salary at or above the general threshold (currently c. £38,700) or at least the full going rate for the SOC code (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 20 |
| Salary at a reduced level (for example “new entrant” rate or job on the Immigration Salary List), meeting the relevant discounted percentage of the going rate (typically 70%–90%), where permitted under the Rules | Tradeable | 20 |
| Salary at permitted discounted level plus relevant PhD qualification in a subject related to the job (non‑STEM) | Tradeable | 10 |
| Salary at permitted discounted level plus relevant PhD qualification in a STEM subject | Tradeable | 20 |
| Job in a shortage occupation as designated by the Migration Advisory Committee | Tradeable | 20 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job | Tradeable | 10 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | Tradeable | 20 |
Your role must be a genuine vacancy. This means the job is real, meets the required skill level and salary, and is not created mainly so you can come to or stay in the UK.
You must usually show that you have at least £1,270 in savings held for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of your visa application, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
For more detail on visa length, extensions, supplementary work, bringing dependants and travel, please see our full Skilled Worker Visa (formerly Tier 2) guide
How Can NA Law Solicitors Help with a Skilled Worker Visa Application?
At NA Law Solicitors, the immigration team prepares Skilled Worker visa applications to a high standard so that they meet current Home Office rules and policy. Services include:
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Assessing your eligibility under the latest Skilled Worker requirements, including skill level, salary and English language rules.
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Preparing a clear list of supporting documents and completing your online application.
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Liaising with your sponsor to ensure your Certificate of Sponsorship is accurate and compliant.
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Advising on dependants, visa extensions and the route to settlement under the Skilled Worker category.
For employers and HR teams, we also advise on Skilled Worker sponsor licence applications, Certificates of Sponsorship, genuine vacancy assessments, licence renewals and ongoing sponsor compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The total cost depends on how long you are applying for, whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK, and whether your role attracts any fee reductions (for example, certain health or shortage roles). In addition to the application fee, you will usually need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for each year of your visa and budget for biometric enrolment and document translation costs where relevant
Standard processing for most Skilled Worker applications is usually several weeks from your biometric appointment or online identity verification, but times can vary depending on where you apply and Home Office capacity. Priority and super priority services may be available for an additional fee, allowing a faster decision in some cases.
You can usually extend your Skilled Worker visa if you remain with an approved sponsor in an eligible role and continue to meet the salary and eligibility requirements. Time spent on a Skilled Worker visa can count towards the five‑year residence needed to apply for indefinite leave to remain, subject to meeting all settlement requirements.
Your partner and dependent children may be able to apply to join or stay with you in the UK as your dependants, provided they meet the relationship and financial requirements. Each dependant must submit a separate application and pay their own visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
Most applicants need to provide their Certificate of Sponsorship number, a valid passport, details of their job (including occupation code and salary) and evidence of English language ability. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need financial evidence, TB test results, criminal record certificates for certain roles, and qualification evidence, especially where relying on discounted salary options.
Individuals on the Skilled Worker visa are permitted to undertake unpaid voluntary work. They are also able to perform supplementary work of up to 20 hours per week provided that the work is either:
- in the same occupation code and at the same level as the job for which the visa was obtained; or
- the profession is on the shortage occupation list found in Immigration Rules Appendix K.
However, applicants are not permitted to apply for a second job until they have started working for their first sponsor.
You must usually make a new Skilled Worker application if you change employer, change occupation code or take on a role that is not covered by your current Certificate of Sponsorship.
Legal advice is particularly helpful if your salary is close to the minimum threshold, your immigration history is complex, or you are changing employer or role.
NA Law Solicitors can review your Certificate of Sponsorship, assess your eligibility and prepare your application to align with the latest Skilled Worker rules and policy.