Skilled worker visa

Overview

The Skilled Worker visa is the main work visa route for employers to recruit international workers in the UK. It was introduced in January 2021 as part of the new Points Based Immigration System, replacing Tier 2.

To apply:

• you must be sponsored by an employer who holds a UKVI sponsor licence;
• the job must be an ‘eligible skilled’ occupation;
• the job must be paid at an appropriate salary (which is dependent on the role and person applying).

You can:

• Switch to the Skilled Worker visa from a Student visa or Graduate Route visa; or
• Apply from outside of the UK.
• Have dependents - they can apply at the same time or join you later.
• Extend the visa and it can lead to settlement after 5 years.

You can’t switch into this route if you’re in the UK studying as a visitor or on a Short Term Student visa.

For some specialised areas of skilled work there are separate categories of skilled workers. For the following roles, see the Home Office guides:

• Health and care worker visa
• Minister of Religion visa
• Sportsperson visa

Summary of key changes to Skilled Worker visa from 4th April 2024

Based on GOV.UK: Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules 14th March 2024

Increase in the minimum salary requirements for applications where a Certificate of Sponsorship is issued after 4 April 2024

• Option A (experienced workers/most applications ) from £26,200 to £38,700
• Option B PHD £23,800 to £34,830 (10% salary discount)
• Option C STEM PHD £20,960 to £30,960 (20% salary discount)
• Option D- Shortage occupation/Immigration Salary list £20,960 to £30,960 (20% salary discount will be removed)
• Option E (New entrants) £20,960 to £30,960
• Option F (Health and Social care visas) £26,200 to £29,000

Increase in the going rates for individual job SOC codes in line with median (50th percentile) salary rate for a specific role from the current 25th percentile

This means a significant uplift for all jobs which do not rely on national pay scales (NHS, Teachers). These rates will be set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupation from 4 April 2024. 

Some roles have been removed from the SOC code list as they are no longer deemed to meet RQF level 3 which is the minimum skill level for skilled workers. The coding tool will be SOC 2020 instead of SOC 2010.

Applicants in the Health and Social Care route NHS workers will have some protection from the salary increases and increases will be in line with 25th percentile not the median rate for a role. These rates will be set out  in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupation from 4 April 2024

There are transitional arrangements for those who are currently on a Skilled Worker visa which will apply until 3 April 2030. 

Existing skilled worker visa holders who are extending their visa or changing employer will be partially protected from the higher salary increases. They will need to meet the SOC 2020 going rate in line with the 25th percentile uplift not the median rate. These rates will be set out in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupation from 4 April 2024. 

Additional options F-J in the tradeable points table will be created for these applicants.

• Option F: (experienced workers/most applications)from £26,200 to £29,000. 
• Option G (relevant PhD): from £23,800 to £26,100. 
• Option H (relevant STEM PhD): from £20,960 to £23,200. 
• Option I (shortage occupation/Immigration Salary List): from £20,960 to £23,200. 
• Option J (new entrants): from £20,960 to £23,200.

Removal of the Shortage Occupation List and replacing it with an Immigration Salary List

The number of occupations deemed to be in shortage has been significantly reduced and there will no longer be a 20% salary discount applied.

Relaxing the supplementary work permission rules

Skilled workers assigned sponsorship after 4 April 2024 will be able to undertake 20 hours supplementary work in any role that would meet the skill level for visa sponsorship and not just in the same profession or shortage occupation, which is the current rule.

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Obtaining points

The Skilled Worker Visa is a points-based visa. To apply, you must have a minimum of 70 points, 50 are mandatory and the remaining 20 are ‘tradeable’.

Tradeable points

• Offer of a job by an approved sponsor: 20 points
• Job at an appropriate skill level: 20 points
• English language skills at level B1 (intermediate): 10 points

Tradeable points: new salary thresholds from 4 April 2024

20 points are required from any of following options:

A (20 points)    

Salary equals or exceeds both:

• £38,700 per year ; and
• The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile) 
• Min £15.88 per hour

B (20 points)    

PhD in a subject relevant to the job and salary equals or exceeds both:

• £34,830 per year and
• 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile) 
• Min £15.88 per hour

C (20 points)    

PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and salary equals or exceeds both:

• £30,960 per year and
• 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code ( 50th percentile)
• Min £15.88 per hour

D (20 points)    

Job is on the Immigration Salary List and salary equals or exceeds both:

• £30,960 per year; 
• and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile)
• Min £15.88 per hour

(A going rate /salary discount is not applicable for this option)

E (20 points)    

Applicant is new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £30,960 per year; and
• 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile) 
• Min £15.88 per hour

The following options are for skilled worker visa holders who had CoS issued before 4 April 2024 when they are extending or changing employer:

F (20 points)

Salary equals or exceeds both:

• £29,000 per year ; and
• The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
• Min £11.90 per hours 

G (20 points)

PhD in a subject relevant to the job and salary equals or exceeds both:

• £26,100 per year and 
• 90% of the going rate for the  SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
• Min £11.90 per hour

H (20 points)

PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £23,200 per year ; and
• 80% of the going rate for SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
• Min £11.90 per hour

I (20 points)

Job is on the Immigration Salary List and salary equals or exceeds both:

• £23,200 per year ; and
• The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
• Min £11.90 per hour 

J (20 points)

Applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £23,200 per year and
• 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
• Min £11.90 per hour

(This option is for someone applying for a role in Health and Education Sector)

K (20 points)

Job is in a listed health or education occupation and salary equals or exceeds both of:         

• £23,200 per year and
• The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile) 
• If a national pay scale applies to the role, it needs to meet the appropriate rate eg NHS, teachers

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Eligibility requirements

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must satisfy the following criteria. (Click on the links for further information on what each requirement means and how to meet them)

• You are 18 or over
• You have a valid passport with at least 1 blank page
• You have provided a valid TB certificate (if required)
• You have a valid ATAS certificate if required 
• You meet the general security and suitability requirements and not be in breach of immigration laws
• Your job offer is a genuine vacancy
• Your job is eligible and meets the appropriate skill level (RQF level 3)
• You’ll be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both a general salary threshold and the ‘going rate' for the occupation
• You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job
• You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B1
• You have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds
• You have provided a criminal record certificate (if required) 
• You have consent from your financial sponsor to remain in the UK (if financially sponsored in the last 12 months by an official sponsor e.g. government or an International Scholarship agency).
• Your sponsor has paid any required Immigration Skills Charge (not applicable for most students switching in UK)

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Apply

When to apply

From 17 July 2023 if you want to switch from a student visa to skilled worker visa. new validity requirements apply.

You can apply up to 3 months before the start date of the job as stated on the certificate of sponsorship. However, the job must not start before your course completion date. UKVI will generally refer to the course end date as stated on your CAS.

If you complete your studies earlier than expected, you will need to show evidence that you have received your degree award.

It is no longer possible to start work before you have completed your degree with a skilled worker visa.

PhD students can now switch to skilled worker after 24 months of study.

The deadline for applying inside the UK is the expiry date on your current visa.

If you make a valid application by this date, your current permission is automatically extended until the outcome of your application is decided, even if your current visa expires before you get the new visa.

This is a general principle of UK immigration law known as Section 3C leave, which prevents you from becoming an overstayer whilst your application is pending.

Visa processing time is up to eight weeks unless you pay additional fees for a priority application.

Application process

How you access the application is different depending on whether you’re:

• Applying from overseas
• Extending your visa
• Switching from another visa route inside the UK

All applicants must:

Provide biometrics and complete the application form

When you apply you’ll be told whether you can register your biometrics using an ID App or if you must attend a visa application centre.

Pay the visa application fee

The application costs vary depending on where you’re applying from, the length of sponsorship and whether the job is in the shortage occupation list.

There are also reductions if you’re a national of certain EEA countries and if you’re applying for a Health and Care visa.

It’s quite common for employers to cover the visa application costs, so check if your employer offers this.

Check how much your visa will cost

Pay Immigration Healthcare Surcharge

You and any dependants will need to pay an upfront healthcare surcharge as part of your immigration application to allow you to access NHS healthcare.

From 6 February 2024 the rate is:

• £1035 per year for workers and adult dependants
• £776 per year for children

For more information, visit:

Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application

You do not need to pay the surcharge if you apply for the Health and Care Worker visa.

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Visa conditions