Skilled Worker Visa: Requirements, Costs and Eligibility in 2026
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What is a Skilled Worker Visa?
- First, you need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer holding a valid Sponsor Licence
- Then, you can apply for Skilled Worker visa and move to the UK.
Is the Skilled Worker Visa right for you?
You're likely eligible if:
- You have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer holding a valid (A-rated) Sponsor Licence
- You are offered a role classified at RQF Level 6 or above. That means graduate-level positions such as engineers, IT specialists, teachers, healthcare managers, or analysts.
- You will earn at least £41,700 per year, or the specific "going rate" for your occupation (whichever is higher).
- Can demonstrate English language proficiency at CEFR B1 or above.
- Have access to maintenance funds to sustain yourself (unless your employer certifies this for you).
This route may not be right for you if:
- You don't yet have a confirmed job offer from a licensed UK sponsor
- You intend to be self-employed or work on a freelance basis.
- Are applying for a role below the required skill or salary threshold.
- Are hoping to sponsor yourself without an existing UK business and Sponsor Licence. (In that case, the Self-Sponsorship route may be a better fit.)
Skilled Worker Visa Requirements
Job Offer with Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
You will need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer holding a current sponsor licence, for a genuine vacancy.
20 points
Role at RQF Level 6 or above
Since 22 July 2025, the Home Office require that job offers must be for a role at RQF Level 6 or above (which means graduate level).
Roles at RQF Levels 3 to 5 qualify only where the occupation code appears on the Temporary Shortage List.
20 points
English language
First-time applicants (and hose switching in from another route on/after 8 January 2026) will need a CEFR B2 speaking/listening test pass.
Extensions and Settlement applications remain at B1 until 26 March 2027.
10 points
Salary requirement
For roles at RFQ Level 6 (i.e. graduate level) or above you will need to be earning a minimum of £41,700.This is worth 20 points. However, there are other ways to get these points via what’s called a “Trade” for certain other characteristics.
“Tradeable” characteristics
For each of the allowed characteristics, you will be assessed against two figures.
First, you must be paid at least the general threshold for that option. Second, you will need to earn at least the applicable percentage of the “going rate” published for the Occupation Code that your job offer falls into. These are listed in the Home Office’s Appendix Skilled Occupations.
The higher of the two figures always applies.
A role with a going rate above £41,700 must pay the going rate, not the general threshold.
Miscalculation against the wrong going-rate table is a more frequent cause of refusal than any other salary issue.
Tradeable options
If you have a relevant PhD in a non-STEM subject you will need to earn £37,500 or 90% of the going rate for your role.
If you have a relevant PhD in a STEM subject you will need to earn £33,400 or 80% of the going rate for your role.
If your role is on the Immigration Salary List, you will need to earn £33,400 or 100% of the going rate for your role.
If you are a new entrants to the labour market you will need to earn £33,400 or 70% of the going rate for your role.
If your role is on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) at RQF Levels 3 to 5 you will need to earn £25,000 or the percentage of the going rate for the role specified by the TSL.
There is a similar list for Health and Education roles on national pay scales which each have their own salary requirements.
Documents (from applicant)
You will need a valid passport or other travel document.
You will also need English language evidence at CEFR B2. A SELT from an approved provider, a degree taught in English with ENIC confirmation where obtained overseas, evidence of an exempting nationality, or evidence that English was proved at B1 or above in an earlier successful UK application.Bank statements or a certified equivalent showing £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days (or, you must show maintenance is certified by your sponsor).A tuberculosis test certificate where the applicant has been resident in a listed country.If your role falls in education, health or social care, you will need a criminal record certificate from every country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. If you are using one of the PhD-based Tradeable options, you will need Evidence of the qualification relied upon, with ENIC confirmation of equivalence.If you are applying as a New Entrant, you will need evidence supporting your status. i.e. proof of age, prior Student or Graduate permission, or the professional registration being worked towards.For any dependants, you will need marriage, civil partnership and birth certificates, plus evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship.
Documents (from Sponsor)
Your Sponsor will need to supply a record of the genuine vacancy, including the job description, the occupation code rationale and evidence of the recruitment exercise.
Your Sponsor must supply evidence that the salary meets both the general threshold and the going rate, calculated against the correct table.
Your Sponsor will need to share Right To Work check records and a compliant HR file for the sponsored worker (i.e. you!).
Your Sponsor will need to supply a contract of employment matching the terms recorded on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Check that the employer holds a valid A-rated Sponsor Licence, the role is at RQF Level 6 or above, and the salary meets £41,700 or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. Fixing a gap here is far cheaper than fixing a refusal later.
The employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) recording the job, occupation code, salary and start date. The employer pays the CoS fee and the Immigration Skills Charge. Neither can be passed to you. You must apply within 3 months of the CoS being assigned.
Collect your passport, CoS reference number, English language evidence at CEFR B1 or above, and proof of maintenance funds unless your employer certifies them. Some applicants also need a TB test certificate or a criminal record certificate, depending on country and job.
Complete the online application on GOV.UK from outside the UK, or switch from inside the UK if your current visa allows it. Visitors cannot switch. Pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge for the full length of the visa.
Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre. Upload every requested document in the correct format.
Standard processing is usually 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside. Priority services are available in many countries for an extra fee.
Once approved, you receive an eVisa. Travel to the UK within the validity of your entry vignette if one is issued, and start work on or after the start date on your CoS. You can take supplementary work of up to 20 hours a week in an eligible occupation. After 5 years you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
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Cost Breakdown
In our clients' own words.
“After our ILR rejection, AY&J pursued our case through Administrative Review and Judicial Review. The team was open, honest, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. They kept us informed at every stage, supported us throughout an extremely difficult journey and helped us regain confidence in our case.”
“I never thought I could find a visa route. I had been told by every solicitor under the sun that there just wasn’t an avenue for somebody who is self-employed such as myself as a small business owner—so I had given up on it for several years. Then I was connected to Yash and his crew at AY&J Solicitors, and here I am! We set up a UK Ltd company, successfully secured a sponsor licence, and sponsored my visa.”
Frequently Asked Questions
After you apply
Yes. After 5 years of continuous residence you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, as long as you still meet the salary requirement and have not spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period. British citizenship can follow 12 months after ILR.
After you apply
Yes, but your new employer must also hold a Sponsor Licence and assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship. You must apply to update your visa before you start the new job.
After you apply
Yes, if your role is at RQF Level 6 or above. Your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants and your partner can work. Workers in roles below RQF 6 who applied after 22 July 2025 cannot bring new dependants.
After you apply
Up to 5 years, matching the length of your sponsored job. You can extend it as many times as you need while you still meet the requirements.
Costs and timing
Usually 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside. Priority services can cut this to 5 working days, or the next working day with Super Priority where available.
Costs and timing
The employer. The Certificate of Sponsorship fee is £525 and the Immigration Skills Charge is £480 or £1,320 per year depending on the size of the sponsor. The law does not allow the employer to recover these from you.
Costs and timing
The visa fee starts at £819 for up to 3 years from outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per person per year. Fees are higher for longer visas and in-country applications. See the full fee table on this page.
Eligibility
Usually yes, if you are on a visa that allows switching, such as a Student, Graduate or another work visa. Visitors cannot switch and must apply from outside the UK.
Eligibility
CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You can prove it with an approved English test, a degree taught in English, or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country.
Eligibility
New applicants need a role at RQF Level 6 or above. That means graduate-level jobs such as engineers, IT specialists, teachers, healthcare managers and analysts. Some roles below RQF 6 still qualify if they are on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List.
Eligibility
The general threshold is £41,700 a year, or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds apply to some roles, such as Health and Care Worker jobs and roles on the Immigration Salary List.
Eligibility
Yes. You need a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a valid Sponsor Licence, and a Certificate of Sponsorship for that job. You cannot apply first and find a sponsor later.
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