Skilled Worker Visa

Your job

To qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa, you must:

Work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
Have a Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
Be paid a minimum salary - how much depends on the type of work you do
Have fully completed your course of study (for Student Visa Holders).

The specific eligibility depends on your job.

You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.

Knowledge of English

You must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply. Student Visa holders who have previously proven this will likely not need to prove this again.

If you’re not eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa

You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK.

How long you can stay

Your visa can last for up to five years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employers.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After five years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work, and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

How to apply

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

If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa.

You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to three months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

Three weeks, if you’re outside the UK
Eight weeks, if you’re inside the UK

If you need to go to an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK.

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

Pay the application fee
Pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay
Prove you have enough personal savings

Check how much money you’ll need.

If you work in public sector healthcare

If you’re a doctor or nurse, or you work in health or adult social care, check if you’re eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa instead. It’s cheaper to apply for, and you don't need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.

What you can and cannot do

With a Skilled Worker Visa you can:

Work in an eligible job
Study
Bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
Take on additional work in certain circumstances
Do voluntary work
Travel abroad and return to the UK
Apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for five years and meet the other eligibility requirements.

You cannot:

Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
Change jobs or employers unless you apply to update your visa

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Skilled Worker Visa.

You must meet all the following requirements to be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa:

Your job is eligible for this visa
You’ll be working for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
You’ll be paid at least the minimum salary rate for the type of work you’ll be doing.

The minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing is whichever is the highest of:

£41,700 per year
the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing.

The minimum salary may be lower if you’re extending your Skilled Worker Visa, updating it because you have a new job or employer, or switching to this visa to become a prison officer.

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

Check if your job is eligible

Before you can find out if your job is eligible, you need to know its four-digit occupation code.

If you already have a job offer, ask your employer for your occupation code.

Look up your job’s occupation code

If you do not know your code, you can search for your job in the CASCOT occupation coding tool.

Not every job title is included. If you cannot find your exact job title, try searching for similar jobs.

Make sure the job description matches what you’ll be doing. Some similar jobs have different codes, for example, in construction. Bricklayers, Roofers and Carpenters are eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa, but construction labourers are not.

Check if an occupation code is eligible for this visa

When you know your occupation code, view the table of eligible jobs to see if it’s included.

The table is very large. It’s sorted in order of occupation code, with the smallest numbers at the top. You may be able to use your web browser to search for your code on the page.

If your occupation code is listed as a ‘higher skilled’ job, you can apply for this visa.

If your occupation code is listed as ‘medium skilled’, you can apply for this visa if your job is:

on the immigration salary list
on the temporary shortage list
prison officer (code 3314) and you’re extending or switching to this visa

You can also apply if you’re extending your visa and you got your first certificate of sponsorship before 22 July 2025.

Salary requirements

You’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £41,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.

For example:

Your salary is £42,000 per year, but the annual going rate for the job you’ll be doing is £45,000. You do not meet the usual salary requirements for this visa.

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

If you work in healthcare or education

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales.

If you’re applying to extend or switch to this visa as a prison officer

You’ll be eligible if you’ll be paid at least the higher of either:

£31,300 (the current minimum salary per year)
the ‘lower going rate’ for prison officers

You’ll need to get your certificate of sponsorship on or before:

31 December 2026, if you're switching to this visa
31 December 2027, if you're extending your visa

When you can be paid less

If you do not meet the usual salary requirements, and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible if your salary is at least £33,400 per year.

Check when you can be paid less.

You may also be able to meet lower salary requirements if you’re:

Extending your Skilled Worker Visa
Updating your Skilled Worker Visa - for example if you have a new job or employer

When you apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:

Pay the application fee - the standard fee ranges from £610 to £1,408 depending on your circumstances
Pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £624 per year
Support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt.)

You’ll pay a lower application fee if your job is on the shortage occupation list.

You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply.

Example

You’re applying to come to the UK from Argentina for two years on a Skilled Worker Visa.

Your job is not in a shortage occupation so your visa will cost £610, plus £624 for each year of your stay for the healthcare surcharge. This means you’ll pay a total of £1,858 when you apply for your visa.

You’ll also need to prove you have £1,270 available to support yourself in the UK if your employer cannot cover these costs.

Application fees

If you’re applying from outside the UK, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:

Up to three years - £610 per person
More than three years - £1,220 per person

If you’re applying from inside the UK to extend, switch or update your visa, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:

Up to three years - £704 per person
More than three years - £1,408 per person

If your job is on the shortage occupation list

You and your family will pay a lower application fee if your job is on the shortage occupation list.

The fee for each person applying is:

£464 if you’re staying for up to three years
£928 if you’re staying for more than three years

The fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

There’s a different list of shortage occupations if you work in healthcare or education.

If you’re from an eligible country

Your application fee will be automatically reduced by £55 if you’re from one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey.

If your job is on the shortage occupation list, you’ll get this reduction as well as paying a lower fee.

This reduction only applies to your visa application. Your partner and children will still need to pay the full application fee.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay - this is usually £624 per year. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

You’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
Your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Your partner and children

Your partner and children can apply to join you or to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.

Your relationship

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

Your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
Your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
Your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove that either:

You’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
You’ve been living together in a relationship for at least two years when you apply

If your child is 16 or over

They must:

Live with you (unless they’re in full-time education at boarding school, college or university)
Not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children
Be financially supported by you

If your child lives with you, you’ll need to provide evidence of their address such as:

A bank statement
Credit card bills
Driving licence
NHS registration document
An official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

£285 for your partner
£315 for one child
£200 for each additional child

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee.

They’ll also need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity.

They’ll either:

Have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit
Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.

If they do need an appointment:

The visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application
They may have to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country)

How long does it take to get a decision?

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within three weeks.

They may be able to pay to get their visa faster or use other services depending on which country they’re in - check with the visa application centre.

Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)

Apply for your partner or child’s visa at the same time as you apply to extend or switch your own visa. This includes children who were born or have turned 18 during your stay.

If you cannot apply at the same time, your partner or child can apply to extend or switch their visas at a later date. This must be before their current visa expires.

Your partner or children cannot apply to switch to your Skilled Worker Visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK:

On a visit visa
On a Short-term Student Visa
On a Parent of a Child Student visa
On a Seasonal Worker Visa
On a domestic worker in a private household visa
On immigration bail
Because they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

How to apply

Your partner and children must apply online to either:

Extend or switch to your Skilled Worker Visa as your partner
Extend or switch to your Skilled Worker Visa as your child

They’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

How long does it take to get a decision?

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within eight weeks.

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Skilled Worker Visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Students in the UK on a Student visa cannot apply to switch visas to a new route until they have completed their courses.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Eligibility

You must meet the following requirements:

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot apply to switch to this visa if you’re currently in the UK:

On a Visit Visa
On a Short-term Student Visa
On a Parent of a Child Student Visa
On a Seasonal Worker Visa
On a domestic worker in a private household visa
On immigration bail
Because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

You must leave the UK and apply for a Skilled Worker Visa from abroad if you’re in one of these categories.

Fees

Each person applying will need to pay:

The visa application fee
The healthcare surcharge for each year of their stay - check how much you’ll have to pay

If you’ve been in the UK for less than one year, you’ll also need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

Give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit
Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to switch to a Skilled Worker Visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long does it take to get a decision?

You’ll usually get a decision within eight weeks of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer on account of (for example)::

Your supporting documents need to be verified
You need to attend an interview
Your personal circumstances, for example, if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.