The UK Skilled Worker visa
requirements, salary and sponsorship
What you actually need to qualify, how the salary rules work, how long a decision takes, and the practical way to find a UK employer that can sponsor you.
Pay rule
General threshold or occupation going rate, whichever is higher
Visa length
Up to 5 years, extendable
Family
Partner and children can join as dependants
What you need to qualify
Every Skilled Worker application is assembled from the same seven pieces. Missing one is the usual reason a promising conversation with an employer stalls.
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Sponsoring employer | A UK employer holding a valid sponsor licence, listed on the public register of licensed sponsors |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | A reference number issued by that employer for your specific role |
| Eligible occupation code | Your job must map to an occupation on the eligible list, at the required skill level |
| Salary threshold | The general threshold or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher |
| English language | Level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening, or an exempt nationality or degree |
| Financial evidence | Personal savings held for 28 days, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Paid up front for the full length of the visa, for you and each dependant |
Salary thresholds, occupation lists and fees are set by the Home Office and change regularly. Confirm the current figures for your occupation code before you apply.
The process, start to finish
- 1
Check that your occupation is eligible
Find the occupation code that genuinely matches the work you will do. The code decides the going rate salary you must be paid, so a wrong code sinks an otherwise strong application.
- 2
Target employers that already hold a sponsor licence
The register of licensed sponsors is public. Filtering your job search to companies already on it removes the single biggest reason applications are rejected, which is that the employer simply cannot sponsor.
- 3
Win the job offer
There is no self sponsored Skilled Worker route. Everything starts with a signed offer, so the search, the CV and the interviews come first and the paperwork comes second.
- 4
Receive your Certificate of Sponsorship
Once the offer is agreed, your employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship with your job title, occupation code, salary and start date. Check every field before you apply, corrections later are painful.
- 5
Apply online and prove your identity
Apply from outside the UK through the Home Office, pay the application fee and the health surcharge, then either scan your passport with the ID Check app or attend a visa application centre for biometrics.
- 6
Land, get your BRP or eVisa and start
Decisions typically arrive in a few weeks, faster with priority. On arrival, set up your eVisa or collect your BRP, get a National Insurance number and open a bank account in your first weeks.
How to find a UK employer who will sponsor you
Do this
- Filter your search to companies on the public register of licensed sponsors
- State your visa position in one clear line on the CV rather than leaving it unsaid
- Apply to sectors that sponsor at volume: health and care, tech, engineering, finance, academia
- Use a UK format CV, two pages, no photo, no date of birth, no marital status
- Get qualification comparability from UK ENIC before interviews if your degree is from outside the UK
- Ask about sponsorship politely at first stage, not at offer stage when it becomes a shock
Myths that cost people months
- You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa without a job offer
- Any UK employer can sponsor you if they want to
- The salary threshold is the same for every job
- The Skilled Worker visa leads to settlement automatically
- Switching employers means starting the whole process from zero
Skilled Worker visa: FAQ
What is the UK Skilled Worker visa?
The Skilled Worker visa is the main UK work route for people with a job offer from an employer that holds a Home Office sponsor licence. It is granted for up to five years, allows dependants, and can lead to settlement after five continuous years in the route.
Can I get a Skilled Worker visa without a job offer?
No. The visa is tied to a specific job with a specific licensed sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship. There is no self sponsored version, so the job search always comes before the visa application.
What salary do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?
You must be paid the higher of the general salary threshold and the going rate for your occupation code. Lower thresholds apply to some cases such as new entrants, PhD relevant roles and specific health and education occupations. Always check the going rate for your exact code, because it can be well above the general floor.
How long does a Skilled Worker visa take?
Standard decisions from outside the UK usually take around three weeks after biometrics, with priority services available for faster turnaround. Add time for the employer to assign the Certificate of Sponsorship before you can apply.
Can I bring my family on a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Your partner and children under eighteen can apply as dependants, and partners generally have unrestricted permission to work. You will need to meet financial requirements and pay the health surcharge for each person.
Can I change jobs on a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes, but you need a new Certificate of Sponsorship from the new employer and a change of employment application. You cannot simply move to a company that does not hold a sponsor licence.
Which UK employers sponsor visas?
Only employers on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors, which is published and searchable. The NHS and care sector, universities, engineering firms, banks and most large technology companies sponsor regularly, and thousands of small companies hold licences too.
Does the Skilled Worker visa lead to permanent residence?
It can. After five continuous years on the route, meeting the salary and residence requirements, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. Time on some other work routes may count towards it.
The visa is paperwork. The job offer is the hard part.
Every Skilled Worker visa begins with a UK employer saying yes, and that starts with a CV a British recruiter recognises. Fix the documents first, then go after licensed sponsors.
More reading: career coaching in the UK, coaching in London and the 2026 CV checklist.