Overview

A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.

Eligibility

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

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.

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 5 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 employer.

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 5 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 long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 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:

  • 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
  • 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK

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 do not need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.

What you can and cannot do

With a Skilled Worker visa you can:

 

You cannot:

  • apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
  • change jobs or employer 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.

Australia

  • Student Visa Australia
  • Business Visa Australia
  • Migration Visa Australia

Canada

  • Student Visa Canada
  • Business Visa Canada
  • Migration Visa Canada

New Zealand

  • Student Visa New Zealand
  • Work Visa New Zealand
  • Business Visa New Zealand

USA

  • Student Visa USA
  • Business Visa USA
  • Migration Visa USA

UK

  • Student Visa UK
  • Business Visa UK
  • Migration Visa UK
  • Start Up/Innovator Visa

Rest of Europe

  • Student Visa
  • Business Visa
  • Migration Visa

Denmark

  • Migration Visa Denmark