Skilled Worker Visa
UK Skilled Worker Visa is a work visa that enables international workers with the necessary skills to work in the UK for licenced UK employers. The skilled worker visa replaced the Tier 2 visa at the end of 2020.
UK Skilled Worker Visa is a long-term work visa and will be initially granted for a period of up to five years (this will depend on the duration of your Certificate of Sponsorship). It is important to note that your visa is only valid as long as you remain in the same role with your sponsoring employer. If you wish to change roles or employer, you will need to apply for a new Skilled Worker visa.
Under the Skilled Worker route, it is possible to extend your visa before it expires, and after a qualifying period of five years, apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and British Citizenship one year later. If you are considering applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you will need to secure a job offer and ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, as outlined below.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility and Requirements
Skilled worker visa eligibility requirements are:
- Have a job offer from a UK employer
- Your employer must be on the list of licenced sponsors1 approved by the Home Office
- Your employer must have issued you with a valid “Certificate of Sponsorship”
- The job for which you are being employed must be on the list of eligible occupations2
- You must meet the skill level requirement: at least equivalent to RQF level 3
- You must meet the minimum salary requirements: £38,700 per year or your job’s going rate, whichever is higher
- You must meet the English language requirements
- You must have £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK
Minimum Salary Requirement 2024
The standard minimum salary for a Skilled Worker Visa is £38,700. This means your job must provide your with the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 or the “going rate” for your job, whichever is higher. For example, if the salary your employer offers you is £39,000 per year, but the annual going rate for your job listed on the list of eligible occupation is required to be paid £40,000, you do not meet the Skilled Worker Visa salary requirement.
English Language Requirement
You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.
Changing employers on a Skilled Worker Visa
If you hold a Skilled Worker visa and wish to change employers, you will need to apply for a new visa. This is the case if you wish to:
- Change employer
- Change occupation
- Change occupation code
- Change from occupation on the shortage occupation list for one not on the list
Assuming your current work visa is still valid, you will be able to apply from within the UK and continue living and working here until a decision is made by the Home Office.