UK Work Route

Skilled Worker Visa guidance

The Skilled Worker Visa allows eligible applicants to work for an approved UK employer, bring family members and work toward settlement after five years.

Eligibility requirements

The Skilled Worker route replaces the former Tier 2 (General) work visa. Applicants must meet sponsor, job, salary, age and English-language requirements.

Work for an approved UK employer

Hold a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Work in an eligible occupation

Meet the required minimum salary

Have a confirmed job offer

Prove English at CEFR B1 level or above

Be at least 18 years old

Application process

The process differs depending on whether you apply from outside the UK or from within the UK. Identity checks also vary by nationality and passport type. Once the file is complete, many applications receive a decision within around 3 weeks.

Required documents

Valid passport or travel document

Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer

Evidence of English-language proficiency

Occupation code and employer licence number from the CoS

Additional documents depending on personal circumstances

Costs and fees

Government fees vary depending on length of stay, role type and circumstances. Applicants should plan for the visa application fee, Immigration Health Surcharge and maintenance funds.

Application fee commonly starts from GBP 719 and can rise for longer stays

Immigration Health Surcharge is usually charged per year

Maintenance funds are commonly required unless an exemption applies

Points system

Skilled Worker applicants must usually score 70 points in total by meeting mandatory and tradeable criteria linked to sponsorship, skill level, salary and English.

STEM means science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Extensions and dependants

A Skilled Worker Visa can usually be granted for 1 to 5 years. You may apply to extend it if you continue to meet the relevant role, occupation-code and employer conditions.

Continue in the job stated in the original application

Remain within the occupational code stated in the visa

Continue working for the same sponsor where required

Submit separate applications for spouse or children where needed

Change of job status

Some role changes require a visa update before the new work begins, especially where the employer, occupation code or shortage-list status changes.

Moving to a different employer

Taking a new role under a different occupation code

Leaving a job on the immigration salary list for a role outside the list

Changing occupation code while staying with the same employer

Additional work

You may be able to take limited additional work while keeping your main sponsored role. If the additional work exceeds the permitted limits, the visa may need to be updated.

Keep the main sponsored job

Work up to 20 hours a week in another eligible role where permitted

For more than 20 hours, obtain a new sponsorship letter from the second employer

Explain in the application that you want to amend the current permission

MetropolVisa guides applicants through eligibility review, evidence preparation and extension or change-of-employment planning.

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