UK Skilled Worker Visa: Requirements, Fees and Application Gui
Finding clear answers about the UK Skilled Worker Visa can be harder than it should be. Official guidance is spread across several pages, and it is easy to lose track of how eligibility, sponsorship, salary thresholds, documents, fees and application steps fit together. One misunderstanding can delay an application or lead to a refusal.
Our website, https://ukvisacheck.xyz/, helps by bringing together the main details on eligibility, sponsorship, salary rules, required documents, fees and the application process, based on verified information from official sources. Our guide aims to help you understand each stage without unnecessary confusion. We are an independent information website, not a government service. We do not provide legal representation, guarantee approval or submit applications for anyone.
What Is the UK Skilled Worker Visa?
A Skilled Worker visa lets you come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. You need a confirmed job offer before applying. A visa can last up to five years at a time before you extend it, and you can study, travel abroad and return, and do certain unpaid voluntary work. You cannot claim most public funds, and you cannot change job or employer without updating your visa.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility Requirements
You must meet all of the following:
You can prove English through a UK school qualification, a UK degree, an English-taught degree verified by Ecctis, or an approved Secure English Language Test. Nationals of listed countries, such as Australia, Canada and the USA, are exempt. Different rules apply if you held this visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it.
Approved Employers and Certificate of Sponsorship
An approved employer, also called a sponsor, holds a Home Office licence to employ overseas workers. Check the official register of licensed sponsors before accepting an offer. An employer that is not licensed can apply, but this usually takes around eight weeks. Once you meet the requirements, your employer assigns a CoS. It is an electronic record with a reference number you need when applying, and you must apply within three months of receiving it. That is why a qualifying job offer comes first.
Eligible Jobs and Salary Requirements
Start with your job’s four-digit occupation code, which your employer can confirm. The CASCOT tool can help you search. Then check the code in the official table of eligible occupations. Codes marked “higher skilled” can apply; “medium skilled” codes qualify only in limited cases, such as jobs on the immigration salary list or temporary shortage list. Never treat a job as eligible without checking the current table.
For a UK Skilled Worker Visa, the minimum salary is the higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation code. If you earn £42,000 but the going rate is £45,000, you do not meet the standard requirement. Lower thresholds, including £33,400 in some cases, apply in specific situations, and healthcare and education roles follow national pay scales. Extensions and job changes may also have different minimums.
Required Documents
You will usually need:
Depending on your circumstances, you may also need bank statements showing £1,270 (unless your employer covers this on the CoS), proof of relationship for dependants, tuberculosis test results if you are from a listed country, a criminal record certificate for certain jobs, or an ATAS certificate. Documents not in English or Welsh need a certified translation.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Fees and Other Costs
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fee, applying from outside the UK (up to 3 years) | £819 |
| Fee, outside the UK (more than 3 years) | £1,618 |
| Fee, extending or switching inside the UK (up to 3 years) | £943 |
| Fee, inside the UK (more than 3 years) | £1,865 |
| Immigration salary list jobs (up to 3 / over 3 years) | £628 / £1,235 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Usually £1,035 per year |
| Personal savings | £1,270 for 28 days in a row |
Fees are paid per person, and dependants pay for the same length of stay as you. For example, a two-year visa for a job not on the salary list costs £819 plus £1,035 for each year of healthcare surcharge, so £2,889 in total. You must usually hold the savings for 28 days in a row, with day 28 within 31 days of applying, unless you have been in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months or your employer certifies your costs.
How to Apply
You can apply up to three months before the start date on your CoS. Some people already in the UK can extend, switch or update instead.
Processing Time and Visa Duration
After you apply, prove your identity and provide documents, GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within three weeks from outside the UK or eight weeks from inside it. Delays can happen if documents need verifying or an interview is needed, and a faster decision may be available for a fee. These are estimates, and approval is never guaranteed.
Can You Bring Your Family?
Partners and children may apply as dependants, but each person submits a separate application. A dependant can be your spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner (with evidence of two years together) or a child under 18. If you hold a UK Skilled Worker Visa in a medium-skilled or care worker role, tighter restrictions apply, with cut-off dates of 22 July 2025 and 11 March 2024 and some exceptions, such as children born in the UK. Dependants generally need £285 for a partner, £315 for one child and £200 for each additional child, and they cannot claim most public funds.
Visa Extension and Permanent Settlement
You can extend as many times as you continue to meet the requirements, and you must apply to update your visa if you change job or employer. GOV.UK currently says you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, subject to other requirements. However, the government has proposed “earned settlement”, with a ten-year baseline for most people. The September 2026 Statement of Changes (HC 584) did not introduce it, and the Home Secretary has said more detail will follow later in 2026. Anyone planning long-term settlement through a UK Skilled Worker Visa should check the latest official position before deciding.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
The UK Skilled Worker Visa can be a pathway to working and building a future in the UK, but it is important to understand the requirements before applying. Make sure your employer is approved, your job meets the eligibility rules, and your salary and documents satisfy the current requirements. Check the latest visa fees, processing times, and dependant rules on the official GOV.UK website, as immigration rules can change. Prepare your application carefully and provide accurate information to avoid unnecessary delays. We hope this guide helps you understand the UK Skilled Worker Visa process and take your next steps with greater confidence.
