The Skilled Worker Visa allows UK employers with a sponsor licence to recruit overseas nationals into eligible roles that meet the route’s skill, salary and sponsorship requirements. For sponsors, the key issues are choosing the correct occupation code, assigning the right Certificate of Sponsorship and keeping compliant HR records.
Previously known as the Tier 2 (General) work visa.
Reviewed by Morgan Smith Immigration · IAA-regulated UK immigration advisers · Last reviewed
TL;DR
A Skilled Worker Visa lets an overseas worker come to, or stay in, the UK to do an eligible sponsored job for a Home Office-approved employer. The main application fee starts from £819 for an outside-UK application of up to 3 years, the visa can last for up to 5 years before extension, and the typical decision time is 3 weeks from outside the UK or 8 weeks from inside the UK.
£819
Application fee (outside UK, up to 3 years)
Up to 5 years
Maximum stay before extension
3 weeks
Typical decision (outside UK)
What is the Skilled Worker Visa?
The Skilled Worker Visa is the main UK work route for overseas nationals who have been offered an eligible job by a Home Office-approved sponsor. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa and is used across many sectors where the role, salary and worker meet the Immigration Rules.
For employers, the route is sponsorship-led. The business must either already hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence or obtain one before sponsoring the worker, then assign a Certificate of Sponsorship that accurately reflects the role, salary, occupation code and work location.
The visa can be granted for up to 5 years before it needs to be extended. There is no fixed maximum number of extensions, provided the worker continues to meet the route requirements, and after 5 years they may be able to apply for settlement if all requirements are met.
Some roles have different salary rules, including healthcare or education jobs, Immigration Salary List roles, PhD-based discounts and transitional arrangements. Sponsors should check the specific occupation code and going rate before issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Eligibility Requirements
You must satisfy all three conditions to qualify for the Skilled Worker Visa.
📄
Sponsorship & CoS
The applicant must have a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-approved UK employer. The sponsor must assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship with the role details before the worker applies.
💼
Eligible Job & Salary
The role must be eligible under the Skilled Worker occupation tables and must meet the applicable salary threshold. The usual salary requirement is at least £41,700 per year or the going rate for the role, whichever is higher, unless a lower permitted threshold applies.
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English & Finances
The applicant must usually prove English language ability to the required level, currently B2 for most new applications. They must also usually show at least £1,270 in personal savings unless they are exempt or the sponsor certifies maintenance.
What You Can and Cannot Do
Your rights and restrictions while in the UK on a Skilled Worker Visa.
✓ You Can
- Work in the sponsored job for the Home Office-approved employer named on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Study in the UK alongside sponsored work, provided the study does not interfere with the sponsored role.
- Bring eligible dependants where the partner or children meet the dependant rules.
- Do additional paid work for up to 20 hours a week where the work meets the permitted conditions.
- Travel and return to the UK while the visa remains valid.
- Apply for settlement after 5 years if the settlement requirements are met.
✗ You Cannot
- Claim most public funds or the State Pension while on the route.
- Change employer freely without making a new or updated visa application where required.
- Start a different occupation code unless the change is permitted or the visa is updated.
- Work over 20 extra hours in a second job unless the visa is updated to cover both jobs.
- Treat the visa as automatic settlement; settlement is a separate application after the qualifying period.
- Ignore sponsor compliance duties; inaccurate role, salary or work-location information can put the worker and sponsor at risk.
Costs & Fees
Current fees as of 2026. Set by the Home Office — subject to change.
Fees set by the Home Office and subject to change. Last reviewed: July 2026.
| Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Outside UK, up to 3 years | £819 per person |
| Outside UK, over 3 years | £1,618 per person |
| Inside UK, up to 3 years | £943 per person |
| Inside UK, over 3 years | £1,865 per person |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | £1,035 per year |
| Savings requirement | £1,270 unless exempt |
| Skilled Worker CoS | £525 per worker |
How to Apply
Five steps from role check to visa decision.
Check the Role
Confirm the occupation code, skill level, salary threshold and going rate before offering sponsorship.
Assign the CoS
The licensed sponsor assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship with the worker’s role, salary, dates and sponsor details.
Prepare Evidence
The applicant prepares identity, CoS, English, maintenance, TB and any criminal record documents required for the role and country of application.
Submit Online
The applicant applies online, pays the visa fee and IHS, and proves identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or a biometric appointment.
Receive Your Decision
A decision is usually made within 3 weeks for applications outside the UK and 8 weeks for applications inside the UK.
Skilled Worker Salary Requirements in 2026
The minimum salary is the higher of the general threshold and the going rate for the occupation code
For most new Skilled Worker applications, the worker must be paid at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for their occupation code, whichever is higher. Each occupation code has its own going rate. The job must also pay at least the National Minimum Wage and follow UK working time rules, or the application will be refused.
| Situation | Minimum salary (2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard rule | Higher of £41,700 or the going rate |
| Immigration Salary List job | At least £33,400 and the standard going rate |
| New entrant (under 26, recent graduate or in professional training) | 70% of the going rate, at least £33,400 |
| Relevant STEM PhD | 80% of the going rate, at least £33,400 |
| Relevant non-STEM PhD | 90% of the going rate, at least £37,500 |
| Postdoctoral science or higher education role | 70% of the going rate, at least £33,400 |
The new entrant and postdoctoral discounts are time-limited: the worker’s total stay on them cannot exceed 4 years, including any time on a Graduate visa. Some healthcare and education roles follow national pay scales, and workers extending or updating an existing visa may meet lower thresholds. Check whether a role qualifies for the Immigration Salary List before setting the salary.
Which Jobs Qualify: Occupation Codes and Skill Levels
Every sponsored role must be matched to the right 4-digit occupation code
The occupation code decides whether the role is eligible and which going rate applies. Employers can search for it with the CASCOT occupation coding tool, but the code must match the duties the worker will actually perform, not just the job title. Similar jobs can sit in different codes: bricklayers, roofers and carpenters are eligible, while construction labourers are not.
- Higher skilled occupations are eligible for new Skilled Worker applications.
- Medium skilled occupations are eligible only if the job is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, or the worker is extending and received their first Certificate of Sponsorship before 22 July 2025.
- Care workers (6135) and senior care workers (6136) working in England must be employed by a provider registered with the Care Quality Commission.
An incorrect occupation code can lead to refusal, because the code sets both the skill level and the salary the worker must be paid.
English Language Requirement: B2 From 8 January 2026
New applicants must now show English at B2, an upper-intermediate level
New Skilled Worker applicants must prove English at level B2 on the CEFR scale. Workers who held the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it need B1 and do not have to prove it again. Workers switching from a Health and Care Worker visa also do not need new evidence, while those switching from any other visa need B2.
- A GCSE, A Level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, or Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, from a UK school course started under 18
- A degree taught in English and awarded by a UK institution
- A degree taught in English from outside the UK, confirmed by Ecctis
- A Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
Nationals of the majority English-speaking countries listed by the Home Office, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, do not need to prove their English.
Skilled Worker Timeline for Employers
How long each stage takes, from licence to visa decision
| Stage | Typical timescale |
|---|---|
| Sponsor licence application | Most decided in under 8 weeks; priority service £750 |
| Defined Certificate of Sponsorship (worker outside the UK) | Usually approved within one working day |
| Worker applies for the visa | Within 3 months of the CoS, and no more than 3 months before the start date |
| Visa decision | Usually 3 weeks outside the UK, 8 weeks inside the UK |
Workers already in the UK use undefined certificates from your annual allocation. Requests for extra undefined certificates are usually decided within 12 weeks, or within 5 working days using the priority service. Start with the sponsor licence if you do not hold one, and use our Home Office sponsorship cost calculator to budget each hire.
Bringing a Partner and Children
Family members apply as dependants and pay their own fees
Skilled Workers can usually bring a husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner and children under 18 as dependants. Each family member makes a separate application, pays the same visa fee as the worker and pays their own Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Children over 18 can only apply if they are already in the UK as the worker’s dependants.
Care workers (6135) and senior care workers (6136) face tighter rules. They can only bring a partner or children if they have been continuously employed in that role on a Skilled Worker visa since before 11 March 2024, or in limited cases involving their children, such as a child born in the UK.
Switching, Extending and Settlement
How the route works for workers already in the UK
- Switching: most people already in the UK can switch to a Skilled Worker visa, but not from certain visas, including a visit visa, a short-term student visa, a Parent of a Child Student visa, a Seasonal Worker visa or a domestic worker in a private household visa.
- Students can switch only if they have completed their course, their job starts after the course ends, or they have studied full time for a PhD for at least 24 months.
- Travel: applicants switching from inside the UK must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they receive a decision.
- Extending: each grant can last up to 5 years, and the visa can be extended as many times as the worker remains eligible.
- Settlement: after 5 years a Skilled Worker may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if they meet the other requirements. The Government has consulted on earned settlement changes, so check our earned settlement guide before planning around the 5-year date.
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Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Skilled Worker Visa from employers and applicants.
What is the Skilled Worker visa UK?
The Skilled Worker Visa is a sponsored UK work visa for overseas nationals who have an eligible job offer from a Home Office-approved employer. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa and can be granted for up to 5 years before extension.
How much does a Skilled Worker Visa cost in 2026?
For applications made outside the UK, the standard fee is £819 for up to 3 years and £1,618 for over 3 years. For applications made inside the UK, the standard fee is £943 for up to 3 years and £1,865 for over 3 years. Lower fees apply to Immigration Salary List and Health and Care Visa categories.
How long does a Skilled Worker Visa take?
GOV.UK says applicants usually get a decision within 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK. Applications made inside the UK usually take 8 weeks after the applicant has applied online, proved identity and provided documents.
How long can you stay on a Skilled Worker Visa?
A Skilled Worker Visa can last for up to 5 years before it needs to be extended. The worker can apply to extend as many times as needed, provided they continue to meet the route requirements.
What salary is needed for a Skilled Worker Visa?
The usual salary requirement is at least £41,700 per year or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. Some applicants can rely on lower thresholds, such as certain Immigration Salary List roles, PhD discounts, healthcare or education rules, or transitional arrangements.
Does a Skilled Worker Visa need sponsorship?
Yes. The applicant must have a job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office, and the sponsor must assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship before the visa application is made.
What English level is needed for a Skilled Worker Visa?
Most new applicants must prove they can read, write, speak and understand English to at least CEFR level B2. GOV.UK lists several ways to prove English, including an approved test, a relevant degree, or certain UK school qualifications.
Can Skilled Worker Visa holders bring dependants?
Partners and children may be able to apply as dependants if they meet the family and route requirements. There are restrictions for some care worker, senior care worker and medium-skilled roles, so the dependant rules should be checked before sponsorship is offered.
Can a Skilled Worker Visa holder do a second job?
They can usually do up to 20 hours a week of additional paid work if they continue doing the sponsored job and the second role meets the permitted conditions. If they want to work more than 20 extra hours, they normally need to update their visa and obtain a new Certificate of Sponsorship for the second job.
Can a Skilled Worker Visa lead to settlement?
Yes, it can lead to settlement after 5 years if the worker meets the settlement requirements. Settlement is not automatic and requires a separate application, with ongoing checks on the qualifying period, sponsorship, salary and other eligibility rules.
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