Skilled Worker Visa

SKILLED WORKER VISA

• A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.
• This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.

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.
• Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• Be paid a minimum salary
• The specific eligibility depends on job

Level of English - B1

• You can prove your knowledge of English by:
• passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT)
• Having a GCSE, A level, Scottish equivalence in Eng
• Having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - abroad, you’ll need to that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD from NARIC.

How long you can stay

• Your visa can last for up to 5 years.
• You can extend when it expires or
• You can update your visa when you change job or employer.
• You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirementsYou 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 PR.
• Live, work and study here and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

What you can do

With a Skilled Worker visa you can:

• work in an eligible job
• Study
• Bring your partner and children
• Take on additional work
• apply PR after 5 years if you fulfil other requirements

You cannot:

• Apply for most benefits
• The State Pension
• change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa

Your job

To eligible for Skilled Worker visa:

• your job is eligible for this visa
• you’ll be paid the minimum salary or
• the ‘going rate’ for the type of work that’s been approved by the Home Office
• Before you can find out if your job is eligible, you need to know its 4-digit occupation code.
• If you already have a job offer, ask your employer for your occupation code.

Salary Requirements

You’ll usually need to be paid a minimum per year depending on the category and occupation code.

• If you work in healthcare or education
• Your job is in a shortage occupation
• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
• You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Documents needed

When you apply you’ll need to provide

• A valid passport
• Your certificate of sponsorship
• Proof of English
• Your job title and annual salary
• Your job’s occupation code
• The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number
• Proof of Maintenance Funds
• TB Test
• Relationship Certificate for dependents
• Criminal Record for specific jobs