The Skilled Worker Visa UK is a work visa that facilitates overseas skilled workers to take up employment with licensed UK employers. At the end of the year 2020, this visa came into effect to replace the Tier 2 work visa. The currently applicable criteria are open to people with skills equivalent to a minimum of RQF Level 3 (classifying A-levels in the UK) and in a suitable occupation.
The Employee Must have a Job Offer from a UK-based Employer
You are supposed to have an offer of employment from a licensed employer in the United Kingdom as part of a successful application for a Skilled Worker visa. This offer must be made by A-rated companies on the list of licensed sponsors in respect of any occupation from the list of eligible occupations and must have met the salary requirement for a Skilled Worker Visa. It must be supplemented with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
Your Employer is included in the List of Licensed Sponsors
Your job offer has to be from a UK business listed on the list of the Home Office’s licensed sponsors. It is also essential to verify that your employer has permission to hire international workers in the UK under the Skilled Worker Route (licenses are issued to employers according to the annex of that visa) and that they are A-rated.
Note that, B-rated employers cannot issue new Certificates of Sponsorship until they meet the compliance requirements of the Home Office and are thus upgraded to the required A-rating. Before applying, it is advisable to check that this holds true to avoid the possibility of a delay or denial.
A Valid “Certificate of Sponsorship” should be given by Your Employer
As mentioned above, a valid CoS from your UK employer will be needed to apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) relates to a digital document that carries information regarding the role for which you are sponsored
- the role title and type
- the start and end dates of your work
- the gross salary
- the sponsor licence number
- expiry date.
The job for which you are engaged must be one of the eligible occupations.
The Skilled Worker visa will only be issued by UK Visas and Immigration for roles that are in the list of eligible occupations. You also need to have the relevant skills and/or experience to undertake the job for which you are being recruited in the UK. You may need to check with your employer regarding the standard occupation code (SOC) for your classification for further confirmation of its eligibility.
Minimum Salary Requirement for Skilled Worker Visa 2025
The minimum salary requirement for a Skilled Worker Visa is set at £38,700 for the standard visa. Thus, your job must offer you either this standard salary of at least £38,700 or the ‘going rate’, whichever is higher for your job role. For instance, let’s say your employer proposes an annual salary of £39,000, but the annual rate on the eligible occupational list requires £40,000 as the going rate for such occupations. In this case, you will be disqualified from the Skilled Worker Visa salary requirement. Each occupation code has its own annual going rate, please check the going rate for your job on the Home Office website.
Fulfill the Skill Level Requirement
All applicants for a must meet a skill level equivalent to a minimum of RQF level 3 (this is the same as an advanced level qualification in the UK). This does not imply a minimum qualification but requires you to have skills that should be equivalent to RQF level 3 or more in standard.
Have an amount of £1,270 in your bank account to show that you can financially support yourself in the United Kingdom.
Bank statement Requirements
You must maintain a minimum sum of £1,270 in the bank accounts to prove that you can sustain yourself while in the UK.
This requirement can be satisfied by providing a bank statement proving £1,270 is available in your account for your first month in the United Kingdom. In some cases, it may be feasible to ask your employer to provide you with a letter confirming that they will cover this necessity for you.
Proficiency in the English Language
If you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa, then it is necessary to prove sufficient knowledge of the English language. This can be achieved through:
- Passing an approved English language test
- You satisfy the English language requirement by passing an English language course approved by an authorized testing center, which would be at least at a B1 level in understanding, reading, speaking and writing, laid out in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
- Academic qualification in English
- You are also going to be deemed to have met the English language requirements if you hold a degree or other educational qualification that was taught in the English language.
Documents Required for UK Skilled Worker Visa
When applying for Skilled Worker visa here are some documents and information which you may require:
- Your passport with a blank page
- Your job title and annual salary
- Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number
- Your job’s occupation code
- The name of your employer along with their sponsor licence number (as given on your Certificate of Sponsorship)
- Proof of sufficient personal savings to support yourself
- A criminal record certificate (this is necessary only for specific occupation types involving vulnerable individuals such as education and healthcare)
- Proof of your genuine relationship with your partner/spouse and children (e.g. birth and marriage certificates)
- TB test results (if you are originally from a country for which it is required)
- Proof of your English language proficiency
- Ecctis reference or UK PhD certificate in case your PhD is not from the UK
Conclusion
You can apply for the skilled worker visa online after gathering all the required documents. Hiring an immigration solicitor will be beneficial as they will ensure that the requirements are met and save you from losing your application fee.