What qualifies as a Skilled Worker in the UK?
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
- work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do
There are further specific eligibility requirements depending on your job type. Contact Lexvisa for advice on whether your job role meets the specific requirements and how to progress your visa application.
English language requirements
A minimum requirement for a visa as a Skilled Worker would be to speak English well otherwise you will not be able to carry out your role efficiently.
You will need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply, unless you are a national of an exempt country or territory. Reach out to Lexvisa and we can advise you on whether you are exempt from providing evidence and if not, the ways in which you can prove your knowledge of English.
What is the minimum salary for Skilled Worker visa?
This will be the highest out of the following 3 options below:
- £25,600 per year
- £10.10 per hour
- The ‘going rate’ for the type of work you will be doing
If the ‘going rate’ for your job role is higher than both of the first two bullet points, you will be entitled to at least the going rate. Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Lexvisa can assist you in ascertaining the going rate for your job and preparing a successful application.
What if I am paid less?
In any case, you must at least be paid £10.10 per hour.
There are circumstances where you can be paid between 70% and 90% of the usual going rate where your salary is at least £20,480 per year and:
- your job is in a shortage occupation
- you’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
- you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job (if you have a relevant PhD level qualification in any other subject your salary must be at least £23,040)
- you have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education
What score is needed for a Skilled Worker visa?
To be eligible for this visa, you must score a minimum of 70 points in total. Details of the points can be found here.
Is it hard to get a Skilled Worker visa?
Certain UK work visas are more difficult to obtain than others due to a difference in requirements which can be specific to each type of visa. In most work visa cases, the applicant is required to have a job offer therefore meeting the minimum skill and salary requirements from a licensed sponsor.
How can I get a Skilled Worker visa?
In order to qualify for a visa on this route, you must have a genuine job offer from a UK licensed sponsor which meets the minimum salary and skill requirements. The threshold for these requirements have been lowered under recent rules which now makes the process of recruiting skilled workers easier for UK businesses. However, a certificate of sponsorship from an employer who is licensed on this route remains a necessary requirement.
You must also have sufficient funds to support yourself after you arrive in the UK.
I have applied, how long will my decision take?
Once you have applied online, provided all the relevant documents and proved your identity, you will generally get a decision on your visa within:
- 3 weeks if you are outside of the UK
- 8 weeks if you are inside of the UK
How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?
The cost of applying through this route can range between £610 and £1408 depending on your circumstances. This fee will be reduced by £55 for most EEA nationals. Furthermore, it will be lower if your job is on the shortage occupation list.
You will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (“IHS”) which is compulsory if you want to work in the UK. Contact Lexvisa for further information on how much IHS you are entitled to pay.
I work in healthcare / education, do I still pay the same?
Your job may be on the shortage occupation list. If so, you and your family will pay a lower application fee. The reduced fee for each person applying is:
- £479 if you’re staying for up to 3 years
- £943 if you’re staying for more than 3 years
The fee will be the same regardless of whether you are inside or outside of the UK at the time of application.
Can I bring my family with me?
Yes. Your partner and children can also apply to join you in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they are eligible. In order for this to happen, they will each have to complete separate applications and once successful, their visa’s will end on the same date as yours.
What is a ‘dependant’?
- your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
- your child under 18 – including if they were born in the UK during your stay
- your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant
Evidence of your relationship with your partner will be need to be proven. Contact Lexvisa for advice on how to prove your relationship with your dependants and the kind of evidence you will need to provide.
Money your dependants will need to support themselves
You, or your children will need:
- £285 for your partner
- £315 for one child
- £200 for each additional child
How long can I stay in the UK once I have a Skilled Worker visa?
Once you are successful in your visa application, you will be granted a period of stay on your visa of up to 5 years. There is no limit on how many times this visa can be extended once obtained, as long as you continue to meet the relevant requirements for the job role.
Can I settle in the UK with a Skilled Worker visa?
Certainly. Once a you have legally remained in the UK on this visa for 5 years as a Skilled Worker, you may apply to settle in the UK indefinitely. This is called Indefinite Leave to Remain (“ILR”). Lexvisa has experience in assisting clients to obtain ILR, read our Success Story to find out more.
Why instruct our specialist immigration team?
Our team of solicitors and barristers are specialist immigration lawyers who act in your best interest. We offer a client-tailored approach from the outset. From the very first meeting, we will be able to advise you in respect of your prospects of submitting a spouse visa application before your application even reaches the Home Office UK Visa & Immigration department. We can assist you with the preparation and submission of a spouse visa application and are able to advise you in respect of your prospects and to ensure that you meet all the requirements of the relevant rules.
Our offices are based in the legal epicentre of London, just across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice in order to ensure we get the best results for our clients. We are minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and other central London courts.
Preparation is the key to successful immigration applications. Our UK immigration and visa solicitors are here to guide you through the complex immigration rules and requirements. If you wish to meet one of our lawyers, please call our Immigration Team so we can assess your case and arrange your legal consultation to discuss your visa application.
Contact our London immigration solicitors on 02030110276 or complete our contact form.
Authored by Tehreem Fatima, Paralegal