--- title: "Success Story: Skilled Worker Sponsorship Licence Granted" url: https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/success-story-skilled-worker-sponsorship-licence-granted/ date: 2026-06-15 modified: 2026-09-03 lang: en author: "LEXVISA" description: "Success Story: Skilled Worker Visa Granted A skilled professional recently secured permission to work in the UK under the Skilled Worker visa route after receiving an eligible job offer from..." categories: - "Business" - "Business Immigration" - "Certificate of Sponsorship" - "Directors" - "Financial Requirements" - "Home Office" - "Skilled Worker Licence" - "Skilled Worker Visa" tags: - "High Net Worth Immigration" - "Home Office" - "Home Office Updates" - "Skilled Worker" - "Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence" - "skilled worker visa" - "Success Story" - "UK Immigration" - "UK Immigration Advice" - "UK Immigration Solicitors/ Lawyers" image: https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/lawful-residence-uk-immigration-visa-lawyers-london.jpg word_count: 1675 --- # Success Story: Skilled Worker Sponsorship Licence Granted ## Success Story: Skilled Worker Visa Granted A skilled professional recently secured permission to work in the UK under the Skilled Worker visa route after receiving an eligible job offer from a licensed UK sponsor. The application required careful consideration of the job's eligibility, salary, sponsorship arrangements, English-language requirement, maintenance funds and supporting documents. ## The Background The applicant was an experienced software-development professional who received a full-time job offer from a UK-based technology company. The employer already held a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence and offered a salary of £58,000 per year for a role working 37.5 hours per week. Before the visa application was submitted, it was important to confirm that both the position and salary met the Skilled Worker requirements in force at the time. ## Checking the Job Was Eligible Under the Skilled Worker rules applicable in September 2026, an applicant must normally have an eligible job with a Home Office-approved sponsor. For most new Skilled Worker applicants, the standard salary requirement is the higher of: - £41,700 per year; or - the applicable going rate for the occupation. Different salary rules can apply in specific circumstances, including certain new entrants, eligible PhD holders and some healthcare or education roles. The position in this case fell under SOC 2020 occupation code 2134 – Programmers and software development professionals. As at September 2026, the standard going rate for this occupation was £54,700 per year, based on a 37.5-hour working week. With a salary of £58,000, the applicant's remuneration exceeded both the general Skilled Worker salary threshold and the applicable occupation-specific going rate. The application therefore did not need to rely on a reduced-salary provision. ## Certificate of Sponsorship Once the role had been checked against the immigration requirements, the employer assigned the applicant a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record containing important information about the proposed employment, including the applicant's role, occupation code, salary, working hours and sponsor details. A Skilled Worker applicant will normally need to apply within three months of the Certificate of Sponsorship being assigned and cannot normally apply more than three months before the employment start date stated on the CoS. ## Meeting the English-Language Requirement The applicant also needed to satisfy the Skilled Worker English-language requirement. For new Skilled Worker applications under the rules applying in September 2026, applicants will generally need to demonstrate English at CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening, unless they qualify through another permitted method or exemption. In this case, the applicant provided acceptable evidence demonstrating the required level of English. Transitional provisions can apply to certain individuals who already held Skilled Worker permission before changes to the English-language requirement took effect on 8 January 2026. ## Financial Requirement The Skilled Worker route also includes a maintenance requirement. Where the requirement applies, the main applicant will normally need to show that they have at least £1,270 available. Where personal savings are relied upon, the money will normally need to have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period falling within 31 days before the application date. Applicants may not need to provide personal financial evidence where, for example, an eligible sponsor certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship. Certain applicants who have already been lawfully living in the UK for at least 12 months may also be exempt from showing these funds. In this case, appropriate evidence was provided to demonstrate that the financial requirement had been met. The £1,270 is not a visa fee. It is the amount of maintenance funds that an applicant may need to demonstrate. ## Supporting Documents The application included the documents and information required for the applicant's circumstances, including: - a valid passport; - the Certificate of Sponsorship reference number; - evidence of meeting the English-language requirement; - the job title and annual salary; - the relevant occupation code; - the employer's details and sponsor licence information; and - evidence relating to the financial requirement. Depending on an applicant's individual circumstances, further documents may also be required. These can include a tuberculosis test certificate, criminal-record certificates for specified occupations, relationship evidence for dependants, an ATAS certificate where applicable, or certified translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh. ## Skilled Worker Visa Fees For a standard Skilled Worker application made outside the UK in September 2026, the application fee is: - £819 where permission is sought for up to three years; or - £1,618 where permission is sought for more than three years. Reduced application fees can apply where the qualifying job is on the Immigration Salary List. Most adult Skilled Worker applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is currently £1,035 per year. For a two-year Skilled Worker application, this would normally mean: Visa application fee: £819 Immigration Health Surcharge: £2,070 Total Home Office application charges: £2,889 This does not include the applicant's maintenance funds or additional expenses such as English-language testing, document translation or optional application services. ## Employer Sponsorship Costs Some Skilled Worker costs must be paid by the sponsoring employer rather than the applicant. As at September 2026, the fee for a Worker sponsor licence is: - £611 for a small or charitable sponsor; or - £1,682 for a medium or large sponsor. The current fee for assigning a Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship is £525. Where applicable, the sponsoring employer may also need to pay the Immigration Skills Charge. Current Immigration Skills Charge rates are: - Small or charitable sponsors: £480 for the first 12 months and £240 for each additional six months; or - Medium or large sponsors: £1,320 for the first 12 months and £660 for each additional six months. The employer is responsible for applicable sponsorship charges and must not pass prohibited sponsorship costs, including the Certificate of Sponsorship fee, on to the sponsored worker. ## The Result: Skilled Worker Visa Granted After the eligibility requirements had been checked and the supporting evidence prepared, the Skilled Worker application was submitted. The applicant successfully demonstrated that: - the employer was an approved Skilled Worker sponsor; - the occupation was eligible for sponsorship; - the correct occupation code had been used; - the proposed salary exceeded the applicable minimum requirements; - a valid Certificate of Sponsorship had been assigned; - the English-language requirement had been met; - the financial requirement had been addressed; and - the supporting evidence was consistent with the information provided in the application. The application was subsequently granted, allowing the applicant to come to the UK and begin employment with the sponsoring organisation in accordance with the conditions of the Skilled Worker visa. The outcome highlights the importance of checking the immigration requirements carefully before an application is submitted. A valid job offer alone is not enough: the sponsorship, occupation code, salary, English-language requirement and supporting documentation must all satisfy the relevant Skilled Worker rules. # Frequently Asked Questions **What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in September 2026?** For most new Skilled Worker applicants, the standard requirement is the higher of £41,700 per year or the applicable going rate for the occupation. Different salary provisions can apply in specific circumstances. **What English level is required for a Skilled Worker visa?** New Skilled Worker applicants in 2026 will generally need to demonstrate English at CEFR level B2, unless another permitted method of meeting the requirement or an exemption applies. Transitional arrangements can apply to certain existing Skilled Workers. **How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?** For a standard application made outside the UK, the application fee is currently £819 for permission of up to three years or £1,618 for permission of more than three years. Most applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently £1,035 per adult per year. **How much money does a Skilled Worker applicant need to show?** Where the maintenance requirement applies, the main applicant will normally need to demonstrate access to at least £1,270. In some circumstances the sponsor can certify maintenance, or the applicant may be exempt from providing financial evidence. **Can a Skilled Worker bring their partner and children?** Eligible partners and children may be able to apply as dependants, although restrictions apply to some sponsored occupations. Where maintenance funds must be shown, the additional amounts are currently £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child. Each dependant will normally need to submit a separate application and pay the applicable visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge. **How long does a Skilled Worker visa application take?** For applications made from outside the UK, UKVI states that applicants will usually receive a decision within three weeks after completing the application process, proving their identity and providing the required documents. --- *Immigration rules, salary thresholds, occupation going rates and Home Office fees can change. The information above reflects the position as at September 2026 and is provided for general information only. Applicants and sponsors should check the requirements applicable on the date of application.* ## Contact our Immigration Lawyers [Our team of solicitors and barristers](https://web.archive.org/web/20170116004239/https:/immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/our-people-immigration-team/) 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 on the merits of your Skilled Worker Sponsor License Application before your matter reaches the Home Office UK Visa & Immigration department. We can assist you with the preparation and submission of your Skilled Worker Sponsor License application and ensure that you meet all the requirements of the relevant rules. [We are based in the legal epicentre of London](https://immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk/contact-us/), just across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice in order to ensure we get the best results for our clients. LEXVISA is just minutes away from the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and other central London courts. Preparation is the key to a successful application. 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 UK Spouse Visa Application. Contact our London immigration solicitors on 02030110276 or complete our [contact form](https://web.archive.org/web/20160927032857/http:/immigrationandvisasolicitors.co.uk:80/legal-case-assessment/).