Work in the United Kingdom

The Skilled Worker visa allows you to work in the UK for an approved employer in an eligible skilled job. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa after Brexit and is the main UK work visa.

A CoS is an electronic document issued by your UK employer (licensed sponsor) containing information about the job and you. You need a valid CoS to apply for the visa.

Generally, you need to be paid at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. Lower minimums apply in some cases, for example £33,400 for new entrants and Immigration Salary List jobs, and £25,000 for listed health and education jobs on national pay scales. From 8 April 2026 the required salary must be paid in each pay period, at least monthly.

The job must be in an eligible occupation skilled to RQF level 6 or above (degree level). Medium-skilled roles (RQF 3 to 5) qualify only if they are on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. If you are extending and your first certificate of sponsorship was issued before 22 July 2025, you can still apply in a medium-skilled occupation. Care worker and senior care worker roles have been closed to new applications from overseas since 22 July 2025.

Your employer pays the Immigration Skills Charge when it assigns the certificate of sponsorship: £480 for small or charitable sponsors and £1,320 for medium or large sponsors for the first 12 months, then £240 or £660 for each additional 6 months. It is paid in addition to your visa fees, and there is no charge for dependants.

Yes, but the qualifying period is changing. Under the earned settlement model confirmed by the Home Secretary on 2 November 2026, the default is 10 years. Workers who earn at least £50,271 in 3 of the 5 years immediately before applying, or who work in specified public service roles, can qualify after 5 years, and those who earn at least £125,141 in 3 of the 4 years immediately before applying can qualify after 3 years. B2 English, the Life in the UK test, a clean record, no government debt and sustained National Insurance contributions are required. For Skilled Worker settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027 the English requirement rises from B1 to B2 in speaking and listening. Time on Student and Graduate visas does not count towards settlement. The detailed Immigration Rules and transitional arrangements for people already on the route have not yet been published, so current visa holders should not assume the 5-year period still applies to them.

You must show English at CEFR level B2 for new applications and for switching from most other visas, from 8 January 2026. Only people who held a Skilled Worker visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it need B1, and people switching from a Health and Care Worker visa do not need to prove it again. You can prove English with an approved Secure English Language Test, a degree-level qualification taught in English (a UK degree, or one assessed by Ecctis as equivalent), a UK school qualification started before age 18, or proof from an earlier successful visa application. Nationals of listed majority English-speaking countries are exempt.

Yes, your spouse or partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. Partners can work without restrictions and children can study. The exception is that workers newly sponsored from 22 July 2025 in medium-skilled (RQF 3 to 5) roles on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List cannot bring dependants.

Yes, but you need a new CoS from the new employer and must apply to update your visa before starting the new job.

The Shortage Occupation List was replaced by the Immigration Salary List from 4 April 2024. Jobs on the Immigration Salary List can be paid from £33,400 if they also meet the going rate, and the application fee is lower (£628 for up to 3 years). Care worker and senior care worker roles are limited to people already working in the UK, with applications made before 22 July 2028. The interim Temporary Shortage List covers some medium-skilled roles (RQF 3 to 5) and applies only where the certificate of sponsorship was issued before 31 December 2026. As of 6 November 2026 gov.uk shows no end date on the Immigration Salary List page, but both lists can change, so check them on gov.uk before relying on either.