Skilled Worker Visa
(Tier 2)

There are two parts to obtaining a UK Skilled Worker Visa

The Individual Element

• You must meet the English Language Requirement  (national of an English speaking country, degree from a UK university, degree taught in English, Approved English language test).

​

• You must meet the 'Maintenance requirement': showing that you have enough money to support yourself (and any dependants) until you get your first paycheck.  If you don't have the money yourself, your Sponsoring employer can act as a guarantor.

​

• You must have a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by a licenced Sponsor.

​

• You may have to have a negative TB test if applying from some countries.

​

​

The Job Element

​

The Certificate of Sponsorship issued by a licenced Sponsor must be for a suitable job:

​

•  The Job should be on the list of eligible occupations

       * You must be paid the higher of the three rates listed below

1. £25,600 per year

2. £10.10 per hour

3. the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing.

​

• The Job must be for at least 30 hours per week.

​

• The Job must be a genuine role working for your sponsoring employer.  In particular it can't be working as an agency worker for a third party (see the section on migrants working on a contract basis).

If you work in public sector healthcare: If you’re a doctor or nurse, or you work in health or adult social care, check if you’re eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. It’s cheaper to apply for and you do not need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.

​

Once you are successful:

​

With a Skilled Worker visa you can:

• Work for your sponsor in the job approved

• Study

• Bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

• Take on part-time additional work, with your sponsor's permission, in certain circumstances

• Do voluntary work

• Travel abroad and return to the UK

• Apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

You cannot:

• Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.

• Change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Skilled Worker visa.

​

​