Skilled worker visa

How to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa to allow you to work in the UK after study.

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Overview

The Skilled Worker visa is the main work visa route for employers to recruit international workers in the UK. It was introduced in January 2021 as part of the new Points Based Immigration System, replacing Tier 2.

To apply:

  • you must be sponsored by an employer who holds a UKVI sponsor licence;
  • the job must be an ‘eligible skilled’ occupation;
  • the job must be paid at an appropriate salary (which is dependent on the role and person applying).

You can:

  • Switch to the Skilled Worker visa from a Student visa or Graduate Route visa; or
  • Apply from outside of the UK.
  • Have dependents - they can apply at the same time or join you later.
  • Extend the visa and it can lead to settlement after 5 years.

You ³¦²¹²Ô’t switch into this route if you’re in the UK studying as a visitor or on a Short Term Student visa.

For some specialised areas of skilled work there are separate categories of skilled workers. For the following roles, see the Home Office guides:

Always check the latest relevant before applying, as immigration rules are subject to frequent changes.

Summary of key changes to Skilled Worker visa from 4th April 2024

Based on

Increase in the minimum salary requirements for applications where a Certificate of Sponsorship is issued after 4 April 2024

  • Option A (experienced workers/most applications ) from £26,200 to £38,700
  • Option B PHD £23,800 to £34,830 (10% salary discount)
  • Option C STEM PHD £20,960 to £30,960 (20% salary discount)
  • Option D- Shortage occupation/Immigration Salary list £20,960 to £30,960 (20% salary discount will be removed)
  • Option E (New entrants) £20,960 to £30,960
  • Option F (Health and Social care visas) £26,200 to £29,000

Increase in the going rates for individual job SOC codes in line with median (50th percentile) salary rate for a specific role from the current 25th percentile

This means a significant uplift for all jobs which do not rely on national pay scales (NHS, Teachers). These rates will be set out in . 

Some roles have been removed from the SOC code list as they are no longer deemed to meet RQF level 3 which is the minimum skill level for skilled workers. The coding tool will be instead of .

Applicants in the Health and Social Care route NHS workers will have some protection from the salary increases and increases will be in line with 25th percentile not the median rate for a role.

There are transitional arrangements for those who are currently on a Skilled Worker visa which will apply until 3 April 2030. 

Existing skilled worker visa holders who are extending their visa or changing employer will be partially protected from the higher salary increases. They will need to meet the SOC 2020 going rate in line with the 25th percentile uplift not the median rate. These rates will be set out in  from 4 April 2024. 

Additional options F-J in the tradeable points table will be created for these applicants.

  • Option F: (experienced workers/most applications)from £26,200 to £29,000. 
  • Option G (relevant PhD): from £23,800 to £26,100. 
  • Option H (relevant STEM PhD): from £20,960 to £23,200. 
  • Option I (shortage occupation/Immigration Salary List): from £20,960 to £23,200. 
  • Option J (new entrants): from £20,960 to £23,200.

Removal of the Shortage Occupation List and replacing it with an Immigration Salary List

The number of occupations deemed to be in shortage has been significantly reduced and there will no longer be a 20% salary discount applied.

Relaxing the supplementary work permission rules

Skilled workers assigned sponsorship after 4 April 2024 will be able to undertake 20 hours supplementary work in any role that would meet the skill level for visa sponsorship and not just in the same profession or shortage occupation, which is the current rule.


Obtaining points

The Skilled Worker Visa is a points-based visa. To apply, you must have a minimum of 70 points, 50 are mandatory and the remaining 20 are ‘tradeable’.

Mandatory points

  • You must have an offer of a job from a licensed sponsor.
  • The job must be at or above the minimum skill level: RQF3 level or equivalent (A-Level or equivalent qualification). You don’t need to hold a formal qualification, it’s the skill level of the job which is important.
  • You must speak English to an acceptable standard.

Tradeable points

You must obtain a further 20 ‘tradeable’ points through a combination of points for meeting the appropriate salary or ‘going rate’.

You can also earn points if:

  • the role is on the Immigration Salary list
  • you hold a relevant PhD qualification; or
  • you’re a new entrant to the job market (students and recent graduates will usually qualify as ‘new entrants)

Non-tradeable points (mandatory) - 50 points required 

  • Offer of a job by an approved sponsor: 20 points
  • Job at an appropriate skill level: 20 points
  • English language skills at level B1 (intermediate): 10 points

Tradeable points: new salary thresholds from 4 April 2024

20 points are required from any of following options:

A (20 points)    

Salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £38,700 per year ; and
  • The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile) 
  • Min £15.88 per hour

B (20 points)    

PhD in a subject relevant to the job and salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £34,830 per year and
  • 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile) 
  • Min £15.88 per hour

C (20 points)    

PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £30,960 per year and
  • 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code ( 50th percentile)
  • Min £15.88 per hour

D (20 points)    

Job is on the Immigration Salary List and salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £30,960 per year; 
  • and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile)
  • Min £15.88 per hour

(A going rate /salary discount is not applicable for this option)

E (20 points)    

Applicant is new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £30,960 per year; and
  • 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile) 
  • Min £15.88 per hour

The following options are for skilled worker visa holders who had CoS issued before 4 April 2024 when they are extending or changing employer:

F (20 points)

Salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £29,000 per year ; and
  • The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
  • Min £11.90 per hours 

G (20 points)

PhD in a subject relevant to the job and salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £26,100 per year and 
  • 90% of the going rate for the  SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
  • Min £11.90 per hour

H (20 points)

PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £23,200 per year ; and
  • 80% of the going rate for SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
  • Min £11.90 per hour

I (20 points)

Job is on the Immigration Salary List and salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £23,200 per year ; and
  • The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
  • Min £11.90 per hour 

J (20 points)

Applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

  • £23,200 per year and
  • 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
  • Min £11.90 per hour

(This option is for someone applying for a role in Health and Education Sector)

K (20 points)

Job is in a listed health or education occupation and salary equals or exceeds both of:         

  • £23,200 per year and
  • The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile) 
  • If a national pay scale applies to the role, it needs to meet the appropriate rate eg NHS, teachers

Eligibility requirements

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must satisfy the following criteria. (Click on the links for further information on what each requirement means and how to meet them)


Apply

When to apply

From 17 July 2023 if you want to switch from a student visa to skilled worker visa. new validity requirements apply.

You can apply up to 3 months before the start date of the job as stated on the certificate of sponsorship. However, the job must not start before your course completion date. UKVI will generally refer to the course end date as stated on your CAS.

If you complete your studies earlier than expected, you will need to show evidence that you have received your degree award.

It is no longer possible to start work before you have completed your degree with a skilled worker visa.

PhD students can now switch to skilled worker after 24 months of study.

The deadline for applying inside the UK is the expiry date on your current visa.

If you make a valid application by this date, your current permission is automatically extended until the outcome of your application is decided, even if your current visa expires before you get the new visa.

This is a general principle of UK immigration law known as Section , which prevents you from becoming an overstayer whilst your application is pending.

Visa processing time is up to eight weeks unless you pay additional fees for a priority application.

Application process

How you access the application is different depending on whether you’re:

All applicants must:

Provide biometrics and complete the application form

When you apply you’ll be told whether you can register your biometrics using an ID App or if you must attend a visa application centre.

Pay the visa application fee

The application costs vary depending on where you’re applying from, the length of sponsorship and whether the job is in the shortage occupation list.

There are also reductions if you’re a national of certain EEA countries and if you’re applying for a .

It’s quite common for employers to cover the visa application costs, so check if your employer offers this.

Pay Immigration Healthcare Surcharge

You and any dependants will need to pay an upfront healthcare surcharge as part of your immigration application to allow you to access NHS healthcare.

From 6 February 2024 the rate is:

  • £1035 per year for workers and adult dependants
  • £776 per year for children

For more information, visit:

You do not need to pay the surcharge if you apply for the Health and Care Worker visa.


Visa conditions

You cannot:

  • Access public funds
  • Be self-employed
  • Work as professional sportsperson

You can:

  • Study
  • Undertake voluntary work
  • Have dependants who can apply at the same time or join you later
  • Carry out supplementary employment up to 20 hours, providing you continue to work in the job for which you’re being sponsored for and the work is same job code or in a shortage occupation

Dependants

The following family members can join you or stay with you in the UK:

  • Spouse or civil partner
  • Unmarried partner or same sex partner who is not a civil partner, if the relationship has been ongoing for at least 2 years
  • Children under 18 if they have not yet applied to join you.
  • Children already in the UK as your Dependant who have turned 18 will also be able to apply as long as they are not leading an independent life.

If your dependant currently holds a student visa, they cannot switch from student to Skilled Worker Dependant visa in the UK, unless they have completed their course or they are a PhD student and have completed at least 24 months study. If this is not the case, they would need to leave and apply from outside the UK to join you as your dependant. 

Your partner and children must have the following amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK:

  • £285 for your partner
  • £315 for one child
  • £200 for each additional child

They do not need to show evidence of funds if they’ve been resident in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months.

Adult dependants will have the right to work (apart from as a professional sportsperson) or study in the UK.

For more information, visit the full .


Can I extend the Skilled Worker visa?

You can extend this visa without limit.

If you found a new job with a different employer you would be able to update your visa, although this would require you to make a new application to extend your visa.

If your job code changes and you’re not in a graduate training programme, you would have to apply again.

In all cases you would need to meet the eligibility requirements and have a new certificate of sponsorship from your employer.

For more information, visit:

Does the Skilled Worker Visa lead to settlement in the UK?

Skilled Worker permission can lead to settlement in the UK after five years of continuous lawful residence under this route. This is referred to as indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

You must:

  • still be required for your Skilled Worker job; and
  • earn at least the going rate for the job; and
  • meet other requirements

This is an advantage of the Skilled Worker over the Graduate Route, which is not a direct route to settlement in the UK.

Time spent on the Skilled Worker visa (or Graduate Route) can also count towards settlement under the indefinite leave to remain application. We do not provide detailed advice or support with this type of leave to remain application.

For more details, see the ‘Settlement as a skilled worker’ section on:

When can I start working full time if I switch to the Skilled Worker visa?

From 3pm on 17 July 2023 there are changes to the rules for students switching into the skilled worker route. These changes are not yet reflected in the around work conditions at time of updating, but check the  latest guidance before you start working full time for your sponsor.

It is still possible to apply for the Skilled Worker visa up to 3 months before the role will start. However, the start date should be no earlier than your course completion date.

You can no longer start work under Skilled worker visa before your course has finished.

You may be able to start work for the sponsor as soon as you have made the Skilled Worker application if you have completed your degree.

If you’re a PhD student switching after 24 months of study, you can only start full-time work for the sponsor when you receive your Skilled Worker visa.


Further support and guidance

For individual advice on your post-study work options and eligibility, contact ISSAC:

Contact ISSAC

We don’t check visa applications and we ³¦²¹²Ô’t advise employers.

For help and advice with your job search, CV and interview preparations, contact the Careers Service. Look out for events and talks on post-study visas advertised via career connect.

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Information for students

The Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) answers a range of general student related enquiries