Skilled Worker Visa UK Application Process Timing & Required Documents!

The Skilled Worker rules have had a major change on 04 April 2024. The application process is now divided into two main categories, that are - applicants who were granted Tier 2 (General) Visa or Skilled Worker visa before 04 April 2024 and submittig the application before 04 April 2030 OR the applicants who are submitting an initial application after 04 April 2024 and were never granted a any visa under Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker category previously.

In order to submit a successful application the applicant will need to meet the validity and suitability requirement, that means you are required to submit a valid application, from outside the UK or inside the UK.  You cannot submit an application from inside the UK as a skilled worker if you are in the UK -

• as a Visitor; or
• as a Short-term student; or
• as a Parent of a Child Student; or
• as a Seasonal Worker; or
• as a Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
• outside the Immigration Rules.

If you are in the UK on a student visa or a student dependent visa, the main applicant on the student visa must have completed their course or the start date on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must be dated after the end date of the course on the CAS letter.

The applicant needs to satisfy the Suitability requirement, that means the applicant must not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal and must not be on immigration bail. 

---

Skilled worker Benefits 

A skilled worker visa allows you to work in the UK full time with in a job under Appendix Skilled Occupations. Your family can join you on this route except applicants on care worker roles after 11 March 2024. Your children receive free state education and you are allowed access to the NHS for any health related issues. 

In most vacancies you are allowed to work for another sponsor in the same job title for 20 hours if your job title is in a Eligible Occupation code. There is no limit to your overtime work with the sponsor who has sponsored you. 

After completing 5 years in the UK you are eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK and British Citizenship after 1 year. 

Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility 

Applicants on any other route present in the UK are allowed to switch to a skilled worker visa except the ones listed above. Eligibility for skilled worker visa is in place in the UK for all non-British and Irish citizens who wish to come and work in the UK. Now an applicant has to score 70 points. There are some conditions that are mandatory and that adds up to a total of 50 points while for the rest of 20 points you can score against tradable points to work in the UK.

Let us see the mandatory points first and the scores you can get against them.

• You must have a job offer by an approved sponsor – 20 points
• You must be offered a job at the appropriate skill levefrom Tabel 1 of the Appendix Skilled Occupations – 20 points - if submiiting an application after 4 April 2024. However if you are already holing a Skilled Worker Visa or a Tier 2 (General) Visa before 04 April 2024 then you can use Table 2 or Table 2 (a) of Appendix Skilled Occupations. If you were not in any of these routes previously then you must use occupation codes from Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.
• You must be able to meet English language requirement at Level B1 – 10 points

Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Salary

In order to complete the 70 points you must score 20 points from the tradable points. The tradeable points are mainly based on the eligible salary and all provide 20 points. 

• Salary of £38,700 or according to occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points - Relevant to applicants applying for skilled worker visa after 04 April 2024; or
• Salary of £34,830 or 90% of going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points, relevant if you hold PhD and are applying skilled worker visa after 04 April 2024; or
• Salary of £30,960 or 80% of going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points, relevant if you hold PhD in STEM subjects and are applying skilled worker visa after 04 April 2024; or
• Salary of £30,960 or going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points, relevant if your job title is under Immigration Salary List previously known as Shortage Occupations, this is now changes to the Immigration Salary List and has fewer occupations; or
• Salary of £30,960 or 70% of going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points, relevant if you are a New Entrant - that means you are below 26 years of age or switching from student visa or within 2 years of expiry of student visa provided you were on a degree level course or PG diploma in education, or sponsor in post doctoral program in certain job occupations or after coming , or switching from graduate visa within 2 years. You can be on New Entrant Salary for a maximum of 4 years; or
• Salary of £23,200 or according to occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points - Relevant to applicants applying for skilled worker visa after 04 April 2024 under Health and Care job roles in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations

The above points are only available to applicants submitting an application after 04 April 2024 and you can only use the occupation codes . If you are already on a Tier 2 (General) Visa or on a Skilled Worker visa before 04 April 2024 and need to make a further application for leave to remain you will need to score tradeable 20 points on the basis of below - 

• Salary of £29,000 or according to occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points ; or
• Salary of £26,100 or 90% of going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points, relevant if you hold PhD; or
• Salary of £23,200 or 80% of going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points, relevant if you hold PhD in STEM subjects; or
• Salary of £23,200 or going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points, relevant if your job title is under Immigration Salary List; or
• Salary of £23,200 or 70% of going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points, relevant if you are a New Entrant - that means you are below 26 years of age or switching from student visa or within 2 years of expiry of student visa provided you were on a degree level course or PG diploma in education, or sponsor in post doctoral program in certain job occupations or after coming , or switching from graduate visa within 2 years. You can be on New Entrant Salary for a maximum of 4 years; or
• Salary of £23,200 or according to occupation code, whichever is higher - 20 Points - Relevant to applicants applying for skilled worker visa after 04 April 2024 under Health and Care job roles in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations

So, you can see that these 6 points are tradable points and you need to meet any of these 6 allowing you to score the tradeable 20 points that will be added with the 50 mandatory points making your total score 70. After which you are eligible to work in the UK provided you previously held Tier 2 (General) Visa or Skilled Worker Visa before 04 April 2024 and are applying for the new visa before 4 April 2030.

The minimum salary for the occupation must work according to the tradable points listed above, which in general ,must meet or exceed £38700, £34960, £30,830 or £23,200 or the salary listed occupation codes. This is the new requirement for applications after 4 April 2024. The salary for people already on a skilled worker visa or a Tier 2 Visa need the salary must meet or exceed £29000, £26100 or £23200 or the salary listed on occupation codes. 

Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Occupations and Codes 2024

The SOC 2020 were introduced by the UK Government on 04 April 2024 and the occupations are mainly divided under 8 routes, these are Table 1 Occupation codes which must be used by applicants who entering the skilled worker route after 04 April 2024. If you were already on a skilled worker visa before 04 April 2024 then you can use Table 2 and Table 2 a occupation codes. Table 2b can be used by Global Business Mobility applicants who held a visa under Global Business Mobility Route before 4 April 2024. Table 3 occupation codes are relevant to Health and Care role applicants even if you held the skilled worker visa under this category before 4 April 2024. Table 4 provides the going rates for jobs under health and care roles unless these are already stated in Table 3.  Table 5 is for roles in the education sector. It is unclear why Table 6 has been provided as the job titles under this table cannot be used to submit an application for Skilled Worker Visa.

Skilled Worker Visa English Language Requirement

English Language Requirment is a mandatory requirement under the Skilled Worker Eligibility Requirements. The current English Language Requirement is at level B1 of the Common European Framework Reference (CEFR) An applicant can meet the English Language requirement in many different ways that are - 

• The applicant has met the English Language Requirment in a previous application to the Home Office; or
• The applicant met the English Language requirement as a Tier 2 (General) Migrant or skilled worker route; or 
• The applicant is a National of Majorty English Speaking countries - such as USA, Canada, Jamaica, etcetera; or 
• You have a degree from a Majority English Speaking country except Canada; or
• You have a degree taught in English and have obtained Ecctis previously known as UK Naric; or
• You have passed an English Language Test from SELT centre from Pearson, Trinity college London, IELTS UKVI, Language Cert or PSI Service UK Ltd

These are the ways you are able to meet the English Language Eligibility Requirement for the Skilled Worker Visa. 

Skilled Worker Fianacial Requirement

You must meet the financial requirement under the Skilled Worker Eligibility requirements which are satisfied mainly in three ways - 

• If you have been in the UK for 12 months or more then you automatically meet financial requirement under the Skilled Worker Eligibility requirements;
• If you have a CoS Certificate of Sponsorship from A rated sponsor who has certified your maintenance on the CoS then you will be able to meet the financial requirement under the Skilled Worker Eligibility requirements; or 
• You can also meet the financial requirement under the Skilled Worker Eligibility requirements by showing the bank statements for 28 days for a minimum balance of £1270 and for the dependents the amount is £285 for dependent husband, wife, civil partner or un-married partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child. The evidence must meet the requirement under Appendix Finance of the Immigration Rules to meet the financial requirement under the Skilled Worker Eligibility requirements.

Skilled Worker Eligible Companies

In order to be an Eligible company to sponsor workers under the Skilled Worker Visa, the company must apply for a Sponsorship Licence, there are different kinds of sponsorship licences and after receiving the licence the company must apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship and provide a job title under Appendix Skilled Occupations. After receiving the certificate of sponsorship the applicant can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa provided that the meet all the Skilled Worker Eligibility Requirements to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa. Once the company is granted their sponsor licence they will be appearing on the Sponsor License Register

Should your employer need assistance with the sponsor licence application they can contact us on 02034111261 or email us 

Skilled worker visa Employer Guidance

All employers must make sure that they meet the Duties and compliance requirement published by the Home Office. It is important to follow the guidance published as any mistake can lead to suspension and cancellation of the sponsorship licence. Once the sponsorship Licence is cancelled, all the existing workers with the company will receive a cultailment of leave to remain in the UK and will have 60 days to apply for a visa with another sponsor or submit an applicantion in another category. Therefore it is important that the skilled worker employers have a proper guidance and understanding of holding a Sponsorship Licence and sponsoring workers under this route.

Who can apply for a skilled worker visa?

All non-British and non-Irish nationals who have been provided a Certificate Of Sponsorship by an Eligible company holding a sponsorhip license and on the Sponsor License Register and meet the Eligibility Requirements for Skilled Worker Visa and score a total of 70 points. The applicants must be aged 18 years or over to meet Eligibility Requirements for Skilled Worker Visa. The applicant who has scholarship by any Government should provide a letter with permission to apply for a skilled worker visa.  An applicant must also meet the ATAS requiremnt is applicable according to Appendix ATAS of the Immigration Rules.

If you are submitting an application from within the UK you must not have been granted leave to remain outside the Immigration Rules in order to apply for a skilled worker visa. In order to achieve a successful outsome on your application you can consult lawyers at Visa and Migration Ltd by calling 02034111261 or email us

Skilled Worker Visa Required Documents

The documents required for a skilled worker visa depends on quite a few things, such as your job title, experience required and qualification required, however the general documents for the skiled worker visa are -  

• Fully completed application form;
• Passport;
• Criminal record check if required by job tile; 
• Evidence of meeting English language requirment (IELTS for UKVI at level B1, ECCTIS statements and degree or Degree from the UK, etc);
• Previous education and experience; 
• Certificate of sponsorship; 
• Evidence of maintenance (Bank statement for 31 days before the date of application);
• TB test certificate if required according to your country of residence; 
• any relevant membership with GMC, GDC, etc - dependent on your role; and 
• Any other documents to prove your role is genuine and you are the suitable candidate

These are general requirements for the documents, however, this may change according to your job title. 

How to apply for Skilled Worker Visa?

 In order to apply for skilled worker visa you must complete the relevant application form for Entry Clearance, extension or change of employment, etc, all applications are now online and you also have an option to do the application using the UK ID check application.. Once you have completed the application you must upload the relevant evidence according to yoru job title. The Home Office generally makes a decision in 15 working days for applications from outside the UK and approximately 8 weeks for applications inside the UK. 

Skilled worker visa application process

In order to apply for a skilled worker visa you must submit an application online via the https://www.gov.uk/ website. You will need a valid CoS in order to submit this application. Before submission of the application you must make sure that you have all the relevant evidence to meet the Eligibility Requirements for the skilled worker visa. You must also prove that you meet the genuineness requirement when you apply for the Skilled Worker Visa. It is important to meet the Genuineness requirement as it is now a part of the Eligibility Requirement for applying the Skilled Worker Visa. You should only apply 3 months before the start date of your employment and make sure that your CoS is valid.

Your employer must make sure that they have selected the relevant occupation code from the Appendix Skilled Occupations as an incorrect occupation code can lead to refusal of a Skilled Worker Visa Application. After you have submitted the application you must pay for the Immigration health Surcharge according to the length on your CoS and then pay for the application fee. Once you have paid all the relevant fee then you must upload the documents. After submission of the documents you must attend your biometric appointment at the VFS or TLS or UKVCAS centres. 

Genuineness Requirement for Skilled Worker

The Home Office has robustly started checking the genuineness requirement by interviewing applicants. We have seen the some of the common questions being asked include -

• How did you find this employment?
• What is your Job description?
• How were you interviewed?
• What were the interview questions?
• What is the details of the company you will be employed by?
• What are the skills you hold to comeplete your duties mentioned in the Job description?
• Where will you live in the UK?
• Who paid for the application fee?
• Did you make any payment to the employer?
• What education do you hold?
• Did you apply for any other jobs in the UK?
• Why did you choose to go ahead with the employer? and
• There are some questions which are relevant to your job title?

You must attend the interview when you receive an invitation from the Home Office, as a non-attendance would lead to an automatic refusal and your employment may not be considered to be a genuine one unless you have a reasonable excuse for non-attendance. 

Should you need assistance with your skilled worker visa application you can contact Visa and Migration Ltd on 02034111261 or WhatsApp us 07587878786 

Application fee and other costs

The application fee for the skilled worker visa varies according to the length of visa you are applying that are generally 3 years and 5 years. For a 3 years visa inside the UK the applicants will pay £827 if their role is not in Shortage Occupation or the Immigration Salary List and for 5 years £1636. If you are applyin from outside the UK you will pay for 3 years £719 or £1420 for 5 years. You must check before you apply as the fee changes according to your job role for example health and care job roles will pay £284 for 3 years and £551 for 5 years. You can also pay for a faster decision by paying the priority fee for the Home Office £500 for 5 days decision or £1000 for 1 day decision. From outside the country the amount varies according to the country you are applying from and is generally £500 for a decision in 5 days. You should usually get a decision on your application in 8 weeks after you apply from within the UK or 15 working days from outside the UK if not paying for priority. 

Applicant other than the health and care role are also required to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge each year is £1035 for adults and £776 for minor children applying as dependents. The employers are generally liable for the Immigration Skills charge which is £364 for small sponsors and £1000 for large sponsors. 

---

Skilled worker visa Dependents

The applicants wife, husband, civil partner, unmarried partner (who cohabitated for 2 years) can apply as partner of the skilled worker dependent provided they meet the financial eligibility requirement for skilled worker stated above and are able to provide evidence to prove that their relationship is genuine and subsisting in accordance with the Appendix Relationship with Partner of the Immigration Rules. The children mainly need to provide evidence that they are children of the applicant and meet the financial eligibility requirement for skilled worker visa stated above. Children who are applying with single parents must meet the sole responsibility requirement or other relevant requirement in accordance with Appendix Children of the Immigration Rules. The fee for the dependents is generally same as for the main applicant unless they are children where they will pay £776 Immigration Health Surcharge per year rather than £1035 for an adult per year. 

Should you need assistance in applying for your dependent's application consult one of our lawyers as Visa and Migration Ltd and call 02034111261 or email us

Skilled worker Indefinite Leave to Remain

 In order to apply for Indefinite leave to remain in the UK as a Skilled Worker, you must spend 5 years in the UK on a Skilled worker or in combination with other visas eligible such as Tier 1 Visa, Sole representative visa, Tier 2 Visa, etc. Your sponsor who has provided you with the CoS and has sponsored you must still hold the sponsorship licence.

The applicant must also satisfy the Eligibility requirement for the Skilled Worker Indefinite Leave to Remain. You must meet the continuous residence requirement that means that your absence must not exceed 180 days and meet the requirement of Appendix Continuous Residence of the Immigration rules. Additionally to meet the  Eligibility requirement for the Skilled Worker Indefinite Leave to Remain you must pass the life in the UK test. 

Your employer must still require you for a foreseeable future and should also pay you the salary for a foreseeable future, 

The application for Indefinite Leave to Remain also work in a similar way to the application for the Skilled Worker Visa. If you are an applicant after 4 April 2024 and did not hold leave to remain previously as a Skilled Worker or a Tier 2 (General) Migrant before 04 April 2024 then you must meet or exceed the salary requirement as following - 

• Salary of £38,700 or according to occupation code, whichever is higher;
• Salary of £30,960 or according to the going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher in case  your job title is under Immigration Salary List
• You will need a salary of £23200 or according to the occupation code, which ever is higher if you are working in a Health and Care job

In cases where you held a leave as a skilled worker or a Tier 2 (General) Migrant before 4 April 2024 and are submitting an application before 4 April 2030 then you will need a salary of 

• Salary of £29,000 or according to occupation code, whichever is higher;
• Salary of £23,200 or according to the going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher in case  your job title is under Immigration Salary List or the old Shortage Occupartion List OR your job title is under table 3 of Appendix Occupations - Health and Care job

Or

• you can have a salary of £23,200 or according to the going rate on the occupation code, whichever is higher in caseif your job title is Chemical scientists, Biological scientists and biochemists, Physical scientists, Social and humanities scientists, Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified, Research and development managers, Higher education teaching professionals
• You will need a salary of £23200 or according to the occupation code, which ever is higher if you are working in a Health and Care job.

If you are able to meet the above Elegibility requirements for Skilled Worker Indefinite Leave to Remain you will be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain and after waiting for 1 year you can apply for British Citizenship.

Should you need assistance with your application for Indefinite Leave to Remain as a Skilled Worker, please consult one of our lawyers as Visa and Migration Ltd and call 02034111261 or email us

How can Visa and Migration Ltd help you

Visa and Migration Ltd can assist you with the process from beginning to end. We can help your employer with sponsor licence, assist with meeting compliance requirements. We also prepare the employers and employees for interview process where necessary. We advise the employers on resident labour market test and how they must manage the sponsor management system. Ofcourse we assist with allocation and assignment of certificate of sponsorship, skilled worker visa applications and also representing the application from beginning to end of the process. We provide a service second and assit our client's to achieve success.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to pay for Immigration health Surcharge if I am on Health and Care Role?

Ans: No you do not need to pay for Immigration Health Surcharge if on health and Care role 

• How much do I pay for Immigration health Surcharge if sponsored for 3 years or 5 years?

Ans: You will need to pay £3105 for 3 years and £5175 for 5 years

• Do I need a TB test Certificate?

Ans: TB test certificate needs to be provided depending on your country of residence.

• How much do I need to Score in IELTS for B1 level of English Language

Ans: You must score 4.0 band in all speaking, listening, reading and writing and also have overall score of 4.0 band

• Do my dependants need to pay taxes?

Ans: Yes, if the dependents are employed in the UK they will need to pay taxes

• When can I apply for ILR on a Skilled Worker visa?

Ans: You can apply after you have completed 5 years on a skilled worker visa

• Can I combine my Skilled Worker Visa with other visas to apply for ILR

Ans: You can combine skilled worker visa with Tier 2 visa, global talent, Tier 1 visa, sole representative, Global Talent , Innovator, Scale Up, etc to Apply for ILR.  

• Do I need to be of a minimum age to apply for skilled worker visa?

Ans: Yes, you must be 18 years or above.

• Can I use savings to meet the financial Requirement?

Ans: Yes, you can use savings to meet the financial requirement

• Can I combine savings with my spouse or have a joint account for financial requirement?

Ans: Yes, you are allowed to do this provided you provide evidence according to Appendix Fianance of Immigration Rules

• Why should I choose you?

Ans: Our service is second to none and we have greatly experienced caseworkers. Check our reviews as they speak for themselves.