UK Skilled Worker Visa Application Service

The UK Skilled Worker visa allows an eligible overseas worker to come to or remain in the United Kingdom to undertake an eligible job with a Home Office-approved employer.

James Immigration Solutions Ltd (JISL) provides regulated immigration assistance with suitable and straightforward Skilled Worker visa applications. We can assist applicants with eligibility checks, salary requirements, occupation codes, supporting documents and online application preparation.

What Is a Skilled Worker Visa?

The Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. It is available to applicants who have been offered an eligible job by a UK employer holding a valid sponsor licence.

A Skilled Worker visa can normally be granted for up to five years. It may provide a route to indefinite leave to remain after five years, provided the applicant satisfies all applicable settlement requirements.

Applicants can read the official Skilled Worker visa overview on GOV.UK.

Skilled Worker Visa Requirements

An applicant will normally need to demonstrate that:

• They have a genuine job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor.
• Their employer has assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
• The proposed job has an appropriate occupation code.
• The job is eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
• The proposed salary meets the applicable threshold and going rate.
• They satisfy the English-language requirement.
• They have sufficient maintenance funds, unless an exception applies.
• They meet any additional requirements associated with their occupation or circumstances.

Having a Certificate of Sponsorship does not automatically guarantee that a Skilled Worker visa will be granted. The applicant must satisfy all the relevant Immigration Rules.

Approved UK Employer

An applicant must have a confirmed job offer from an employer approved by the Home Office.

The employer must hold an appropriate sponsor licence and be authorised to sponsor workers under the relevant route. The official register of licensed sponsors can be used to check whether an employer currently holds a sponsor licence.

If an employer does not have a sponsor licence, it may be able to make a separate sponsor licence application.

Certificate of Sponsorship

A Certificate of Sponsorship, commonly called a CoS, is an electronic sponsorship record assigned by the employer. It is not a physical certificate.

The Certificate of Sponsorship normally contains:

• The applicant’s personal information
• The employer’s sponsor licence details
• The job title
• The occupation code
• The proposed salary
• Weekly working hours
• The main work location
• The proposed employment dates
• Details of whether the sponsor certifies maintenance

The applicant must normally submit the visa application within three months of receiving the Certificate of Sponsorship. The application cannot usually be submitted more than three months before the employment start date shown on the CoS.

Eligible Occupation Code

The sponsored job must have an appropriate four-digit occupation code. The code must accurately reflect the duties the applicant will perform.

A job title alone does not determine the correct occupation code. UKVI may consider:

• The actual daily duties
• The level of responsibility
• Required skills and experience
• The proposed salary
• Weekly working hours
• The employer’s business activities
• Where the role sits within the organisation

Higher-skilled occupations may qualify if the remaining requirements are satisfied. A medium-skilled job normally qualifies only in specified circumstances, such as where it appears on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List.

Applicants and employers can review the official Skilled Worker eligible occupations.

Skilled Worker Salary Requirement

The usual Skilled Worker salary requirement is the higher of:

• £41,700 per year; or
• The applicable going rate for the occupation code.

Each occupation code has its own going rate. Therefore, a salary exceeding £41,700 may still be insufficient if the applicable going rate is higher.

Annual going rates are normally based on a specified working week and may need to be adjusted according to the weekly hours stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

The current salary rules and going rates can be checked using the official Skilled Worker salary guidance.

When Can an Applicant Be Paid Less?

Some applicants may qualify under different or reduced salary provisions. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Certain applicants under the age of 26
• Recent graduates or applicants in professional training
• Applicants with a relevant PhD
• Applicants with a relevant STEM PhD
• Certain postdoctoral positions
• Jobs appearing on the Immigration Salary List
• Some applicants extending or updating existing permission
• Certain healthcare or education occupations covered by national pay scales

Where a reduced-salary provision applies, the salary must still satisfy the relevant minimum threshold and percentage of the occupation’s going rate.

The minimum salary may be £33,400 in some qualifying circumstances, but this does not apply automatically. The applicant must satisfy a specific permitted salary option.

See the official GOV.UK guidance explaining when a Skilled Worker applicant can be paid less.

English-Language Requirement

Applicants must normally demonstrate the required knowledge of English.

For many new Skilled Worker applicants applying under the rules in force from 8 January 2026, the required standard is at least CEFR Level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

English can commonly be demonstrated through:

• An approved Secure English Language Test
• A qualifying UK degree
• An overseas degree taught in English, supported by an Ecctis assessment
• An eligible UK school qualification
• Nationality of a specified majority English-speaking country
• Evidence accepted in a previous successful application, where permitted

Applicants who held Skilled Worker permission before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating that permission may be subject to different transitional requirements.

The correct requirement should be checked against the applicant’s immigration history. Further information is available in the official Skilled Worker English-language guidance.

Maintenance Funds

An applicant will usually need to show at least £1,270 to support themselves when arriving in the UK.

The money must generally have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the final day falling within 31 days before the application date.

The applicant may not need to provide this evidence if:

• They have lawfully lived in the UK for at least 12 months before applying; or
• Their sponsor confirms maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Different maintenance amounts apply to dependant partners and children.

Skilled Worker Visa Documents

The documents required depend on the applicant’s circumstances. They may include:

• A valid passport or travel document
• Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
• Evidence of English-language ability
• Job title and annual salary information
• Occupation code
• Employer’s name and sponsor licence number
• Evidence of maintenance funds, where required
• Tuberculosis test certificate, where applicable
• Criminal record certificate for specified occupations
• Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate, where required
• PhD or Ecctis evidence where relying on a qualification
• Marriage or birth certificates for dependants
• Certified translations for documents not written in English or Welsh

The official document requirements are available on the Skilled Worker visa documents page.

Applying From Outside the UK

An applicant who is outside the UK must submit an online entry-clearance application.

The applicant will normally prove their identity by:

• Using the UK Immigration: ID Check application where eligible; or
• Attending a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph.

A decision is usually made within three weeks after the applicant has applied, proved their identity and submitted the required documents. Processing can take longer where additional checks are required.

Read the official guidance on applying for a Skilled Worker visa from outside the UK.

Switching to a Skilled Worker Visa

Some applicants already living in the UK may be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route before their existing permission expires.

A person cannot normally switch from certain categories, including:

• Visitor
• Short-term Student
• Parent of a Child Student
• Seasonal Worker
• Domestic Worker in a Private Household
• Immigration bail
• Permission granted outside the Immigration Rules in specified circumstances

Applicants in an excluded category normally need to leave the UK and apply from overseas.

The official switching requirements are available on the GOV.UK Skilled Worker switching page.

Changing Employer or Job

A Skilled Worker may need to make a new application to update their visa if:

• They change employer.
• They change to a job with a different occupation code.
• Their new employment circumstances require a fresh application.
• They take an additional sponsored job exceeding the permitted supplementary-work conditions.

The applicant should not begin the new sponsored employment until permission has been granted, except where the Immigration Rules expressly permit otherwise.

See the official guidance on updating a Skilled Worker visa after changing employment.

Extending a Skilled Worker Visa

An applicant may be able to extend their Skilled Worker visa if they continue to satisfy the applicable requirements.

This usually involves checking:

• The employer’s sponsor licence
• The new Certificate of Sponsorship
• The occupation code
• Salary and going-rate requirements
• Whether the employment remains genuine
• Any transitional rules that apply to the applicant

Applications should be submitted before the applicant’s existing immigration permission expires.

Read the official Skilled Worker extension guidance.

Partner and Children

A Skilled Worker’s eligible partner and children may be able to apply as dependants. However, restrictions can apply based on the sponsored occupation, the date sponsorship began and the family’s circumstances.

Each dependant must submit a separate application and pay the applicable fees. A dependant’s permission does not automatically extend or switch when the main applicant makes a new application.

The current rules should be checked using the official Skilled Worker dependant guidance.

Skilled Worker Visa Fees

From 8 April 2026, the standard application fees are:

Application	Up to three years	More than three years
Applying outside the UK	£819	£1,618
Applying inside the UK	£943	£1,865
Immigration Salary List occupation	£628	£1,235

Each eligible dependant normally pays a separate application fee.

In addition, applicants generally pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently £1,035 for each year of permission. Eligible Health and Care Worker visa applicants are normally exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Fees can change. Applicants should check the official Skilled Worker visa costs before applying.

Skilled Worker Visa Processing Time

After submitting the application, proving identity and providing supporting documents, a decision is usually received within:

• Three weeks for an application made outside the UK
• Eight weeks for an application made inside the UK

Priority or super-priority services may be offered for an additional fee, depending on availability and the type of application.

A faster service does not guarantee approval.

How JISL Can Assist

For suitable, straightforward Skilled Worker matters, JISL can provide:

• Initial eligibility assessment
• Sponsor and Certificate of Sponsorship checks
• Occupation-code assessment
• Salary and going-rate review
• English-language evidence review
• Personalised document checklist
• Application-form preparation
• Supporting-document organisation
• Maintenance-funds assessment
• Switching and extension assistance
• Change-of-employer application assistance
• Suitable dependant application assistance
• Pre-submission review

The scope of assistance will be confirmed after an initial assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply without a job offer?

No. You must normally have a confirmed job offer from an approved UK sponsor before applying for a Skilled Worker visa.

Is £41,700 sufficient for every Skilled Worker job?

Not necessarily. The salary must normally be at least £41,700 or the applicable going rate, whichever is higher.

Does JISL provide jobs or Certificates of Sponsorship?

No. JISL provides immigration assistance. We do not sell employment or Certificates of Sponsorship. A Certificate of Sponsorship must be assigned by a genuine licensed employer in connection with genuine employment.

Can I switch from a Graduate visa?

A person with valid Graduate permission may normally apply to switch if they have an eligible sponsored job and meet all the Skilled Worker requirements.

Can I switch from a visitor visa?

No. A visitor normally cannot switch to the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK.

Can I bring my family?

An eligible partner and children may be able to apply as dependants. Restrictions can apply to certain occupations and circumstances, so individual eligibility must be checked.

Can a Skilled Worker visa lead to settlement?

The route may lead to indefinite leave to remain after five qualifying years, provided the applicant satisfies the residence, salary, sponsorship and other settlement requirements.

Is a visa guaranteed if I have a Certificate of Sponsorship?

No. A Certificate of Sponsorship is an important requirement, but UKVI will separately assess all aspects of the visa application.

Contact James Immigration Solutions Ltd

Contact JISL to discuss your Skilled Worker visa application.

Telephone: +44 7944 222484
Email: admin@jisl.co.uk
Website: www.jisl.co.uk

James Immigration Solutions Ltd is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority under firm reference F202538614.

Important Information

This page provides general information and does not constitute advice for an individual case. Immigration Rules, salary requirements, occupation lists, application fees and processing times can change.

JISL provides services within the scope of its Immigration Advice Authority authorisation. Complex matters falling outside our authorised level may require referral to an appropriately authorised adviser.

The Home Office makes the final decision on every immigration application. No outcome can be guaranteed.

Last updated: August 2026