UKWork residence permit

Skilled worker visa in the UK

The Skilled Worker Visa is a UK work visa for specialists with a confirmed job offer from an employer accredited by the Home Office as a sponsor. The visa is issued for a specific job: without a certificate of sponsorship from the employer you cannot apply for it.

Visa term

Up to 5 years at a time (tied to the CoS), can be extended repeatedly

Processing time

Usually 3–8 weeks

Work

Work in the sponsored job plus supplementary work of up to 20 hours a week

Residence

Absences must not exceed about 180 days a year

Source: gov.uk — Skilled Worker visa

Who can get the visa

Standard entry on a job offer

A job offer from an employer accredited by the Home Office as a sponsor
A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) describing the job and the occupation code
The occupation is on the list of eligible ones: an occupation code at “higher skilled” level, or “medium skilled” if it is on the immigration salary list or the temporary shortage list
A salary of at least £41,700 a year or the sector “going rate” for the occupation — whichever is higher; under certain conditions the minimum can drop to £33,400 a year
English at level B2 on the CEFR scale (except for applicants of certain nationalities, some medical specialities and part of the visa extension cases)

Extension or switching status inside the country

The visa can be extended with the same employer, in the same occupation code, with a new certificate of sponsorship — any number of times, as long as the conditions are met
For occupations at “medium skilled” level an extension is available if the first CoS was issued before 22 July 2025 and Skilled Worker status has been held continuously
Prison officers (occupation code 3314) can extend the visa or switch to it on a salary from £31,300 a year or on a reduced going rate
You cannot switch to this visa while in the United Kingdom on a visitor visa, a short-term student visa, a seasonal worker visa, a domestic worker visa or on immigration bail — from those statuses you have to leave and apply from abroad

What it costs

Visa applied for from outside the UK — term of up to 3 years	819 GBP
Visa applied for from outside the UK — term of more than 3 years	1 618 GBP
Extension or switching status inside the United Kingdom — term of up to 3 years	943 GBP
Extension or switching status inside the United Kingdom — term of more than 3 years	1 865 GBP
Occupation on the immigration salary list — term of up to 3 years (from abroad or inside the country)	628 GBP
Occupation on the immigration salary list — term of more than 3 years	1 235 GBP
Immigration health surcharge for each year of the visa	+1 035 GBP
Proven savings for your own maintenance (in the account for 28 days in a row)	+1 270 GBP
Additional savings for a dependent partner	+285 GBP
Additional savings for the first dependent child	+315 GBP
Additional savings for each further dependent child	+200 GBP

Documents to gather

The basic set of papers for the application

The reference number of the certificate of sponsorship (CoS) — issued by the employer
Proof of knowledge of English
A valid passport or another document proving identity and nationality
The job title and the annual salary
The occupation code of the job
The employer’s name and its sponsor licence number
Tuberculosis test results — for applicants from the countries on the list
A criminal record certificate — for a number of occupations in education, healthcare, therapy and social services
A valid ATAS certificate — if the work involves research on a sensitive subject at PhD level or above
A PhD certificate obtained in the United Kingdom, or an Ecctis unique reference number for a qualification obtained abroad
A certified translation of documents that are not in English or Welsh

How the process runs

1
The employer issues the certificate of sponsorship (CoS)
An employer accredited by the Home Office issues an electronic certificate of sponsorship setting out the job, the occupation code and the salary offered.
2
Collect the documents and prove knowledge of English
You need the CoS reference, proof of English at CEFR level B2 (or B1 when extending a visa granted before 8 January 2026), a passport and, where required, a criminal record certificate, an ATAS certificate, a qualification or Ecctis reference and tuberculosis test results.
3
Apply online
you can apply no earlier than 3 months before the job start date and no later than 3 months after the CoS is issued
The application is filed online; the form differs for applications from abroad, extensions and switching status inside the United Kingdom.
4
Pass the identity check and give biometrics
Through the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app with a document scan, or in person at a visa application centre — photograph and fingerprints.
5
Receive the decision on the visa
usually 3 weeks when applying from abroad and 8 weeks when applying inside the United Kingdom
Once approved, the visa is granted for the term stated in the CoS, but for no more than 5 years per application.

Who you can bring with you

A partner and children can join as “dependants” — through a separate application

Partner — spouse, civil partner or a partner in a relationship of 2 years or more

A separate application and a separate visa fee for the same term as the main applicant; you must show £285 of savings available for 28 days in a row (unless exempt from the requirement)

Children under 18, and over 18 if they already hold dependant status

They must not be married or in a partnership and must live with the applicant (except for boarding school study); you must show £315 of savings for the first child and £200 for each further child

Renewal and the grace period

The visa can be extended any number of times as long as the conditions still hold: the same occupation code, the same employer, a new valid certificate of sponsorship. After 5 years of residence in the United Kingdom on this visa you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Skilled worker visa	Visa for professional leaders	Visa for business founders
Visa term	Up to 5 years at a time (tied to the CoS), can be extended repeatedly	1–5 years at a time, at your choice, extendable; there is no overall maximum	Usually up to 3 years, then an extension or ILR straight away
Grounds	Employment	Leaders in science / IT / the arts	Innovative business
Work	Work in the sponsored job plus supplementary work of up to 20 hours a week	Full right to work in any field and to change employer without a sponsor	Work on your own business; limited employed work
Residence	Absences must not exceed about 180 days a year	You must show that your centre of life is in the UK	Live in the UK and actively develop the business

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 5 years of residence — ILR

Route to citizenship

Usually a year after ILR, if the requirements are met

Frequently asked questions about Skilled worker visa

Who can get the Skilled Worker Visa?

You need a job offer from an employer accredited by the Home Office as a sponsor, a certificate of sponsorship (CoS), an occupation from the list of eligible occupation codes, a salary at or above the required threshold and proven knowledge of English.

How much does the Skilled Worker visa cost?

The application costs from £819 to £1,865 depending on the term of the visa and where it is filed; for occupations on the immigration salary list it is cheaper — £628 or £1,235. The immigration health surcharge of £1,035 for each year of the visa is paid separately, and you must show at least £1,270 of personal savings.

How long does the application take?

The decision on the visa usually arrives within 3 weeks if the applicant applies from abroad, and within 8 weeks when applying inside the United Kingdom (an extension or switching status).

Can you bring your family?

A partner and children can apply as dependants through a separate application for the same term as the main applicant. You must show savings: £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child.

What is needed to extend the visa?

You must stay in the same occupation code and with the same employer that issued the current certificate of sponsorship. For occupations at “medium skilled” level an extension is available only to those who received their first CoS before 22 July 2025 and have held Skilled Worker status continuously.

What level of English is needed for the visa?

Level B2 on the CEFR scale is normally required — proven by a school certificate or a degree taught in English, or by passing a SELT test. From 8 January 2026 those extending or updating a visa granted before that date may prove English at level B1. A number of nationalities and some medical specialities are exempt from the requirement.

How does this visa differ from the Health and Care Worker visa?

For doctors and workers in healthcare or adult social care the Health and Care Worker visa is cheaper and does not require payment of the annual immigration health surcharge, unlike the Skilled Worker Visa.

Other ways to move to UK

Every route in one list — migration programmes: UK.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.