A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.
This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.
If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
If you or your family member started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.
The deadline to apply was 30 June 2021 for most people. You can still apply if either:
-you have a later deadline – for example, you’re joining a family member in the UK who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020
-you have ‘reasonable grounds’ for being unable to apply by 30 June 2021 – for example, you had an illness or were the victim of domestic abuse
Otherwise you need a visa to work in the UK.
Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Eligibility
Your job
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
-work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
-have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
-do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
-be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do
The specific eligibility depends on your job.
You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.
Knowledge of English
You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.
How long you can stay
Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.
If you want to stay longer in the UK
You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.
After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.
What you can and cannot do
With a Skilled Worker visa you can:
-work in an eligible job
-study
-bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
-take on additional work 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.
Your partner and children
Your partner and children can apply to join you or to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.
Your relationship
A dependant partner or child is any of the following:
-your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
-your child under 18 – including if they were born in the UK during your stay
-your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant
You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.
Your partner
You must be able to prove that either:
-you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
-you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
If your child is 16 or over
They must:
-live with you (unless they’re in full-time education at boarding school, college or university)
-not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children
-be financially supported by you
If your child lives with you, you’ll need to provide evidence of their address such as:
-a bank statement
-credit card bills
-driving licence
-NHS registration document
-an official letter from their university or college
Money they need to support themselves
Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.
You – or your partner or child – will need:
-£285 for your partner
-£315 for one child
-£200 for each additional child
