UK Skilled Worker Visa: Living and Working in the UK

The UK Skilled Worker Visa immigration route offers excellent opportunities for persons to live and work in the UK. The route is also highly beneficial to UK companies that want to employ overseas workers. The route allows UK employers to acquire valuable skills from outside the UK.

How to qualify for the Skilled Worker Visa

To qualify for the Skilled Worker visa, an applicant has to have a certificate of sponsorship. The certificate must be from a licenced UK employer. An approved UK employer is also known as a Sponsor. The job on offer has to be on the list of eligible occupations. The employee has to be paid a minimum salary. This minimum salary will depend on the type of work they do. The specific eligibility in every case will depend on the particular job offer. We therefore highly recommend that applicants seek the advice of a Breytenbachs consultant.

Salary Requirements

Update Notice – July 2025:

Following changes to the UK Immigration Rules on 22 July 2025, the general Skilled Worker salary threshold has increased to £41,700 per year. Applicants must meet this updated requirement unless transitional provisions or specific exceptions apply.

You will normally need a salary of at least £38,700 per year,this is known as the “general salary rate”. However, if the ‘going rate’ for your job type is higher than this amount, you have to earn at least the higher amount. There are certain exceptions, including for those who were already in the UK as a Skilled Migrant Worker prior to 4 April 2024.

Reduced rates are also in place for positions that fall under the Immigration Salary List, for recent UK graduates and migrants under the age of 26, and for positions which require a PhD.

Most healthcare and education jobs benefit from much lower salary requirements, with the relevant rates being tied into the national pay scales. Your Breytenbachs consultant will be able to advise you on the going rate for your occupation.

Knowledge of English

All UK Skilled Worker Visa applicants have to fulfil the English language requirement. You will be exempt if you have already fulfilled this in a previous application. This Exemption also applies to people aged 65+ (and under 18). It is possible to fulfil the English Language Requirement in one of the following ways;

You are a national of a majority English speaking country.

If certain study conditions are met

Have a degree-level academic qualification that was taught or researched in English. If you studied abroad, you have to confirm this through UK NARIC.

You have passed a Secure English language test (SELT) from an approved provider.

Applicants who are sponsored to work as doctors, dentists, nurses or midwives, and have already passed an English Language assessment by the relevant regulated professional body, do not have to prove their knowledge of English.

Maintenance Requirement of the UK Skilled Worker Visa

You have to show that you have at least £1,270, plus additional funds per dependant, in your bank account. This will show that you can support yourself, and your family, if applicable, in the UK. However, you do not need to prove this if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months. It is also possible for your employer to certify maintenance on your behalf, in which case no evidence of personal savings is required. In such cases, your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this.

Length of Stay

The Skilled Worker visa is valid for a period of up to five years, depending on your certificate of sponsorship (CoS). Applicants will be able to extend their visa or change employers, subject to certain requirements, without restriction, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. However, after five years on this immigration route, an applicant should be able to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Right to Work

While on a UK Skilled Worker visa, you will be able to:

Study (subject to ATAS)

Work in certain capacities, for example, as a professional sportsperson.

Do voluntary work

You cannot do the following:

Apply for most benefits or the State Pension.

Change jobs or employers without following the visa procedures in this regard.

Work in certain capacities, for example, as a professional sportsperson.

Switching to the UK Skilled Worker Visa

It is possible to switch to the Skilled Worker visa from within the UK, from certain types of visas. Please speak to your Breytenbachs consultant to find out whether you qualify to switch.

Spouses and Dependants of UK Skilled Workers

You will normally be able to apply to bring your partner and children with you to the UK. However, there are some exceptions, including restrictions on carers bringing family dependents.

Your partner and children will need to demonstrate that they can support themselves while in the UK. This is known as the maintenance requirement, which is currently set at £285 for a dependent partner, £315 for the first dependent child, and £200 for each additional dependent child.

Depending on when you received your first visa, you may not be permitted to bring dependents if you work as a carer or in a role that falls under either the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List.

Immigration Health Surcharge

Applicants are required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their visa application. The surcharge is payable for each year of leave granted.

Applicants applying under the Health and Care subcategory of the Skilled Worker route are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge and also benefit from reduced Home Office application fees.

The Immigration Health Surcharge is currently levied at £1,035 per adult per year and £776 per child per year.

Skilled Worker Visa Application Fees

Update Notice – March 2026:

Home Office application fees are scheduled to increase from 08 April 2026. This page reflects the fee structure applicable prior to that date. Applicants should confirm the applicable fee at the time of submission.

Home Office application fees vary depending on:

The length of the visa granted

Whether the role falls under the Health and Care category

Whether the occupation appears on the Immigration Salary List

Fee levels are subject to periodic change by the Home Office. Applicants should ensure that they are relying on the most current fee structure applicable at the time of application.

From 08 April 2026, revised Home Office application fees will apply.

In addition to the standard application fee, applicants may choose to use expedited processing services where available:

Priority service – currently £500 per applicant

Super Priority service – currently £1,000 per applicant

There may also be additional fees payable at the visa application centre. These vary by location and service selection and can, in some cases, be avoided depending on the appointment option chosen

Indefinite Leave to Remain

After five years on the UK Skilled Worker Visa you can qualify to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Holders of Skilled Worker visas have to fulfil very specific requirements regarding the minimum salary threshold when they apply for ILR. Please speak to your Breytenbachs consultant for specific advice in your case.

How Breytenbachs can help you with your UK Skilled Worker Visa

If you want to apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa, please contact one of our consultants to guide you through the process. We have a dedicated team of consultants dealing with Skilled Worker visas and sponsorship licensing!

DISCLAIMER

The Home Office intends to make several changes to the immigration rules, and as such, the information in this writing is based on the current immigration rules