The UK Skilled Worker visa remains the best and most popular immigration route for professionals looking for work in the UK. Find out what kind of permit it is and what conditions for obtaining a visa are relevant in 2024/2025

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Great Britain is a country of unlimited opportunities and high career growth, because it is known for its high economic development and considerable salaries. The state attracts expats from Kenya, Nepal, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and other parts of the world. However, not everyone manages to get a job here, because the competition is serious. The most popular immigration route is the skilled worker visa UK.

More on the specifics of obtaining a UK highly skilled worker visa later in this article.

What is a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

The UK Skilled Worker Visa is a work visa that allows foreign workers with the necessary skills to work in the UK for licensed employers.

The Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 visa at the end of 2020. The scheme is now open to those who achieve 70 points for meeting certain requirements, such as skills and salary level, English language skills and having a relevant job offer from a UK employer.

The Skilled Worker Visa is a long-term work visa that is initially issued for up to five years (the exact duration depends on the length of your Certificate of Sponsorship). It is important to note that your visa is only valid for as long as you remain in the same position with your sponsoring employer. If you want to change jobs or employers, you will need to apply for a new skilled worker visa.

It is also worth noting that this permit opens the way to British citizenship.

Skilled Worker visa UK requirements

1. Have a job offer from an employer in Great Britain.

To successfully apply for a skilled worker visa, a foreign national must have a valid offer of employment from a licensed UK employer. It is important that the offer is from an A-rated company on the list of licensed sponsors and meets the minimum salary requirements.

2. Your employer must be on the list of licensed sponsors approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The job offer must be from a company listed on the Home Office's list of licensed sponsors. It is also important to ensure that your employer is licensed to employ international skilled workers.

3. The employer must provide a valid "Certificate of Sponsorship".

To apply for a skilled worker visa, you will need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer in the UK.

4. The position you will hold must be in the list of relevant professions.

You can get a skilled worker visa only for positions that are included in the list of acceptable occupations. You will also need to have a specific set of skills and/or experience for the position you are being recruited for in the UK.

5. Have an appropriate level of qualification.

Candidates for the position of a qualified employee must have a higher education in the relevant field and work experience.

6. Meet the minimum wage requirements for the skilled worker visa in 2024.

The standard minimum salary for a skilled work visa is £38,700 or the 'going rate' for your job, whichever is higher. Each occupation code has its own annual rate, so be sure to check the rate for your job on the UK Home Office website.

7. Have money in a bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

Provide proof in the form of a bank statement that you have at least £1,270 for the first month of your stay in the UK.

8. To speak English

As an applicant for a skilled worker visa, you will need to demonstrate that you have a sufficient level of English. To do this, provide a confirmation document or take an exam.

How can a foreigner find a job in Great Britain? The most popular types of work visas, the top jobs in the United Kingdom in 2025 and useful tips in this article.

A package of documents for obtaining a visa for a skilled worker in Great Britain

To apply for a skilled worker visa, your application must include the following package of documents:

- Your passport (with a blank page).

- Reference number of your certificate of sponsorship.

- Your position and annual salary.

- Your work code.

- Your employer's name and sponsorship license number (as shown on your Certificate of Sponsorship).

- Confirmation of the availability of a sufficient amount of funds for moving.

- Confirmation of family ties with spouse and children (for example, marriage and birth certificate).

- Certificate of no criminal record (this is only required for certain types of professions related to vulnerable people, such as health care and education).

- Confirmation of your level of English language proficiency.

- Tuberculosis test results (if you are from a country that requires this).

The applicant will also need to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and photo). This can be done at the visa center in the country of residence.

In order to safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

How to apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa? Detailed steps for employment in the UK in 2024

You can apply for a skilled worker visa online at the UK Home Office website.

The stages of issuing a permit are as follows:

1. Check your eligibility for a skilled worker visa.

2. Receive a job offer from a licensed sponsor in the UK.

3. Get your sponsorship certificate from your UK employer.

3. Prepare the documents you will need to prove your eligibility for a skilled worker visa.

4. Fill out the online application form.

5. Pay the application fee.

6. Download the package of documents that you must have to support your application.

7. Make an appointment at a UK diplomatic mission to provide biometric information (photo and fingerprints).

The application is usually processed within 3 weeks, so you can expect to receive a response within this period.

The procedure for applying for a job in Great Britain and the peculiarities of the local labor market in this article.

Extension of a skilled worker's visa

To be eligible to apply for a skilled worker visa extension, you must meet the following requirements:

- Have the same job with the same employer as when you received your initial visa.

- Your work must correspond to the same occupation code as when obtaining the previous visa.

- Get a new certificate of sponsorship from your employer that covers your long period of work.

- Check if you meet the minimum salary requirements for your position.

You must not travel outside the UK until you have received a decision to extend your permit. If you do, your application will be withdrawn.

Additional employment for UK Skilled Worker Visa holders

In addition to the main sponsored work, skilled workers are entitled to perform additional work. However, this work must be done outside of your normal working hours. The advantage is that you can work for any employer, if he meets the conditions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding additional employment.

Until April 4, 2024, additional work for skilled workers had to be under the same occupation code as the main job. However, under the new changes, visa holders can now engage in any work that falls under the occupations eligible for skilled workers.

UK Skilled Worker Visa is a popular work permit in Great Britain. If you plan to obtain or extend this visa in 2024, be sure to check whether you meet the new requirements outlined in this article.

We will remind you! A work visa allows foreign nationals to live and work in the UK. However, in order to apply for a UK work visa, you must meet the requirements and provide the necessary documents. We have already told what types of work visas there are in the United Kingdom and the main requirements for obtaining them.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.