A Skilled Worker visa allows employers within the UK to sponsor skilled workers from abroad to fill eligible UK job roles.
The requirements for this visa are complex and therefore, you should seek advice from an immigration specialist before you proceed with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist business lawyers can advise you of the requirements specifically relating to you and ensure that the conditions of your employment are suitable to meet the latest Immigration Rules.
A Skilled Worker visa is available for skilled workers of all nationalities that have been offered a position from an eligible UK company who is a registered sponsor. This route can lead to settlement and applicants can be joined by dependent partners and children.
This visa can last up to 5 years before you need to apply for an extension and should be updated if you change jobs or employer. You may be able to apply for a settlement visa (indefinite leave to remain) after working in the UK for 5 years on the Skilled Worker visa.
In order to apply for a Skilled Worker visa, your employer (sponsor) must have assigned you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Employers can only assign a CoS if they are registered sponsor licence holders.
You must be paid a yearly salary of £41,700 in most cases, yet workers may be paid less where they have other recognised attributes called ‘tradeable points’ or work a job on the Immigration Salary List (previously shortage occupation list).
The following may also be included in the ‘key requirements’ list:
In support of a Skilled Worker visa application, you will need to provide the following documents:
However, if your sponsor is an ‘A-rated sponsor’, they can certify your maintenance up to the end of your first month of employment in the UK. If your sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS, you will not be required to provide any evidence of your finances.
Furthermore, you will not be required to meet the maintenance requirement if you have had permission to stay in the UK for more than 12 months.
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Applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa is an online process, through the official UK government website. To apply, you’ll need to answer a series of questions about your employment history, qualifications, your sponsor and much more.
You’ll also be required to provide a number of documents during the application process. This can be tricky, so we’d recommend seeking help from UK-inbound immigration specialists.
The base skilled worker visa application fee is £759 to £1,751, depending on your circumstances. It may be cheaper if you are in a relevant Health & Care role or your job is on the Immigration Salary List. You’ll also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year (apart from some Health & Care roles), and prove that you have funds to support yourself once you’ve arrived in the UK (usually at least £1,270).
Chambers & Partners 2025 - High Net Worth Immigration Report"Latitude Law deliver excellent legal support. They consistently go above and beyond to understand and handle complex matters."
Latitude Law has significant experience in preparing successful Skilled Worker visa applications.
Thanks to our extensive knowledge of immigration rules, we are able to provide pragmatic advice and meet our client’s needs. We have connections with the Home Office and other immigration authorities so we can advise you with confidence and ensure the entire immigration procedure runs smoothly and efficiently for you.
As a driven immigration specialist team, our experts understand the complexity and uncertainty that constantly shifting visa and residence policies create for skilled workers looking to work and settle in the UK. Our lawyers can provide up-to-the-minute legal advice on how any changes will impact your application.
Call us today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Let our legal experts take the strain out of your Skilled Worker application so you can start your successful immigration journey today.
You are permitted to switch into the Skilled Worker route from most longer-term immigration categories. The usual exceptions apply:
If a Skilled Worker visa is approved, you will be granted entry clearance or permission to stay for a period ending 14 days after the end date of your Certificate of Sponsorship (which may be up to a maximum of 5 years after the start date of your Certificate of Sponsorship).
There is no longer any restriction to the length of stay on a Skilled Worker visa.
You can usually apply to extend a Skilled Worker visa if all the following are true:
Yes, the Skilled Worker visa can lead to settlement after 5 years in the UK as a Skilled Worker.
You can also switch to another visa category when holding permission as a Skilled Worker.
Skilled Workers - except for certain health & care workers and those with roles on the Temporary Shortage List (for CoSs assigned after 22 July 2025) - may be joined or accompanied by a dependent partner over the age of 18 and/or a dependent child under the age of 18.
If a Skilled Worker Visa application is refused and you think the Home Office has made an error in considering the application, you can apply for Administrative Review.
Equally, you can get in contact with our expert UK-inbound immigration specialists for more advice on how to navigate the situation following a failed or refused application.
As the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa are complex, to ensure success, you should seek specialist advice from an immigration solicitor before you proceed with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that the conditions of your employment are compliant with the very latest immigration rules.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our contact form and we will get straight back to you. Face your future knowing you have the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
Advised a UK-based products holding company on relocating its Luxembourg-based COO after an acquisition. Our UK immigration law expertise covered sponsor licence management, new licence applications, and employment contract placement. We also handled a TUPE transfer for a sponsored employee, ensuring compliance.
This case study details how Latitude Law helped a company bring over a senior Ukrainian employee in order to escape this war-torn country.
Secured a UK sponsor licence for a leading US music licensing platform, enabling their Executive VP - Marketing, to relocate to London, and successfully resolved the executive’s partner’s visa status with an in-country switch, averting cancellation.
We helped a US executive transition from a Sole Representative to a Skilled Worker visa, overcoming challenges from a Covid-related UK residence gap. We secured a sponsor licence for a management company, ensuring smooth re-entry for the executive and their spouse.
See our other Skilled Worker visa videos HERE
