Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker Visa is a work visa that enables international workers with the necessary skills to work in the UK for licenced UK employers. The skilled worker visa replaced the Tier 2 visa at the end of 2020. The scheme now is open to those with skills at RQF Level 3 (this is equivalent to A-level in the UK) or above in an eligible occupation.
UK Skilled Worker Visa is a long-term work visa and will be initially granted for a period of up to five years depending on the duration of your Certificate of Sponsorship. It is important to note that your visa is only valid as long as you remain in the same role with your sponsoring employer. If you wish to change roles or employer, you will need to apply for a new Skilled Worker visa.
Under the Skilled Worker route, it is possible to extend your visa before it expires, and after a qualifying period of five years, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and then later on for British citizenship.
In order to apply for Skilled Worker visa, you will need to secure a job offer and ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, as outlined below.
There are several notable benefits and differences of the newer Skilled Worker visa route compared to the pre 2021 Tier 2 (General) work visa, including:
• The skill level requirement has been lowered from RQF level 6 to RQF level 3 – this has significantly expanded the number of eligible occupations under this route.
• The minimum salary requirement was lowered from £30,000 to £26,200 (it is also possible to receive a lower salary and still be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa in a wide range of situations, as explained below).
• The new Skilled Worker route is open to new market entrants (e.g. recent graduates).
• There is no cap on the number of Skilled Worker visas available in the UK.
• No Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) is required for skilled worker visa, making it easier and faster to recruit skilled overseas workers.
• The cooling-off period which meant international workers leaving the UK had to wait a year before applying for a new work visa, now no longer applies.
Skilled worker visa eligibility requirements are:
• Have a job offer from a UK employer
• Your employer must be on the list of licenced sponsors approved by the Home Office
• Your employer must have issued you with a valid “Certificate of Sponsorship”.
• The job for which you are being employed must be on the list of eligible occupations.
• You must meet the skill level requirement: at least equivalent to RQF level 3.
• You must meet the minimum salary requirements: £26,200 per year.
• You must meet the English language requirements.
• You must have £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.
Skilled Worker Visa extension
You will be able to extend your visa before it expires as long as you are still with the same sponsor/employer and you are still in the same occupation (this must be in the same occupation code as your current visa). If you plan to change your job or employer, you will need to apply for a new visa rather than extend your current visa. It is possible to extend your visa as many times as you wish.
One of the main benefits of the Skilled Worker Visa is that if you do plan to stay in the UK permanently, rather than just extending your visa, you can acquire permanent residency by applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after 5 years.