Skilled Worker Visa UK: Eligibility & Salary Guide

Who Can Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa?

The Skilled Worker visa is available to workers from outside the UK (or those already in the UK wishing to switch visa). To qualify, you must have a confirmed job offer from an employer that is approved by the Home Office. You cannot apply for the visa before receiving a job offer — eligibility is tied to a specific role with a specific approved employer.

The Core Eligibility Requirements

According to GOV.UK, to be eligible you must meet all of the following conditions:

1. Employer Must Be a Licensed Sponsor

Your employer must be on the Register of Licensed Sponsors, published and maintained by the Home Office. Only employers on this register can legally issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). You can verify any employer's status using FindMySponsor's Visa Sponsorship Checker.

2. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Your employer must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship — a unique reference number that confirms the job, salary, and start date. Without a CoS, you cannot apply. This is provided by the employer, not the government, and it is free for the worker to receive. Sponsors must not recover the CoS fee or associated administrative costs from the sponsored worker; check the official sponsor-cost rules.

3. Eligible Occupation

The job must be on the list of eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker route. Occupations are identified using Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes. The full list is published on GOV.UK.

4. English Language Requirement

You must prove knowledge of English. For relevant new applications from 8 January 2026, the standard is CEFR B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Some people who already held Skilled Worker permission before that date can remain under the B1 transitional rule. Accepted evidence includes:

• An approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) covering the required four skills and level
• A degree-level qualification taught or researched in English
• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country as defined by the Home Office

Salary Requirements: The 2025/2026 Thresholds

The salary requirement is the most critical factor for most applicants. You must be paid whichever is higher of:

• The general threshold: £41,700 per year
• The 'going rate' for your specific occupation code

The going rate varies by occupation and may exceed £41,700, in which case the higher figure applies. Always check the current rate for your specific SOC code on GOV.UK.

Health and Care Worker Visa: Different Thresholds

If you are a doctor, nurse, or qualified health or adult social care professional, you may be eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa. This is part of the Skilled Worker route with occupation-specific salary rules: some jobs use national pay scales and others use ASHE tables, and crucially, exempts you from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge. This can save thousands of pounds. See GOV.UK — Health and Care Worker visa for full details.

How Long Does the Visa Last?

A Skilled Worker visa can be granted for up to 5 years. You may be able to extend it if you still qualify. After a qualifying five-year period, you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), but time alone is not enough: the residence, salary, sponsorship and other settlement requirements must also be met.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

When applying for a Skilled Worker visa, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your application. The current rate is £1,035 per year per person. The amount is calculated separately for each applicant; children and some other applicants have different rates. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt from this charge.

Dependants

A qualifying partner or child may be able to apply as your dependant, but this is not available to every Skilled Worker. Medium-skilled jobs and care-worker codes have restrictions and specific exceptions for protected existing workers and some children. Check the official dependant rules for your occupation and immigration history. Each dependant makes a separate application; qualifying Health and Care dependants are exempt from the IHS.

What You Cannot Do on a Skilled Worker Visa

• Your permission normally carries a no recourse to public funds condition. Check the official public-funds guidance before assuming a particular benefit is covered.
• Changing your main sponsored employer normally requires a visa update and a new Certificate of Sponsorship before starting the new job. From 8 October 2026, SW 18.3 allows amended work conditions for certain formally recognised victims of modern slavery. Our October 2026 rule-change summary explains this specific exception.

How to Verify Your Sponsor

Before accepting any job offer or making visa application decisions, verify that your employer holds an active sponsor licence. The Home Office regularly revokes licences from employers who fail to meet their sponsorship duties. Use our free Visa Sponsorship Checker, or check the official register directly at GOV.UK.