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In order to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, applicants must have a confirmed job offer from an approved UK employer. The job must be on the list of eligible occupations and you must be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing.

In most cases, applicants must be paid at least the ‘general’ salary threshold, which currently stands at £26,200 or the ‘going rate’ for their occupation, whichever is highest. However, in some cases you can be paid a lower salary by scoring ‘tradeable’ points for certain attributes such as having a PhD qualification that’s relevant to the job you are being sponsored for.

What is the current salary threshold under the Skilled Worker route?

Under the current rules, Skilled Workers must be paid the highest out of the following three options:

£26,200 per year
£10.75 per hour
the ‘going rate’ for the occupation.

The Home Office keeps a list of eligible occupation codes and their corresponding going rates, which can be viewed here .

What are the rules for PhD holders?

If your job is eligible for a PhD salary discount, you can be paid 80% or 90% of the job’s usual going rate, depending on which subject you are qualified in.

If you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) qualification, you can be paid 80% of your job’s usual going rate, as long as you will still be paid at least £20,960 per year.
If you have a non-STEM qualification, you can be paid 90% of your job’s usual going rate, as long as you will still be paid at least £23,580 a year.

In both situations, you must:

have a UK PhD or an equivalent doctorate-level overseas qualification – you’ll need to apply through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) to check if an overseas qualification is equivalent to a UK PhD
be able to prove your qualification is relevant to the job you’ll be doing in the UK – your employer can confirm this.

Which jobs qualify for a PhD salary discount?

The full list of jobs that currently qualify for a PhD salary discount is as follows:

1115 Chief executives and senior officials
1121 Production managers and directors in manufacturing
1122 Production managers and directors in construction
1123 Production managers and directors in mining and energy
1131 Financial managers and directors
1132 Marketing and sales directors
1134 Advertising and public relations directors
1135 Human resource managers and directors
1136 Information technology and telecommunications directors
1139 Functional managers and directors not elsewhere classified
1150 Financial institution managers and directors
1161 Managers and directors in transport and distribution
1162 Managers and directors in storage and warehousing
1172 Senior police officers
1173 Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services
1181 Health services and public health managers and directors
1184 Social services managers and directors
1190 Managers and directors in retail and wholesale
2111 Chemical Scientists
2112 Biological scientists and biochemists
2113 Physical scientists
2114 Social and humanities scientists
2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified (For Skilled Worker purposes, occupation code 2119 includes researchers in research organisations other than universities).
2121 Civil engineers
2122 Mechanical engineers
2123 Electrical engineers
2124 Electronics engineers
2126 Design and development engineers
2127 Production and process engineers
2129 Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified
2133 IT specialist managers
2134 IT project and programme managers
2135 IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
2136 Programmers and software development professionals
2137 Web design and development professionals
2139 Information technology and telecommunications professionals not elsewhere classified
2141 Conservation professionals
2142 Environment professionals
2150 Research and development managers
2216 Veterinarians
2311 Higher education teaching professionals
2317 Senior professionals of educational establishments
2318 Education advisers and school inspectors
2319 Teaching and other educational professionals not elsewhere classified
2412 Barristers and judges
2413 Solicitors
2419 Legal professionals not elsewhere classified
2421 Chartered and certified accountants
2423 Management consultants and business analysts
2424 Business and financial project management professionals
2425 Actuaries, economists and statisticians
2426 Business and related research professionals
2429 Business, research and administrative professionals not elsewhere classified
2431 Architects
2432 Town planning officers
2433 Quantity surveyors
2434 Chartered surveyors
2435 Chartered architectural technologists
2436 Construction project managers and related professionals
2443 Probation officers
2449 Welfare professionals not elsewhere classified
2451 Librarians
2452 Archivists and curators
2461 Quality control and planning engineers
2462 Quality assurance and regulatory professionals
2463 Environmental health professionals
2471 Journalists, newspaper and periodical editors
2472 Public relations professionals
2473 Advertising accounts managers and creative directors
3111 Laboratory technicians
3112 Electrical and electronics technicians
3113 Engineering technicians
3114 Building and civil engineering technicians
3115 Quality assurance technicians
3116 Planning, process and production technicians
3119 Science, engineering and production technicians not elsewhere classified
3121 Architectural and town planning technicians
3122 Draughtspersons
3131 IT operations technicians
3132 IT user support technicians

To find out the discounted PhD salary rates for the above occupations, please refer to the full list here .

Note: The annual salaries for these jobs are based on a 37.5-hour working week. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by your employer.

You must also meet the other eligibility requirements for the Skilled Worker visa.

Other options for PhD holders

The UK is on the lookout for highly qualified professionals and offers several immigration options depending on your circumstances. Besides the Skilled Worker route, you may be eligible for the following visa types:

Global Talent visa – If you’re a research or academic leader, you may also be eligible to apply for the Global Talent visa. This visa has no language or minimum salary requirements.
High Potential Individual visa – This unsponsored visa gives you permission to work or look for work at any skill level in the UK for up to 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification. To apply, you must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible international university in the last 5 years.
Graduate visa – This unsponsored visa gives you permission to work or look for work at any skill level in the UK for up to 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification. To apply, you must have successfully completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at an eligible UK institution.

For expert advice on the best visa category for you, please speak to Smith Stone Walters. Our immigration experts will assess your eligibility for the various UK work routes and manage the visa application on your behalf. To find out more, please contact us today .

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Can I Study In The UK On A Skilled Worker Visa?

If you are planning to come to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa in 2021, or if you are already here, it is important to ensure that you keep within the conditions of your stay. All too often, we hear of cases where the visa holder inadvertently breaches the terms of their visa, putting them at significant risk of having their immigration leave cancelled or revoked and being required to leave the country. And unfortunately, having a visa revoked can jeopardise future immigration applications. For this reason, we always recommend checking with the Home Office or an immigration Solicitor before making a change, whether it is varying your hours at work, changing roles, working a second job, or starting part-time study. In this article, we will explain the immigration rules for Skilled Worker visa holders who wish to study while working in the UK.

Can I Study While Working In The UK On A Skilled Worker Visa?

Yes, the Home Office is quite flexible when it comes to allowing Skilled Worker visa holders to study. The rules state that Skilled Worker visa holders can:

work in an eligible job
bring their partner and children as ‘dependants’
take on additional work in certain circumstances
do voluntary work
travel abroad and return to the UK
apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) after living in the UK for five years

They cannot, however, apply to access public funds, benefits, or a state pension.

Are There Any Limits On The Study Which Can Be Undertaken By A Skilled Worker Visa Holder?

The guidance states, Skilled Worker visa holders can “study (with no limit on the number of study hours if it doesn’t interfere with the job they have been sponsored to do)”. Hence, if the hours of study conflict with your working hours, or if your study impacts your work, this may breach your Skilled Worker conditions. The only real provision beyond this is that if you are planning to study in certain subjects, you will need an ATAS certificate before starting. The Home Office guidance on this matter states, “The Skilled Worker is allowed to study, but they must obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for the course or research they intend to undertake and present it to their education provider before they start their study if:

they are not a national of the countries listed in Appendix ATAS 3.1
leads to a master’s degree
leads to a PhD
leads to another postgraduate qualification
is a period of study or research which is part of an overseas postgraduate qualification”.

What Is An ATAS Certificate?

ATAS stands for Academic Technology Approval Scheme. The scheme is intended to provide approval for all international students who are planning to study specific ‘sensitive subjects’. As the Home Office explains, “the subjects are those where students’ knowledge could be used in programmes to develop Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT), weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or their means of delivery. These students must apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before they can study in the UK”. The immigration rules (specifically section ATAS4.1) states that any international students planning to study some subjects in the following areas need an ATAS certificate:

Doctorates or master’s by research

Subjects allied to Medicine (including pharmacology and toxicology)
Biological sciences (including biotechnology, biology, genetics, and biosciences)
Veterinary sciences, Agriculture and related subjects (including agricultural sciences)
Physical sciences (including chemistry, materials science, physics, and astronomy)
Mathematical and computer sciences (including mathematics, IT, information systems, and artificial intelligence)
Engineering (including civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and electronic engineering
Technology (including polymers and textiles, minerals, materials, and maritime technology

Taught master’s

Materials Science
Physics (including Nuclear Physics)
Mechanical Engineering
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering
Minerals Technology
Materials Technology

It is clear from this list that an ATAS certificate is required for a wide range of subjects, not just those one might automatically consider to be ‘sensitive’.

The immigration rules also state that if the student’s course of study is delayed or postponed for more than three months (calendar months), or there are changes to the course content, they need to apply for a new ATAS certificate “within 28 calendar days and must provide a printout of the new certificate to their education provider promptly”.

How Can I Apply For An ATAS Certificate?

The application for an ATAS certificate is completed online on the ATAS website. You will be asked to complete ten sections during the application process; it is advisable to provide as much detail as possible when doing so. You will be asked about your proposed course of study, including the CAH3 code (all of this information will be provided by your education provider), your personal details, your spouse, your contact details, previous graduate or undergraduate studies, other studies you have completed, any published papers you have authored, your employment history, details of your referees, and details of any financial sponsors where applicable. All of this information will be used to assess whether to grant you an ATAS certificate. The process typically takes up to three weeks from the date of application to receiving a decision.

Wrapping Up

The Home Office is relatively generous when it comes to allowing Skilled Worker visa holders to study while in the UK. This can be highly advantageous whether you want to learn new skills for your existing career or move into a new field altogether. Or it might be that you simply wish to study for a hobby or area of personal interest. Whatever your reasons, we wish you all the very best with your study while working in the UK.

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Skilled Worker visa: relevant PhD qualifications

Guidance for applicants on the skills requirements for the skilled worker visa..

Sponsorable roles: relevant qualifications

Under the Skilled Worker route, some sponsorable roles are eligible for tradeable points for a relevant PhD qualification.

If you are looking to use a PhD qualification as a ‘tradeable point’ for any role listed as being eligible for PhD points in the Government’s Appendix Skilled Occupations , the recruiting manager will be required to provide a credible explanation of how your PhD qualification is relevant to the role you are being sponsored for. Under the Skilled Worker route, some sponsorable roles are eligible for tradeable points for a relevant PhD qualification.

If you are successful in your application, you will be asked to provide evidence of your PhD qualification following the interview process. The evidence that you will need to provide is as follows:

If relying on a recognised qualification awarded by a UK institution

You will be asked to provide a copy of your certificate. An academic reference, together with an explanation why the certificate is unavailable, may also be accepted. Acceptable reasons for the certificate not being available could include the certificate not having been issued yet, or the university being unable to replace a lost or damaged certificate.

If relying on a recognised qualification awarded by an overseas institution

UK ENIC (formerly known as UK NARIC) must have verified it as genuine and equivalent to a UK PhD. You will need to provide the UK ENIC reference number when prompted so this can be included on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

If your PhD qualification is in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) subject, the recruiting manager will need to provide a credible explanation as to how your qualification meets this criterion.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Staff Immigration Team

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Last updated: 17 July 2024 15:11

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Guidance: Skilled Worker visa: jobs that qualify for a PhD salary discount

Uk visas immigration, skilled worker visa: jobs that qualify for a phd salary discount.

Check if your job or occupation code is eligible for a PhD salary discount on the Skilled Worker or Health and Care routes. The table also includes the minimum salary youll need to be paid:

if you have a PhD level qualification in a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subject (80% of the standard going rate)
if you have a PhD level qualification in a non-STEM subject (90% of the standard going rate)

Updated the minimum salary for each occupation.

First published.

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Skilled worker visa

How to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa to allow you to work in the UK after study.

The Skilled Worker visa is the main work visa route for employers to recruit international workers in the UK. It was introduced in January 2021 as part of the new Points Based Immigration System, replacing Tier 2.

you must be sponsored by an employer who holds a UKVI sponsor licence;
the job must be an ‘eligible skilled’ occupation;
the job must be paid at an appropriate salary (which is dependent on the role and person applying).
Switch to the Skilled Worker visa from a Student visa or Graduate Route visa; or
Apply from outside of the UK.
Have dependents - they can apply at the same time or join you later.
Extend the visa and it can lead to settlement after 5 years.

You can’t switch into this route if you’re in the UK studying as a visitor or on a Short Term Student visa.

For some specialised areas of skilled work there are separate categories of skilled workers. For the following roles, see the Home Office guides:

Health and care worker visa
Minister of Religion visa
Sportsperson visa

Always check the latest relevant government visa guidance before applying, as immigration rules are subject to frequent changes.

Summary of key changes to Skilled Worker visa from 4th April 2024

Based on GOV.UK: Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules 14th March 2024

Increase in the minimum salary requirements for applications where a Certificate of Sponsorship is issued after 4 April 2024

Option A (experienced workers/most applications ) from £26,200 to £38,700
Option B PHD £23,800 to £34,830 (10% salary discount)
Option C STEM PHD £20,960 to £30,960 (20% salary discount)
Option D- Shortage occupation/Immigration Salary list £20,960 to £30,960 (20% salary discount will be removed)
Option E (New entrants) £20,960 to £30,960
Option F (Health and Social care visas) £26,200 to £29,000

Increase in the going rates for individual job SOC codes in line with median (50th percentile) salary rate for a specific role from the current 25th percentile

This means a significant uplift for all jobs which do not rely on national pay scales (NHS, Teachers). These rates will be set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupation from 4 April 2024 .

Some roles have been removed from the SOC code list as they are no longer deemed to meet RQF level 3 which is the minimum skill level for skilled workers. The coding tool will be SOC 2020 instead of SOC 2010 .

Applicants in the Health and Social Care route NHS workers will have some protection from the salary increases and increases will be in line with 25th percentile not the median rate for a role . These rates will be set out in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupation from 4 April 2024

There are transitional arrangements for those who are currently on a Skilled Worker visa which will apply until 3 April 2030.

Existing skilled worker visa holders who are extending their visa or changing employer will be partially protected from the higher salary increases. They will need to meet the SOC 2020 going rate in line with the 25th percentile uplift not the median rate. These rates will be set out in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupation from 4 April 2024.

Additional options F-J in the tradeable points table will be created for these applicants.

Option F: (experienced workers/most applications)from £26,200 to £29,000.
Option G (relevant PhD): from £23,800 to £26,100.
Option H (relevant STEM PhD): from £20,960 to £23,200.
Option I (shortage occupation/Immigration Salary List): from £20,960 to £23,200.
Option J (new entrants): from £20,960 to £23,200.

Removal of the Shortage Occupation List and replacing it with an Immigration Salary List

The number of occupations deemed to be in shortage has been significantly reduced and there will no longer be a 20% salary discount applied.

Relaxing the supplementary work permission rules

Skilled workers assigned sponsorship after 4 April 2024 will be able to undertake 20 hours supplementary work in any role that would meet the skill level for visa sponsorship and not just in the same profession or shortage occupation, which is the current rule.

Obtaining points

The Skilled Worker Visa is a points-based visa. To apply, you must have a minimum of 70 points, 50 are mandatory and the remaining 20 are ‘tradeable’.

Mandatory points

You must have an offer of a job from a licensed sponsor.
The job must be at or above the minimum skill level: RQF3 level or equivalent (A-Level or equivalent qualification). You don’t need to hold a formal qualification, it’s the skill level of the job which is important.
You must speak English to an acceptable standard.

Tradeable points

You must obtain a further 20 ‘tradeable’ points through a combination of points for meeting the appropriate salary or ‘going rate’.

You can also earn points if:

the role is on the Immigration Salary list
you hold a relevant PhD qualification; or
you’re a new entrant to the job market (students and recent graduates will usually qualify as ‘new entrants)

Non-tradeable points (mandatory) - 50 points required

Offer of a job by an approved sponsor: 20 points
Job at an appropriate skill level: 20 points
English language skills at level B1 (intermediate): 10 points

Tradeable points: new salary thresholds from 4 April 2024

20 points are required from any of following options:

A (20 points)

Salary equals or exceeds both:

£38,700 per year ; and
The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile)
Min £15.88 per hour

B (20 points)

PhD in a subject relevant to the job and salary equals or exceeds both:

£34,830 per year and
90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile)

C (20 points)

PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and salary equals or exceeds both:

£30,960 per year and
80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code ( 50th percentile)

D (20 points)

Job is on the Immigration Salary List and salary equals or exceeds both:

£30,960 per year;
and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile)

(A going rate /salary discount is not applicable for this option)

E (20 points)

Applicant is new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£30,960 per year; and
70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (50th percentile)

The following options are for skilled worker visa holders who had CoS issued before 4 April 2024 when they are extending or changing employer:

F (20 points)

£29,000 per year ; and
The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
Min £11.90 per hours

G (20 points)

£26,100 per year and
90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
Min £11.90 per hour

H (20 points)

PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£23,200 per year ; and
80% of the going rate for SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)

I (20 points)

Min £11.90 per hour

J (20 points)

Applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£23,200 per year and
70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)

(This option is for someone applying for a role in Health and Education Sector)

K (20 points)

Job is in a listed health or education occupation and salary equals or exceeds both of:

The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code (25th percentile)
If a national pay scale applies to the role, it needs to meet the appropriate rate eg NHS, teachers

Eligibility requirements

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must satisfy the following criteria. (Click on the links for further information on what each requirement means and how to meet them)

You are 18 or over
You have a valid passport with at least 1 blank page
You have provided a valid TB certificate (if required)
You have a valid ATAS certificate if required
You meet the general security and suitability requirements and not be in breach of immigration laws
Your job offer is a genuine vacancy
Your job is eligible and meets the appropriate skill level (RQF level 3)
You’ll be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both a general salary threshold and the ‘going rate' for the occupation
You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job
You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B1
You have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds
You have provided a criminal record certificate (if required)
You have consent from your financial sponsor to remain in the UK (if financially sponsored in the last 12 months by an official sponsor e.g. government or an International Scholarship agency).
Your sponsor has paid any required Immigration Skills Charge (not applicable for most students switching in UK)

When to apply

From 17 July 2023 if you want to switch from a student visa to skilled worker visa. new validity requirements apply.

You can apply up to 3 months before the start date of the job as stated on the certificate of sponsorship. However, the job must not start before your course completion date. UKVI will generally refer to the course end date as stated on your CAS.

If you complete your studies earlier than expected, you will need to show evidence that you have received your degree award.

It is no longer possible to start work before you have completed your degree with a skilled worker visa.

PhD students can now switch to skilled worker after 24 months of study.

The deadline for applying inside the UK is the expiry date on your current visa.

If you make a valid application by this date, your current permission is automatically extended until the outcome of your application is decided, even if your current visa expires before you get the new visa.

This is a general principle of UK immigration law known as Section 3C leave , which prevents you from becoming an overstayer whilst your application is pending.

Visa processing time is up to eight weeks unless you pay additional fees for a priority application.

Application process

How you access the application is different depending on whether you’re:

Applying from overseas
Extending your visa
Switching from another visa route inside the UK

All applicants must:

Provide biometrics and complete the application form

When you apply you’ll be told whether you can register your biometrics using an ID App or if you must attend a visa application centre.

Pay the visa application fee

The application costs vary depending on where you’re applying from, the length of sponsorship and whether the job is in the shortage occupation list.

There are also reductions if you’re a national of certain EEA countries and if you’re applying for a Health and Care visa .

It’s quite common for employers to cover the visa application costs, so check if your employer offers this.

Check how much your visa will cost

Pay Immigration Healthcare Surcharge

You and any dependants will need to pay an upfront healthcare surcharge as part of your immigration application to allow you to access NHS healthcare.

From 6 February 2024 the rate is:

£1035 per year for workers and adult dependants
£776 per year for children

For more information, visit:

Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application

You do not need to pay the surcharge if you apply for the Health and Care Worker visa.

Visa conditions

You cannot:

Access public funds
Be self-employed
Work as professional sportsperson
Undertake voluntary work
Have dependants who can apply at the same time or join you later
Carry out supplementary employment up to 20 hours, providing you continue to work in the job for which you’re being sponsored for and the work is same job code or in a shortage occupation

The following family members can join you or stay with you in the UK:

Spouse or civil partner
Unmarried partner or same sex partner who is not a civil partner, if the relationship has been ongoing for at least 2 years
Children under 18 if they have not yet applied to join you.
Children already in the UK as your Dependant who have turned 18 will also be able to apply as long as they are not leading an independent life.

If your dependant currently holds a student visa, they cannot switch from student to Skilled Worker Dependant visa in the UK, unless they have completed their course or they are a PhD student and have completed at least 24 months study. If this is not the case, they would need to leave and apply from outside the UK to join you as your dependant.

Your partner and children must have the following amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK:

£285 for your partner
£315 for one child
£200 for each additional child

They do not need to show evidence of funds if they’ve been resident in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months.

Adult dependants will have the right to work (apart from as a professional sportsperson) or study in the UK.

For more information, visit the full worker dependant guidance .

Frequently asked questions

Can i extend the skilled worker visa.

You can extend this visa without limit.

If you found a new job with a different employer you would be able to update your visa, although this would require you to make a new application to extend your visa.

If your job code changes and you’re not in a graduate training programme, you would have to apply again.

In all cases you would need to meet the eligibility requirements and have a new certificate of sponsorship from your employer.

GOV.UK Extending the Skilled Worker visa

Does the Skilled Worker Visa lead to settlement in the UK?

Skilled Worker permission can lead to settlement in the UK after five years of continuous lawful residence under this route. This is referred to as indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

still be required for your Skilled Worker job; and
earn at least the going rate for the job; and
meet other requirements

This is an advantage of the Skilled Worker over the Graduate Route, which is not a direct route to settlement in the UK.

Time spent on the Skilled Worker visa (or Graduate Route) can also count towards settlement under the 10 year long residence indefinite leave to remain application. We do not provide detailed advice or support with this type of leave to remain application.

For more details, see the ‘Settlement as a skilled worker’ section on:

GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker

When can I start working full time if I switch to the Skilled Worker visa?

From 3pm on 17 July 2023 there are changes to the rules for students switching into the skilled worker route. These changes are not yet reflected in the Student immigration rules around work conditions at time of updating, but check the latest guidance before you start working full time for your sponsor.

It is still possible to apply for the Skilled Worker visa up to 3 months before the role will start. However, the start date should be no earlier than your course completion date.

You can no longer start work under Skilled worker visa before your course has finished.

You may be able to start work for the sponsor as soon as you have made the Skilled Worker application if you have completed your degree.

If you’re a PhD student switching after 24 months of study, you can only start full-time work for the sponsor when you receive your Skilled Worker visa.

Further support and guidance

For individual advice on your post-study work options and eligibility, contact ISSAC:

Contact ISSAC

We don’t check visa applications and we can’t advise employers.

For help and advice with your job search, CV and interview preparations, contact the Careers Service . Look out for events and talks on post-study visas advertised via career connect.

Related information

GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa overview and application

GOV.UK: Skilled Worker guidance and eligibility requirements (PDF)

GOV.UK: Sponsor guidance for employers

GOV.UK: List of companies that hold a sponsor licence

GOV.UK: List of the eligible occupation codes with salary ‘going rates’

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Information for students

The Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) answers a range of general student related enquiries

In this article

UK Skilled Worker Visa

Full information on obtaining the UK Skilled Worker Visa, what are the requirements, what are the eligibilities and more details.

The UK Skilled Worker visa allows you to work an eligible job in the UK for an approved employer. This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) Work Visa. The Skilled Worker visa is the most sought-after visa out of all the work visas that the UK offers.

As a skilled worker from any country, you will be chosen based on the shortage occupation list, and you will be eligible to obtain an offer letter without having to take the labor market test.

Eligibility Requirements for UK Skilled Worker Visa

To qualify for the UK Skilled Worker visa, you must meet these requirements:

You must have a confirmed job offer.
You must work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office.
You must have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer with information about the job you will be doing in the UK.
You must have a job that is on the list of eligible occupations (the list is available on the UK Government website). To find out whether your job is eligible or not, you need to know its occupation code. If you don’t know the code, you can search for your job in the ONS occupation coding tool.
You must be paid the minimum salary for the type of work you will do. To meet the minimum salary requirement for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you must receive an income of at least £27,000 annually or £10.10 per hour, whichever is higher. If the going rate for your job is higher than both of these, you’ll have to be paid at least the going rate.
Your English level must be B1 in reading, speaking, listening, and writing.
You must earn a total of 70 points from the points-based system .

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Before applying for the Skilled Worker visa, your UK sponsor must first issue you a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to confirm that the sponsorship eligibility requirements are met. Only licensed sponsors can issue a CoS, which is a reference number that the applicant will need to submit along with the Home Office application.

For those applying from abroad for the Skilled Worker visa, a defined CoS is required. The employer will apply for defined certificates through the sponsorship management system. You can apply for the visa up to three months before the starting day of employment.

English Language Requirement

You do not need to prove that you know English if you are a citizen of any of the following nations:

Antigua and Barbuda
New Zealand
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States

If you’re a dentist, doctor, nurse, midwife, or vet:

You do not need to prove that you know English if you’ve already passed an English Language test accepted by the regulated professional body. If you’re a vet, you need to prove that you passed an English Language test with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Conditions of the UK Skilled Worker Visa

The conditions of the UK skilled worker visa are as follows:

You can bring your dependents to the UK with you.
Your spouse is allowed to work in the UK as your dependent.
The number of visas issued is not limited.
Minimum salary requirement has been reduced to £25,600 from £30,000.
Fast Track Visas will be provided for healthcare professionals like doctors and nurses.
You cannot apply for public funds or the state pension.
You cannot change jobs or employers without updating your visa.

Required Documents for the UK Skilled Worker Visa

You need to prepare the following documents to apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa:

Your Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) reference number that is given by your employer.
Proof of proficiency in the English language. You can prove your English level by:
Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
Having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English
Having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English – if you studied abroad, you’ll need to apply through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD
A valid passport or another document that shows your identity and nationality.
The title of your job and annual salary.
The occupation code of your job.
Name of your employer and their sponsor license number. This data will be on your certificate of sponsorship.

Depending on your situation, you may need the following documents:

Evidence of your relationship with your partner or children if they are applying too. You must provide documents that prove that:
You’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK, or
You’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
Proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay in the UK. You must submit bank statements to prove you have enough money.
Your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country . You must have a tuberculosis test if you’re coming to the UK for more than six months.
A valid ATAS certificate if your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher.
Your UK PhD certificate or your Ecctis reference number if your qualification is from outside the UK. You need to apply through Ecctis.
You need a blank page in your passport if:
You are from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.
You are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it.
You need to provide a criminal record certificate if you are applying from outside the UK and work in:
Social services

You must submit a certified translation of any document that isn’t in English or Welsh.

Applying for a UK Skilled Worker Visa From Outside the UK

To apply for the Skilled Worker visa, you must:

Obtain the CoS from your employer. You must receive the Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer to be able to apply for the skilled worker visa.
Submit an online application for a Skilled Worker visa. You have to start an online application at the website of the UK government. Make sure you read each step of the application carefully. You must provide the required information and answer in English. You must choose where you plan to live when you start applying.
Upload the required documents during your online application. When you complete the online application form, you must upload the required documents for the Skilled Worker visa.
You can scan or photograph the documents. If you are uploading photos, they must be in PNG, JPG, or JPEG. If you upload scanned documents, they must be either PDF, PNG, JPG, or JPEG.
Pay the visa fee online. As you apply online, you must make the required payments for the application.
Pay the healthcare surcharge. You must pay the healthcare fee while applying online or when you attend the appointment at the visa application center.
Schedule and attend an appointment at your nearest visa application center . You can find a visa application center on GOV.UK. When you attend the appointment, you must provide your biometrics.

Note: You can collect your BRP once you enter the UK, from either a Post Office branch or your sponsor, depending on what your decision letter says.

Processing Time for the UK Skilled Worker Visa

After you apply, you will receive an answer after eight weeks if you are inside the UK and three to four weeks if you are applying from outside the UK. You can pay for fast-tracked processing depending on where your application is being processed.

Fees for the UK Skilled Worker Visa

The application fees for the UK Skilled Worker visa are as follows:

	£625 per applicant
	£1,235 per applicant
	£624 per year
	£719 per applicant
	£1,423 per applicant
	£479 per applicant
	£943 per applicant

What Is the Duration of the UK Skilled Worker Visa?

The UK Skilled Worker visa is valid for five years. When your visa expires or you change jobs or employers, you must extend your visa or update it. As long as you meet the requirements, you can apply for a visa extension for an unlimited number of times.

Entering the UK With a Skilled Worker Visa

When your visa application is approved, a vignette (visa sticker) will be attached to your passport. If applying for a Skilled Worker visa for six months or more, you receive a 30-day vignette which is used to enter the UK. Afterward, you are told when to collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) after you arrive in the UK. The BRP is valid for the full length of your visa. From August 2022, anyone entering the UK with a visa is not required to register with the police. Because of the online application, you have already applied online when providing the biometric residence permit.

Can I Extend a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

You can apply for an extension of the UK Skilled Worker Visa if:

You have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK.
You still work for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship.
Your job has the same occupation code as when you were given your previous authorization to enter or stay in the UK.
You must apply online before your current visa expires. The earliest day is 60 days before your visa expires. You must submit your renewal application form while in the UK.

How to Extend a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

To apply for an extension of the Skilled Worker visa, you must follow the steps below:

Fill out the application form online on the Home Office website. Request a new CoS from your employer to cover your extended period of sponsorship.
Upload any documents required by UKVI to support your application. You can either scan or photograph the documents. The uploaded photos or scanned documents must be PNG, JPG, or JPEG. Scanned documents can also be PDFs.
Pay the application fee and immigration healthcare surcharge. You must make the required payments online.
Provide your updated biometrics at a UKVCAS service point. If you have a BRP, you have to prove your identity by creating a UK Visas and Immigration account. If you have lost your BRP, you must provide your biometrics at a UKVCAS. You must book an appointment while completing the online application form.

Note: If you applied from within the UK, your BRP would be sent to you by courier within 7 to 10 days of getting your decision letter from the Home Office.

How to Switch to a Skilled Worker Visa?

You can apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa. Your family members need to apply separately. Your application will be withdrawn if you travel outside of the UK, to Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man before getting a decision. To switch to a Skilled Worker visa, you must:

Complete the online application. You must apply to switch to the Skilled Worker visa before your current one expires.
Upload the required documents for the Skilled Worker visa. You can either scan or photograph the documents that you will upload.
Pay the required fees online. You must make the required payments online, during the completion of the online application form.
Make an appointment at a UKVCAS service point. As you complete the application form, you must book an appointment to provide your fingerprints and a photo if you don’t have a biometric residence permit.

You must leave the UK and apply for a Skilled Worker visa from abroad if you are in the UK on one of these visas or immigration routes:

Short-term student visa
Parent of a Child Student visa
Seasonal worker visa
Domestic worker in a private household visa
Immigration bail
Because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules.

Updating the UK Skilled Worker Visa

You must apply to update your Skilled Worker visa if you:

Want to change your job and employer.
Your job changes to a different occupation code.
You leave a job that is on the shortage occupation list for one that is not on the list.
You can apply to update your visa up to three months before the start date of your new job.

Can I Obtain ILR With a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

You can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after you have lived in the UK for five years. With an ILR, you can stay in the UK permanently. You must meet the eligibility requirements as follows:

You must have spent less than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months within the last five years.
You must be paid a minimum of £25,600 annually. If you work in education or healthcare, the salary requirements differ because the going rate is based on national pay scales.
Your employer must confirm through a document that you are still needed for your job and meet the income requirements after you get ILR.

Can My Family Members Join Me?

Your family members, your partner, and your children can join you. They have to pay the application fees, and the spouse can work just like you. Dependents you can bring are:

Your spouse, unmarried partner, or civil partner.
Your child under the age of 18.
Your child over the age of 18.

Related Information:

Skilled Worker Recognized Jobs
Types of UK work visas

Global main menu

Human Resources
Working at Queen Mary
Immigration and International Staff
Guidance for Managers
Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa is the primary route for skilled international workers to enter the UK. Much like it's predecessor, the Tier 2 visa, this route is sponsored and the University must meet certain requirements before we can offer an individual sponsorship.

A Resident Labour Market Test is no longer required before sponsorship can be considered but all recruitment must be in line with the Queen Mary's recruitment and selection policy. All post should be advertised for at least 14 days and evidence of the shortlisting and interview process must be uploaded to Oleeo before an offer is authorised.

In order to apply for a Skilled Worker visa the individual will require a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This is an electronic document issued by the Home Office. It is the responsibility of the hiring department, not the individual, to request a Certificate of Sponsorship from Human Resources.

All requests will be assessed by HR to ensure that both the role and the individual are eligible for a sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Only once these criteria are satisfied can a CoS be processed.

HR assess requests for CoS once a week, each Thursday. If the request satisfies the compliance panel then a CoS can be issued:

if the individual is in the UK, then the CoS can be issued that day;
if the individual is outside the UK, then an application will be made to the UKVI and the CoS issued should the application be approved.

Those who are eligible for sponsorship will be provided with a Certificate of Sponsorship for the duration of their appointment, up to a maximum of 5 years.

There is no limit to the time that can be spent sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa, but individuals may be eligible to apply for settlement in the UK after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK.

Sponsored individuals cannot commence employment until they have succesfully applied for a Skilled Worker visa.

Requirements For Sponsorship

Below is an overview of the requirements for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Genuine Vacancy

Before sponsorship can be considered the job must be assessed to ensure that it meets the genuine vacancy test.

A genuine vacancy is when the:

individual performs the specific duties and responsibilities listed on the job profile;
role does not include dissimilar or predominately lower skilled duties;

The Home Office will consider a role to not be a genuine vacancy where:

the duties in the job description have been exaggerated or incorrectly listed in order to make the role look like it is eligible for sponsorship;
the job adverts have requirements that are inappropriate for the job, for example a language skill which is not relevant;
the job has been primarily created to enable an overseas worker to come the UK.

It is essential that all jobs meet these requirements before sponsorship is considered, a breach would put Queen Mary at risk of losing its sponsorship license.

Job Profile

It is essential that the job profile accurately reflects the requirements of the role, and that the applicant's qualifications, skills and experience meet the selection criteria that have been detailed.

Qualifications

It is not possible to sponsor an applicant who does not hold the qualifications that have been listed as essential in the job profile. If the individual is currently undertaking an essential qualification HR must be assured that they will have completed and been awarded the qualification before their start date at the latest.

Offer of a Skilled Role

The role must be considered to be skilled to at least A-Level or equivalent (Regulated Qualification Framework level 3 or above).

The Home Office maintains a list of occupations for which sponsorship can be provided, these occupations are listed in Appendix: Skilled Occupations .

The main duties detailed on the job profile for the role are compared to this list to identify the correct occupation. It is not based on the job title, but the actual activities the role will entail. Human Resources will be able to confirm the standard occupational classification (SOC) code that is appropriate for any particular role.

A copy of the job profile should be provided to Human Resources before a role is advertised to enable an assessement of its suitablilty for sponsorship. Hiring managers are not expected to review all the codes, but their input may be requested. Human Resources will make the final decision on what code is appropriate to ensure consistency across the University.

An offer of employment should not be made to an individual who may require sponsorship until Human Resources have confirmed that both the role and the individual are eligible for sponsorship.

Meet the Salary Thresholds

The below is provided for information only, though it is expected that most jobs will meet the above salary requirements there may be a need to consider the option of using tradeable points.

Human Resources will raise and discuss these issues when reviewing any applications where tradeable points may need to be relied on.

Going Rate

Each SOC code has a “going rate” that is based on Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data. Each salary listed in Appendix: Skilled Occupations is based on a 39-hour working week which may be pro-rated for other working patterns.

The salary paid must be meet the greater of the minimum salary threshold, £25,600, or the “going rate” for the chosen SOC code.

Where Less can be Paid

It is possible to pay between 70% and 90% of the usual “going rate” for a job. The salary payable must be at least £20,480 per year and one of the following criteria must be met:

the job is in a shortage occupation;
the applicant is a new entrant to the job market; they must be either under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training;
the applicant has a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD level qualification that’s relevant to the job (if the relevant PhD level qualification in any other subject the salary must be at least £23,040);
the job is a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.

Shortage Occupations

The Government maintains a shortage occupation list containing skilled jobs where there is a shortage of workers in the UK. If the job is on the shortage occupation list, a salary of 80% of the job’s usual “going rate” can be paid.

New Entrant

Individuals can be sponsored as a ‘New Entrant’ for up to a maximum of 4 years if

they are under the age 26 when applying
they hold or last held (within the past 2 years) a Student (Tier 4) visa and they have completed a UK bachelor, masters degree, or at least 12 months study towards a UK PhD.
the job offer is a postdoctoral position in codes including 2311 for higher education teaching professionals or 2119 used by the University for all postdoctoral researcher positions
they are switching within the UK from a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa

New Entrants must be paid 70% of the "going rate" or £20,480 per year, whichever is higher.

Relevant PhD

Only select jobs will be able to make use of the relevant PhD salary discount. If your job is on this list and the salary is less than the required minimum then you will need to provide details of how the individual’s PhD is relevant to the role.

Only guaranteed basic gross pay can be relied upon to meet the salary requirements. Allowances cannot be included.

Part-time working

It can be more difficult for sponorship to be provided for part-time appointments. The part-time salary must meet the absolute minimum salary threshold of £25,600, £20,480 for a new entrant, or £23,040/£20,480 if tradeable points are available. Please do get in touch with Human Resources to discuss specific cases.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

From 21 May 2021 the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) will be extended from students to cover academics and researchers.

ATAS is for security clearance from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for researchers working is subjects where the employee’s knowledge could be used in programmes to develop Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT), weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or their means of delivery.

Academics and researchers in certain science subjects, mathematics, engineering, technology or medicine who require sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route to work in the UK may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate.

Nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate.

Please note that when an ATAS certificate is required, an application for a certificate must be made before Queen Mary can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Find out more about the subjects and occupations that are affected by the scheme on our ATAS Pages .

Types of Certificates of Sponsorship

There are two types of Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS):

Defined, for those who are applying on a Skilled Worker visa from outside the UK.
Undefined, for Skilled Workers applying from inside the UK, and applicants on all other visas.

Defined Certificates of Sponsorship

The University must make an appliciation to the Home Office for a defined CoS when you wish to employ an individual who is not based in the UK.

Application Process

HR will make an application to the Home Office for a defined CoS on your behalf. Once submitted a CoS application will be assessed by the Home Office. Assessment decisions are made on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.

Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship

The University may issue an undefined Certificate of Sponsorship where you wish to employ an indiviual who is based in the UK in an eligible visa category.

We can issue an undefined CoS in the following circumstances:

Switching immigration category: Where an individual who is already in the UK under another immigration category is eligible to switch to a Skilled Worker visa.
Extensions: Where you need to extend leave for an individual who is already in the UK working for you and has or was last granted leave under Tier 2 (General) or as a Skilled Worker.
Changes of employment (1): A current University employee who was last granted leave under Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker and who wants to change to a new job which falls in a different SOC code.*
Changes of employment (2): An individual who was last granted leave under Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker while sponsored by a different UK employer, who wants to start a new job at the University (Please note: this does not include employees transferring to the University under TUPE – seek advice from HR in such cases).*

* Please note: where an individual is making a change of employment application, in either of the above scenarios, they cannot start the new job until their Skilled Worker visa has been issued.

The University has an annual fixed allocation and can make a CoS application at any time. All necessary documents pertaining to sponsorship should be sent to HR to ensure that a timely application can be made.

Requesting a Certificate of Sponsorship

If sponsorship is required Human Resources will send a Certificate of Sponsorship application form to the hiring manager.

The Skilled Worker CoS application form, which must be fully completed and submitted to Human Resources, lays out the required information and documentation that will allow the University to demonstrate to the Home Office that the requirements of sponsorship have been met. Incomplete application forms will be rejected and returned, this will delay the sponsorship process.

Please Note: The information requested is essential for the sponsorship process. Incomplete forms will be returned.

Once Human Resources are satisfied all the Home Office requirements have been met, a Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) will be issued for the duration of the contract, up to a maximum of 5 years in the first instance.

During sponsorship it is important that any changes to a Skilled Worker visa holders employment is reported to Human Resources.

Requests for Certificates of Sponsorship are assessed by HR on a weekly basis, each Thursday.

Cost of Sponsorship

There are costs associated with sponsoring any individual which are payable by the hiring department.

Each Certificate of Sponsorship will cost £239.
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is payable for some positions. The cost will be:
£364 for any stated period of employment up to 12 months, plus
£182 for each subsequent 6-month period stated on the CoS

Please Note : The cost of sponsorship is not a valid reason to reject an individual for a position. All candidates should be assessed on the merit of their application alone. Rejection of a candidate on the basis of cost would leave the University open to a claim of indirect discrimination under the Equality Act (2010).

Exemptions to the Certificate of Sponsorship fee

From 26 February 2022, nationals from countries who have ratified the Council of Europe’s Social Charter of 1961 will no longer be exempt from the £239 fee for a Certificate of Sponsorship. Further information on CESC nationals is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/fee-arrangements-for-cesc-nationals/fee-arrangements-for-cesc-nationals

Exemptions to the Immigration Skills Charge

You will be exempt from the ISC if:

you are employing someone who is switching into the Skilled Worker route from Tier 4 or the Student route;
you are employing someone in a PhD level SOC code;
you are employing an overseas worker for less than 6 months; or
you are extending the visa of an exempt employee.

How Long Does a Visa Application Take?

Application processing times will depend on where the application is being made but processing times can take up to 8 weeks. Applicants will need to submit an online application and prove their identity either in person for non-EEA nationals or via an official app for EEA nationals.

Applying from outside the UK

Once the individual has applied online, proved their identity, and provided their documents, they'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

An application may take longer, for example because:

supporting documents need to be verified
a need to attend an interview
personal circumstances, for example if they have a criminal conviction

Applying from inside the UK

Once the individual has applied online, proved their identity, and provided their documents, they'll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

Managing Sponsored Workers

The Home Office requires all organisations that sponsor employees, including the Queen Mary, to keep certain records and report particular changes to them.

While the sponsored individual has a duty to keep the University updated, the University also has a duty to maintain these details and report any changes. As the manager of a sponsored worker, you are responsible for ensuring that the University is meeting our reporting and recording duties as described below:

Please ensure that you (or the sponsored employee that reports to you, where appropriate) tell Human Resources immediately if:

The sponsored individual does not arrive to start work on the first day of employment, and the reason if known (e.g. a missed flight).
They take unauthorised absence for more than ten consecutive working days.
If significant changes to their employment are being planned or considered. For example, change of role, job title, duties, hours or salary (except for annual increments and cost of living) or TUPE transfer. Depending on the change, we may have to notify or seek approval from the Home Office before it can take place.
If the University is no longer required to sponsor the individual. For example, because:
Their contract of employment has been terminated for any reason (including resignation)
They wish to take more than one month’s unpaid leave (other than maternity, paternity, adoption or sick leave)
They have changed immigration status (for example, obtained indefinite leave to remain, acquired British Citizenship or moved to an immigration tier that does not require a Sponsor). You must see documentary evidence (passport stamp and/or letter from the Home Office) of any change in immigration status and send copy to the Compliance Team (with printed name, signature and date).
If the individual loses a professional registration or accreditation which is required for their job.
If the employee wishes to take up other employment whilst still being sponsored and employed by the University.
Any suspicions that the employee is breaching the conditions of their leave to reside in the UK.
You have any information which suggests that they may be engaging in any criminal activity.

Record Keeping

The University must also keep up-to-date records of sponsored individuals’ contact details and when they are absent from work, which means that we need you to:

Remind the individual to inform your departmental administrator immediately if you are aware that their contact details (including home address, home telephone number or mobile telephone number) are changing. Alternatively, they can update their own details on MyHR which is found at https://myhr.qmul.ac.uk/dashboard/dashboard-ui/index.html#/landing
Ensure that the individual follows your department/institution’s procedure for booking annual leave and their leave is always recorded, using the method that has been agreed locally.
Ensure that the individual contacts you (or other appropriate person in your department/institution) if you they need to be absent from work for any other reason (e.g. sickness, bereavement) and that their absence is always recorded. Either you or a designated person in your department/institution must record sickness absence on MyHR; please ensure you know what your local arrangements for this are.
Following discussions with the Home Office, it is no longer necessary for the University to keep records of the whereabouts of sponsored individuals in PhD level roles who are working away from their usual place of work. This exception does not extend to those in non-PhD level roles. In these circumstances, departments are asked to ensure that they know where their sponsored individuals are at all times, and to keep a record of all absences exceeding a day, including time working away from Queen Mary.

Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with this could result in our licence being revoked, suspended or downgraded to a B-rating, and/or a reduction to the number of CoS the University is allowed to assign.

If the University loses its licence, it will no longer be able to sponsor individuals as Skilled or Temporary Workers under the points-based immigration system and all existing sponsored employees would have their leave curtailed.

Overseas Criminal Records Checks

Some jobs require the applicant to provide an overseas criminal record certificate as part of the visa application. A criminal records certificate will need to be provided for those applying from outside the UK who are being offered a job working in:

education, for example teachers, education advisers and school inspectors, childminders, teaching assistants
healthcare, for example nurses, doctors, paramedics, managers, pharmacists, dentists and dental nurses, ophthalmic opticians
therapy, for example psychologists, speech and language therapists, counsellors
social services, for example social workers, managers, probation officers, welfare and housing officers

Those teaching in Higher Education will not require a criminal record certificate.

Find Out More

Overview of Tradeable Points [PDF 138KB]
Employing a Tier 2 / Skilled Worker visa holder not sponsored by Queen Mary

Schools & departments

Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker visa is the main immigration route for migrants who wish to work in the UK.

The Skilled Worker visa is the main work route under the Points Based Immigration System. It was introduced on 1 December 2020 and has replaced a visa previously known as Tier 2 (General).

The Skilled Worker visa is a sponsored visa. Your visa can be sponsored for the length of your employment, up to 5 years. You can extend it as many times as you like, but after 5 years you may be eligible to apply to settle permanently in the UK.

You can check the GOV visa page for a brief Skilled Worker overview and about how much it costs .

Eligibility criteria

The Skilled Worker visa is a points-based visa. To be eligible, you must score a minimum of 70 points in total (50 points toward mandatory or 'non-tradeable' criteria and 20 points toward 'tradeable' criteria).

Mandatory points requirements

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must obtain 70 points (50 mandatory points and 20 tradeable points). You must also meet other mandatory requirements.

Sponsorship (20 points)

You must have a qualifying job that is sponsored by an employer with a Skilled Worker licence. The employer will issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for you to use in your visa application.

List of Skilled Worker sponsors

Job at appropriate skill level (20 points)

Job at an appropriate skill level (20 points)

You must be being sponsored for a job at, or above, the minimum skill level. This is described as Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3, which equates to an A-level qualification in the UK.

You must be sponsored for a job in an eligible occupation code as listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules. Your sponsor must choose an appropriate occupation code 

Appendix Skilled Occupations

English language (10 points)

You must demonstrate that you have an English language level of at least B1 or higher. You can evidence these skills by meeting one of the requirements listed in Appendix English language.

Appendix English Language

Tradeable points requirements

In addition to scoring 50 points for the above criteria, you must also score 20 'tradeable' points based on your salary and other criteria if necessary and applicable (for example, relevant academic qualifications you hold or because you are a ‘new entrant' to the UK’s labour market).

The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes are assigned to each role that can be sponsored under the Skilled Worker route.

Salary thresholds

For applicants who are sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa for the first time on or after 04 April 2024:

Your salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £38,700 per year and the ‘going rate’ for the job’s SOC code.	20 points
You have a PHD in a subject relevant to the job (the sponsor must provide a “credible explanation” as to how it is relevant) and your salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £34,830 per year and 90% of the going rate for the SOC code.	20 points
You have a PHD in STEM subject relevant to the job and the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £30,960 per year and 80% of the going rate for the SOC code.	20 points
The job is in the Immigration Salary List and your salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £30,960 per year and 80% of the going rate for SOC code.	20 points
You are a new entrant* to the labour market and your salary equals or exceeds all of the following: £30,960 per year and 70% of the going rate for SOC code.	20 points
Your job is in a listed health or education occupation and your salary equals or exceeds both £23,200 per year and the going rate for SOC code.	20 points

*Please see more information under the 'Who is a "new entrant'' section

Gov.UK: Immigration Salary List

Gov.UK: Eligible health and care occupations

Who is a "new entrant"?

There are several ways to meet the definition of 'new entrant' one of which is on the basis of recent graduate level study.  To qualify, you must meet one of the following conditions: 

you are under the age of 26 on the date of application
your most recent visa was a Student visa, your Student visa is still valid or it expired less than 2 years before the date of application, you were sponsored to study a UK bachelor's/UK master's/UK PhD or other doctoral qualification/PGCE/PGDE
your most recent visa was a Graduate route visa and it is still valid or it expired less than 2 years before the date of application
the job is a postdoctoral position under specific occupation codes ( see Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 12.2 (b) )
you are working towards a recognised professional qualification in a UK-regulated profession (as listed on the CPQ website)
you are working towards full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body for the job you are being sponsored for

Applicants can be considered new entrants for a maximum of 4 years. This means that if you are applying under the Skilled Worker route for more than 4 years, or if granting the application would mean you would have more than 4 years’ permission in total (whether continuous or not) as a Tier 2 migrant and/or as a Skilled Worker, you cannot score tradeable points as a new entrant. You will need to score tradeable points in another way.

Other requirements

If you are applying in the UK and have been living here with a valid visa for at least 12 continuous months, you do not need to provide evidence of your finances/maintenance. Additionally, if your employer can confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will cover your living costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1270, then you do not need to provide evidence of your finances/maintenance. You must check this with your employer.

If you do not meet either of the above provisions, you must show evidence that you have held at least £1270 in your own name for at least 28 days ending no more than 31 days before the date you apply. The funds must have been held in your own name and cannot be in your parent's name.

Genuine vacancy

The job and vacancy must be genuine, and the Home Office may check this. The Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker explains that the UKVI caseworker assessing your application must not have reasonable grounds to believe that the job "does not exist, or is a sham, or has been created mainly so the applicant can apply [under the Skilled Worker route]" and "whether the sponsor has shown a genuine need for the job as described".

You must also be genuinely intending to undertake the role as described on your certificate of sponsorship, and be capable of said role. This is assessed by a caseworker when your application is under review.

Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)

If you are a Student switching to the Skilled worker route within the UK, your employer will not be liable for the Immigration Skills Charge.

Criminal record certificate (overseas applications only)

If you are applying from outside the UK, you'll need to provide a criminal record certificate for certain jobs. 

If you've lived in more than one country, you'll need to provide a certificate from each country you've stayed in for 12 months or more since you were 18 years old.

Find out how to apply for criminal records checks

ATAS (If applicable)

You may need to obtain Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance as part of a Skilled Worker route application. For further details about whether you will require ATAS, speak to your employer.

Sponsor consent (if applicable)

If you have had your living costs and tuition fees paid by a government and/or an international scholarship agency within the 12 months prior to your Skilled Worker route application, you must provider a consent letter. This letter must be from your financial sponsor and it must state that they consent to your application under the Skilled Worker route.

When to apply

If you plan to apply inside the uk .

If you hold a Student visa for your programme of studies and you plan to apply for a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, you need to pay attention to your timeline for submitting the application.

The options for when you are able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK are mainly based on the type of study you are undertaking:

If you are studying a UK bachelor's/UK master's/PGCE/PGDE

You can apply once their course of study is complete

You can apply if the start date on your CoS is after your programme completion date

If you are studying a PhD

You can apply if the start date of the CoS is no earlier than 24 months after the start date of your PhD programme

You can apply if the start date on your CoS is after your PhD completion date

The absolute deadline for applying is the expiry date of your current permission.

If you plan to apply outside of the UK

If you are plan to apply for a Skilled Worker visa from outside the UK, you can apply as soon as you have received your job offer, you meet the requirements, and you have received your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer.

Further information

We do not provide a checking service for Skilled route applications. You’ll find full information about Skilled route by reading the resources listed on this page. However, if there is anything you do not understand about this information, we are happy to answer general enquiries.

Seeking immigration advice outside of the University

The University does not endorse or recommend any specific firm/adviser or the service(s) they offer. You should make direct contact and satisfy yourself with regard to the quality of firms/advisers before requesting legal advice.

The Law Society of Scotland

OISC Registered Adviser

Most regulated advisers will charge a fee for services, but you should be told about costs from the outset.

You can find further information about the Skilled worker route from the following sources:

Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker  

Gov UK: Guidance for applicants  

UKCISA: Skilled Worker information

Skilled Worker visa information for University staff members sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa (only sponsored workers at the University may use the Staff Immigration Service)

02074940118
[email protected]

Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa allows qualifying individuals to come to the UK to work for an approved sponsor in an eligible role. We guide sponsors and workers with a job offer through the complex Home Office visa application.

The Skilled Worker visa, which replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa, is the main UK work visa for skilled overseas nationals.

Whether you are an employer looking to hire a skilled worker from overseas or are an individual applying for a sponsored work visa, it will be important to understand the Skilled Worker visa eligibility and application requirements to avoid issues or delays with the Home Office application. A refused application will result in the loss of the application fee and the time spent making the application.

For skilled workers and their sponsors, with so much at stake, it is important to seek legal advice to understand the immigration options available and that the Skilled Worker visa is the most appropriate route.

The UK immigration system has been subject to significant reforms post-Brexit, with many varied work visa options now available to different types of workers in different roles and industries. This makes it ciritcal to ensure the Skilled Worker is the best route in the circumstances.

As specialist UK immigration lawyers , we bring substantial experience and recognised expertise in advising employers and workers on UK employment sponsorship and the Skilled Worker visa application. For specialist immigration advice, contact us .

What is the Skilled Worker Visa?

The Skilled Worker visa allows employers to sponsor non-UK nationals to work in the UK in eligible, skilled roles.

The visa is open to individuals who attain 70 points by meeting specific eligibility requirements such as skill and salary level, English language ability and having a qualifying job offer from a UK employer with a valid sponsorship licence.

The Skilled Worker visa makes provision for spouses, ‘durable’ partners and dependent children to apply to join the main visa applicant in the UK as Skilled Worker dependants.

The Skilled Worker visa is granted for up to five years, after which, the worker can become eligible to apply for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain .

What are the Skilled Worker visa requirements?

The rules and requirements for the Skilled Worker visa route are set out in a new Appendix Skilled Worker .

Applicants will need to accrue a total of 70 points to be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa.

The applicable 70 points threshold for a Skilled Worker visa is made up of 50 points for mandatory or ‘non-tradeable’ criteria (ie; the job offer, speaking English and the requisite skill level for the job on offer), and 20 points for what are classed as ‘tradeable’ criteria.

Skilled worker visa minimum salary

For applications made after 4 April 2024, the Skilled Worker visa minimum annual salary threshold for most applicants is £38,700, where no salary discount is available. This is referred to as Option A in the Home Office guidance. In addition to meeting or exceeding the relevant annual salary level, the worker’s pay must also meet or exceed both the relevant hourly rate – which is £15.88 for Option A, and the full going rate for the occupation.

The Home Office has set out the minimum thresholds in Appendix Skilled Worker. The first threshold applies to new Skilled Worker applicants applying for their first Skilled Worker visa; and the second applies to existing Skilled Worker visa holders making new applications, such as extensions or change of employer.

Appendix Skilled Worker sets out the threshold, including the availability of lower salary thresholds, as follows:

Option	Description	Salary Requirements	Points
A		The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both: Occupations	20
B		The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds all of the following: s stated in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations	20
C		The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds all of the following: Occupations	20
D		The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds all of the following: Occupations	20
E		The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds all of the following: as stated in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations	20
F	[Specified Health and Care occupations and transitional provision]	The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds all of the following:	20
G	[Specified Health and Care occupations and transitional provision]	The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds all of:	20
H	[Specified Health and Care occupations and transitional provision]	The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds all of: as stated in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations	20
I	Job in Appendix Immigration Salary List (20% discount on general threshold only) [Specified Health and Care occupations and transitional provision]	The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds all of: stated in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations	20
J	[Specified Health and Care occupations and transitional provision]	The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds all of the following: as stated in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations	20
K	[Specified Health and Care occupations and transitional provision]	The applicant is being sponsored for a job in a listed health or education occupation and their salary equals or exceeds both: code as stated in Table 3, 4 or 5 of Appendix Skilled Occupations	20

Salary threshold for new Skilled Worker visa applicants

From 4 April 2024, the salary threshold for most new applicants is £38,700. This is an increase on the previous £26,200.

A lower, discounted threshold of £30,960 applies for roles listed on the new Immigration Salary List, or if the applicant is a new entrant to the labour market.

Eligible applicants relying on a relevant PhD will now have to earn £34,830, and those relying on a relevant STEM PhD, the new minimum threshold is £30,960.

Salary threshold for existing Skilled Worker visa applicants

The salary threshold of £29,000 applies from 4 April 2024 for existing Skilled Worker visa holders who are making new applications, such as extensions or changing their employer.

Salary threshold for Health and Care Workers

The salary threshold for Health and Care Worker visa holders is also increasing, and from 4 April 2024 is £23,200 (up from £20,960) or the national pay scale for the role, whichever is higher.

Workers applying for a role that is not on a national pay scale will have to meet a general annual salary threshold of £29,000. Lower threshold may be available where specific requirements are met, as we detail here .

These new thresholds apply when applying for a first Health and Care Worker visa or when extending permission.

Skilled Worker Going Rates

Higher going rates reflecting the most recent UK salary data now apply to Skilled Worker applications made on or after 4 April 2024. The rates are set out in two tables. Table 1 covers the going rates applicable to new Skilled Worker applicants, while Table 2 specifies the lower going rates for existing Skilled Worker visa holders when making a new application.

In addition, the new going rates have been set to incorporate the minimum hourly rate requirement. From 4 April, for roles in Table 1, the minimum hourly rate is £15.88, while for roles in Table 2 it is £11.90.

Sponsorship requirement

20 mandatory points must be attained in relation to employment sponsorship. Requirements are placed on both the worker and their employer (ie the sponsor).

The sponsor must hold a valid sponsorship licence with an A rating. The sponsor must also have paid the Immigration Skills Charge .

The Home Office will also look to determine if the vacancy and employment are genuine, ie that the sponsoring organisation has a genuine need for the job.

The worker must have been assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship by the employer specific to the role they are being recruited for.

Certificate of sponsorship requirement

Before the worker can submit their visa application, their UK sponsor must first issue them a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to confirm that the individual and role meet the sponsorship eligibility requirements.

The CoS is a reference number that the Skilled Worker visa applicant will need to provide with their Home Office application. Only licenced sponsors can issue a CoS.

There are now two types of Certificate of Sponsorship : the defined Certificate of Sponsorship and the undefined Certificate of Sponsorship. These replace the old restricted and unrestricted CoS, which were applicable prior to 1 December 2020.

workers already in the UK with valid leave who are applying to switch into the skilled worker category from another immigration route, or
those applying under one of the other visa routes from within the UK or overseas.
Defined CoS are for out of country skilled worker visa applications.

Sponsors will need to apply for a defined CoS. This is a specific application to the Home Office, and details of the specific job and salary will need to be provided.

UKVI allocate undefined CoS to sponsors on an annual basis. The number of CoS will depend on factors such as the size of the sponsor’s workforce and nature of the business. Any unused CoS will be removed from the SMS at the end of each 12 month period. It is also possible to apply for additional undefined CoS during the year.

Skilled Worker visa skill requirement

Skilled worker visa holders can only work in certain eligible roles. To be eligible, the role must be deemed to be at RQF level 3 or above. This is the equivalent of a UK A-level. Any roles considered to be lower than this will not qualify under the skilled worker visa requirements.

When assessing roles for skilled worker visa eligibility, the Home Office uses ‘Standard Occupation Codes’ (SOC).

To determine if the job is eligible for the Skilled Worker route, the sponsor should identify the relevant SOC code for the role. This can be done using the ONS occupation coding tool. The job description on the list should match the position being filled.

Once the code has been identified, this will need to be cross-referenced with the list of eligible jobs to check that it is included and is eligible under the Skilled Worker route.

Employers must not use an unsuitable job code, or exaggerate the requirements of a role to fit into a SOC code, for example, to make the role seem more highly skilled and therefore eligible.

The Home Office may request further information about the role to address any concerns that an incorrect SOC code has been used. This would involve submitting additional evidence that the applicant has the required skills and experience for a role in the relevant SOC code.

If there has been a genuine error in selecting the wrong code, this can usually be corrected. If the Home Office considers

The Home Office can refuse a Skilled Worker visa application if the caseworker determines the job being recruited for or the applicant’s skills and experience, do not match the relevant SOC code and skill level requirement.

English language requirement

The required level of English is a minimum level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale for reading, writing, speaking and understanding English.

Most Skilled Worker visa applicants will need to prove they meet the English language requirement, unless they have already done so as part of a previous UK immigration application or if they are a national of one of a number of exempt countries.

Unless exempt, language ability must be evidenced by either having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English; having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English; or passing an approved Secure English Language Test ( SELT) .

Applicants are exempt from the English language requirement if they are from:

Antigua and Barbuda
the Bahamas
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago

Financial maintenance requirement

The applicant must show they meet the financial requirement, and have sufficient funds to support themselves as they will not have access to public funds such as benefits.

The rules state applicants must have at least £1,270 in their bank account when applying. This amount must have been available for at least 28 consecutive days, with day 28 being within 31 days of making the visa application. The applicant will need to provide evidence of their savings, unless they have been in the UK for 12 months with lawful status, or if their sponsor agrees to meet their costs of up to £1,270 during their first month in the UK.

The sponsor should confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will meet the financial requirement by under ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Additional funds will be needed if dependants are applying. The partner of the principal applicant will need to show funds of £285, and a further £315 will need to be shown for the first dependent child applicant. For any additional child, the financial requirement must be met by showing funds of £200 per additional child. For example, a Skilled Worker visa with a spouse and three children would need to show maintenance funds of at least £2,270 (=£1,270 + £285 + £315 + £200 + £200).

Background check requirement

Some applicants may also need to show a criminal records certificate, if their occupation requires this.

Healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals looking to work in roles in the UK health or adult social care sector should instead look at the Health and Care Worker visa . This route is specifically designed for health sector occupations such as qualified nurses, doctors, adult social care professionals and many other healthcare professionals.

It offers a number of benefits to visa holders over the Skilled Worker visa, such as a lower application fee and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Specific eligibility criteria apply for the Health & care worker visa, with only certain roles eligible under this route, as specified on the Home Office Immigration Salary List. The List is, however, subject to change, and sponsors and workers are advised to double check that a role continues to be eligible when making an application.

How to apply for a Skilled Worker visa

To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, the applicant will need to submit an online application, together with their supporting documentation, and pay the relevant fee .

Applications can be made up to 3 months before the day the worker’s intended employment start date in the UK, as stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

The applicant will need to submit an online application within three months of being assigned their Certificate of Sponsorship. Each certificate has a unique reference number that they will need to apply.

They will also be required to attend an appointment at a visa application centre to enrol their biometric information and to submit various documents in support.

Skilled Worker visa supporting documents

Along with the application form, the applicant will also have to compile and submit documents to evidence their identity and eligibility.

Depending on where the application is being made – in the UK or overseas – the applicant will either have to use the UK Government’s ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to submit the ID document, or submit biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) at a UKVCAS centre.

The applicant will also need to provide the following supporting documents:

Their Certificate of Sponsorship reference number, as assigned by their sponsor
The sponsor’s name and sponsorship licence number
Confirmation of job title
Confirmation of annual salary for the job
Job occupation code
A current passport or other travel document to prove they can travel
Expired passports or travel documents to show their travel history

In addition, it may also be necessary to provide additional documents depending on your specific circumstances, such as:

Proof of personal savings, where applicable
Proof of knowledge of English, where applicable
Tuberculosis test results if from a listed country
Evidence of relationship to any dependants also applying
Valid ATAS certificate, where applicable
UK PhD certificate, or Ecctis reference number, where applicable
Criminal record certificate from any country they have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, where they will be working in either the education, health or social care sector in the UK

Applicants from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, and those from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a chipped biometric passport, must also have a blank page on their passport.

The Home Office will assess their application on the basis of how many points they have accumulated under the points-based system.

It is important to note that the offer of a genuine job with a valid certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee the successful grant of a Skilled Worker visa. The prospective employee must still meet all the other relevant criteria. The Home Office will also consider any general grounds for refusal, including any relevant criminal history or previous immigration violations.

How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?

The applicant will have to pay the visa application fee, with the amount payable depending on factors such as whether the job is on the Immigration Salary List .

The same costs apply to any dependants applying with the main visa applicant.


Applying from outside the UK
Applying from inside the UK (switching, updating or extending)
Immigration Salary List roles for applications after 4 April 2024, and Shortage Occupation roles for applications made until 3 July 2024, both in-country and out of country applications

As well as processing fees, applicants also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of leave.

Read our detailed breakdown of the expected costs of the skilled worker route.

Skilled Worker visa processing times

Skilled worker visa applications generally take up to 8 weeks if applying from within the UK, or up to 3 weeks if the application is made from outside the UK.

It may be possible to pay for fast-tracked processing, depending on where the application is being processed.

How long does a Skilled Worker visa last?

The skilled worker visa is usually granted for up to 5 years. At this point, the visa holder would need to apply to extend the visa or on completing the 5 year residency requirement, they may become eligible to apply for UK indefinite leave the remain .

There is no limit on the number of times the Skilled Worker visa can be extended, provided the worker continues to meet the visa requirements.

Changing jobs or employer as a Skilled Worker

If the visa holder changes sponsor or jobs, they will need to apply for a new period of leave by making an application for a new Skilled Worker visa on the basis of their new Certificate of Sponsorship.

Skilled Worker visa requirements for employers

If you are planning to hire a non-UK resident under the UK’s points-based system, you may need to apply to the Home Office for a sponsorship licence. This is the permission needed for UK employers to sponsor overseas nationals for a visa to work in the UK in a specific role in an eligible skilled occupation.

Employers do not need to have a licence to hire someone with an existing right to work in the UK that allows them to do the job in question, such as those with valid settled status under the EU settlement scheme, those holding indefinite leave to remain or anyone with British citizenship.

To be eligible for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence the organisation must provide evidence that it is a genuine organisation operating lawfully in the UK, and that it is suitable to sponsor skilled migrant workers. In assessing suitability, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will consider if:

The organisation can offer genuine employment in the UK that meets the required skills threshold of RQF3 or above, and pay the relevant minimum salary threshold.
The organisation is capable of meeting the sponsorship duties, where they have in place adequate HR systems and practices, and suitable key personnel, to do so. The key personnel are the people who will operate the sponsor management system (SMS), and be responsible for discharging the duties as a licensed sponsor.
The organisation, its key personnel and management are honest, dependable and reliable, where any history of immigration violations or relevant unspent criminal convictions relating to those involved in the day-to-day running of the business, or the key personnel named on the sponsor licence application, could affect its ability to sponsor overseas workers.

Switching to the Skilled Worker visa

It is possible in many circumstances to apply to apply from within the UK ‘switch into’ the Skilled Worker route, provided certain conditions are met. The rules will largely depend on the type of visa the individual is looking to switch from.

Student visa holders, for example, must generally have completed their studies before they can switch to a Skilled Worker visa, unless the job starts after the course has been completed or they have been studying on a PhD course for at least 24 months.

Switchers must still meet all of the Skilled Worker eligibility requirements.

It is not possible to switch into the Skilled Worker category if an individual is currently in the UK with status under any of the following:

short-term student visa
parent of a Child Student visa
seasonal worker visa
domestic worker in a private household visa
permission to stay outside the immigration rules
immigration bail

Taking on additional work with a Skilled worker visa

There are specific rules governing whether someone with a Skilled Worker visa can take on a second job or earn supplementary income to their sponsored role.

Skilled worker visa holders are permitted to take on additional work (including voluntary work) provided they are still employed and undertaking their main sponsored role. The additional role can be for up to 20 hours a week and must be either in the same occupation code and job level as their main sponsored job, or be a role that is on the Immigration Salary List .

If neither of these two conditions are met, the worker will have to notify the Home Office to request their visa is updated to include sponsorship both of the jobs. To do this, the worker will need a Certificate of Sponsorship from their second employer and an accompanying letter requesting to vary the terms of the current visa.

Need assistance with a Skilled Worker visa application? We can help

DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists. For expert guidance with any aspect of the Skilled Worker visa, from how to sponsor a skilled worker and apply for a sponsor licence, to how to apply to the Home Office for a Skilled Worker visa if you have secured qualifying UK employment, contact us .

Skilled Worker visa FAQs

Is tier 2 the same as the skilled worker visa.

The Skilled Worker visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa, which is broadly similar to the old visa, although there are some changes aimed at making the process more straightforward for both sponsors and applicants.

Who is classed as a skilled worker?

A skilled worker is someone who will be working in a job role in the UK that is deemed to have a skill level of RQF3 or above, (equivalent to A level), as set out under Appendix Skilled Occupations to the Immigration Rules.

Do EU nationals need a visa to work in the UK?

Except for Irish citizens, all EU nationals coming to work in the UK after 1 January 2021 need permission to work, which could be either valid status under the EU Settlement Scheme or a valid visa.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

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Tradeable Points for a PhD in a STEM subject in the Skilled Worker route

Applicants with a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the role for which sponsorship is required will benefit from a more lenient minimum salary requirement when applying for permission on the Skilled Worker route.

Skilled Worker route – tradeable points

Applicants under the Skilled Worker route require 50 mandatory points to be eligible for permission to enter or stay, which are obtained by meeting the sponsorship, skill level and English language criterion.

A further 20 tradeable points must be awarded for meeting the salary requirement. The minimum salary a Skilled Worker needs to be paid for their role will differ, depending on the applicant’s circumstances. There are six ways (options A – F) in which the salary requirement can be met.

The ‘standard’ position under Option A is that an applicant’s salary will need to equal or exceed all of the following:

£25,600 per year;
£10.10 per hour; and
the going rate for the occupation code.

However, applicants with a relevant PhD in a STEM subject can be awarded 20 points for meeting the conditions of Option C, under which the salary must equal to or exceed all of the following:

£20,480 per year;
80% of the going rate for the occupation code.

Therefore, those with a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job will benefit from a lower minimum salary threshold compared to those with a PhD relevant to the job that is not in a STEM subject under Option B and significantly less than the ‘standard’ Option A.

Who qualifies under Option C?

An applicant must be sponsored for a job in an appropriate occupation code listed as being ‘eligible for PhD points’ in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations . The qualification in question must be in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subject relevant to the job that the applicant will be performing.

The applicant must have a relevant UK PhD or other academic doctoral qualification in a STEM subject or an overseas academic qualification confirmed by ECCTIS as meeting the recognised standards of a UK PhD in a STEM subject.

The applicant’s sponsor must provide a credible explanation when assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to the applicant of how their qualification is relevant to the job for which they are being sponsored and confirmation that the qualification is in fact in a STEM subject will also be required.

Where a credible explanation is not provided points will not be awarded under this category and the application will be refused if the general minimum salary requirement cannot be met. It is therefore important to consider carefully how the PhD in a STEM subject is relevant to the role for which sponsorship is required and ensure that a credible explanation is provided in order to benefit from tradeable points under this category.

What evidence must be provided?

Evidence of the relevant qualification must be provided by the applicant when they make their initial application under the Skilled Worker route. Where the applicant is correctly awarded points in this category, they do not need to provide evidence of their qualifications in any subsequent application. However, the sponsor is required to provide a credible explanation in any subsequent applications for permission to stay made by the applicant, where Option C is still relied on to earn tradeable points.

How our immigration solicitors can help

We are experienced in advising both employers and individuals in relation to the minimum salary requirement and should you require any further information about this or any other aspect of sponsorship, please contact us or complete our enquiry form below.

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By Carter Thomas | 10 January 2022 | Education . Personal . Business .

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Beyond Brexit

Not sure which service you need?

Visas and nationality services.

The Visas and Nationality services support you if you need to evidence the level of your degree and/or your English language proficiency for the UK Home Office.

These services are for you if you are applying for one of the following visas or routes:

Family (including spouse), settlement or citizenship/naturalisation
Skilled Worker
Skilled Work: Health and Care
Start-up and Innovator
Minister of Religion
High Potential Individual
Student Route

There are five Visas and Nationality services available:

Visas and Nationality (English proficiency)
Visas and Nationality (PhD verification)
Visas and Nationality (PhD verification with English proficiency)
Visas and Nationality (High Potential Individual)
Visas and Nationality (High Potential Individual with English Proficiency)

It is important that you carefully read the service descriptions below and apply for the correct service.

This is a reference to the information that we provide within these services.

Service	Academic Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS)	English Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS)*	Verification of Degree	Fast Track Available
Visas and Nationality (English proficiency)	ü	ü*	û	ü
Visas and Nationality (PhD verification)	ü	û	ü	û
Visas and Nationality (PhD verification with English proficiency)	ü	ü*	ü	û
Visas and Nationality (High Potential Individual)	ü	û	ü	û
Visas and Nationality (High Potential Individual with English proficiency)	ü	ü*	ü	û

The Visas and Nationality service (English proficiency) is suitable for you if:

You hold a qualification comparable to a Bachelor, Master’s or PhD degree in the UK
You have completed said qualification with English as the only language of instruction.

If your qualification meets both requirements, our team will complete the assessment and issue either one or two statements with the results, depending on the qualification submitted.

These are the:

Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS) – this comments on whether the university (Higher Education) awarded qualification meets a Bachelor, Master or PhD degree level in the UK
Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS)* – this comments on the level of English proficiency required to complete the given qualification according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) .

When comparing overseas qualifications to UK qualifications, we consider factors such as entry requirements to the course, syllabus studied, length of study etc. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and many aspects are considered to allow us to comment on your qualification. With these, our team will then research your qualification and try to determine an appropriate level of comparison with the UK framework.

We aim to complete applications for this service within 10 working days; however, in circumstances where further research or other requirements need to be considered the process can take longer. Our team will notify you through your account if this applies to your application.

Providing documents that we can independently verify will help to prevent delays to your application. This means documents that are verifiable online or downloadable on the awarding institution’s website.

For more information about how we assess qualifications, please see our Methodology page .

Please note that a Visas and Nationality (English proficiency) statement should be presented to the Home Office along with your qualification. It does not replace or supersede your qualification.

* English Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS) – this information is not provided if you have studied at an institution in a majority English speaking country as this is not necessary for the Home Office in these cases. Only the Academic Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS) will be issued, as well as verification if applicable to that service.

Applications for the Visas and Nationality service (English proficiency) are submitted online through our website.

At the bottom of this page, you will see an Apply Now button. This will allow you to register for an online account to begin your application process with Ecctis.

Once you have successfully registered your account and followed the verification link emailed to you, select the “Start your application” button in your account.

This will take you through the application process which includes adding your qualification as an entry, uploading photographs of the supporting documents, providing your contact information to assist with delivery of your order and choosing a delivery option based on your location.

Please note that an application is not submitted until after the payment has been made.

All documents given must be clear colour photographs. We may request further images if we are not able to clearly see all four corners of the page. Please avoid using scanning apps or a pdf, and attach the document photograph as a jpeg file.

The initial documentation required to begin our assessment are:

The final certificate given upon completion of your qualification
The official transcript showing all subjects and grades achieved throughout your studies. This must be produced by the awarding institution. Please note that we cannot accept transcripts from affiliated colleges.
A Medium of Instruction letter issued by the awarding institution, confirming the languages used throughout the course of study. (Further information on this can be found on our FAQ page )
The original language documents, with certified translations of these documents, if they are not originally issued in English by the institution.
Passport / Photo ID
Evidence of name change. We will require the legal document that evidences the reason for your name change (e.g. marriage certificate, deed poll etc) as well as valid identification in your current legal name (such as a passport or driving licence) This is only required if the name used during your studies is not the same as your current legal name.

For affordable, high-quality certified translations suitable for applications on this website, we recommend dialexy.com

Please note that these documents are necessary to begin the application process, however, our team may ask for further supporting documents to assist with our assessment.

This service costs £140.00 + VAT* and your chosen delivery option. The timeframe to complete your order is 10 working days from when we have received all necessary documentation for each submitted qualification and full payment.

All timeframes mentioned include our review process. An update will be given within 10 working days from when any additional documentation is provided. Please allow the full 10 working days for our team to provide an update through the “Order Status” area of the User Portal.

If further documents are required throughout the application process, your due date for completion will be updated and resets.

Please note that additional research or verification measures may be required to complete your assessment. When this is necessary our Team will update you through your User Portal to confirm whether you are happy to proceed. This may cause delays to the original timeframe.

This service is eligible for our optional Fast Track process. Information about what this is, timeframes available and additional fees can be found on our Fast Track page . If your application moves to a research or verification process, we will not be able to honour the Fast Track timeframe and will refund this fee where possible.

*VAT if applicable

The Visas and Nationality service (PhD verification) is suitable for you if:

You hold a qualification comparable to a PhD degree in the UK

If your qualification meets this requirement, our team will issue a statement with your outcome.

This statement will include the:

Academic Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS) – this comments on whether the university-awarded qualification meets a PhD degree level in the UK
The statement will also include the verification result; this is achieved by contacting your institution to confirm that the degree is genuine.

This service will not provide a reference to English proficiency based on the degree.

We aim to complete applications for this service within 30 working days; however in circumstances where further research or other requirements need to be considered this can take longer. Our team will notify you through your account if this applies to your application.

Please note that a Visas and Nationality (PhD Verification) statement should be presented to the Home Office along with your qualification. It does not replace or supersede your qualification.

Applications for the Visas and Nationality service (PhD verification) are submitted online through our website.

At the bottom of this page, you will see an Apply Now button. This will allow you to register for an online portal to begin your application process with Ecctis.

Once you have successfully registered your account and followed the verification link emailed to you, select the “Start your application” button in your portal.

Please note that an application is not submitted until after the payment has been made on your portal.

All documents given must be clear colour photographs. We may request further images if we are not able to clearly see all four corners of the page. Please avoid using scanning apps or pdf’s, and attach the document photograph as a jpeg file.

Certified translations of these documents if they are not originally issued in English by the institution

For affordable, high-quality certified translations suitable for applications on this website, we recommend dialexy.com .

This service costs £210.00 + VAT* and your chosen delivery option. The timeframe to complete your order is 30 working days from when we have received all necessary documentation for each submitted qualification and full payment.

All timeframes mentioned include our review process, an update will be given within 30 working days from when any additional documentation is provided. Please allow the full 30 working days for our team to provide an update through the “Order Status” area of the User Portal.

Due to the nature of this service, we are not able to offer a faster timeframe than the 30 working days.

Please note that additional research may be required to complete your assessment. When this is necessary our Team will update you through your User Portal to confirm whether you are happy to proceed. This may cause delays to the original timeframe.

The Visas and Nationality service (PhD verification with English proficiency) is suitable for you if:

you hold a qualification comparable to a PhD degree in the UK
you have completed said qualification with English as the only language of instruction, or hold another qualification equivalent to a Bachelor, Master’s or PhD degree level in the UK that has been taught solely in English.

If your qualification meets this requirement, our team will complete the assessment and issue a statement with your outcome.

English Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS)* – this comments on the level of English proficiency required to complete the given qualification according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) .

We aim to complete qualifications for this service within 30 working days; however in circumstances where further research or other requirements need to be considered this can take longer. Our team will notify you through your account if this applies to your application.

Please note that a Visas and Nationality (PhD verification with English proficiency) statement should be presented to the Home Office along with your qualification. It does not replace or supersede your qualification.

Applications for the Visas and Nationality service (PhD verification with English proficiency) are submitted online through our website.

Once you have successfully registered your account and followed the verification link emailed to you, select the “Start your Application” button in your portal.

The final certificate given upon completed of your qualification
A Medium of Instruction letter issued by the awarding institution, confirming the languages used throughout the course of study. (Further information can be found on our FAQ page )

Please note that these documents are necessary to begin the application process; however, our team may ask for further supporting documents to assist with our assessment.

This service costs £210.00 + VAT* and the price of your chosen delivery option. The timeframe to complete your order is 30 working days from when we have received all necessary documentation for each submitted qualification and full payment.

The Visas and Nationality service (High Potential Individual) is suitable for you if:

you hold a qualification comparable to a Bachelor, Master’s or PhD degree that meets the Home Office requirements for the visa route.

We will process all undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications which meet the academic level requirements for this service. Responsibility for checking whether the qualification meets the Home Office requirements rests with the applicant.

Academic Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS) – this comments on whether the university (Higher Education) awarded qualification meets a Bachelor, Master or PhD degree level in the UK
The statement will also include receive the verification result; this is achieved by contacting your institution to confirm that the degree is genuine.

We do aim to complete qualifications for this service within 30 working days; however in circumstances where further research or other requirements need to be considered this can take longer. Our team will notify you through your account if this applies to your application.

Please note that a Visas and Nationality (High Potential Individual) statement should be presented to the Home Office along with your qualification. It does not replace or supersede your qualification.

Applications for the Visas and Nationality service (High Potential Individual) are submitted online through our website.

Please note that these documents are necessary to begin the application process; however our team may ask for further supporting documents to assist with our assessment.

The Visas and Nationality service (High Potential Individual with English proficiency) is suitable for you if:

Please note that a Visas and Nationality (High Potential Individual with English proficiency) statement should be presented to the Home Office along with your qualification. It does not replace or supersede your qualification.

Applications for the Visas and Nationality service (High Potential Individual and English proficiency) are submitted online through our website.

All documents given must be clear colour photographs. We may request further images if we are not able to clearly see all four corners of the page.

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Skilled Worker Visa

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The Skilled Worker route allows employers to recruit individuals from outside the UK and Ireland to fill a wide range of skilled vacancies in the UK.

From January 2021, the job you’re offered will need to be at a required skill level of RQF3 or above (equivalent to A level). You will also need to be able to speak English and be paid the relevant salary threshold by your sponsor. This will either be the general salary threshold of £25,600 or the going rate for your job, whichever is higher.

If you earn less than this, but no less than £20,480 - you may still be able to apply by ‘trading’ points on specific characteristics against your salary. For example, if you have a job offer in a shortage occupation or have a PhD relevant to the job.

Skilled worker visa (Gov.uk)

You must meet the following mandatory criteria in addition to passing the relevant UK criminality checks:

You must have an offer of a job from a licensed sponsor.
The job must be at or above the minimum skill level: RQF3 level or equivalent (A level or equivalent qualification). You will not need to hold a formal qualification. It is the skill level of the job you will be doing which is important.
You must speak English to an acceptable standard.

Meeting the mandatory criteria above will give you 50 points; they must obtain a further 20 “tradeable” points through a combination of points for salary, a job in a shortage occupation or a relevant PhD.

Skilled worker in-country applications

Skilled worker in-country extension applications

Skilled worker out-of-country applications

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UK Immigration: The Newly Elected Labour Government’s Approach to Immigration Policy

At a glance.

Labour has outlined plans to address shortages in construction, IT and engineering by reforming the apprenticeship levy to upskill resident workers.
No specific policies have been announced, however it is considered unlikely that the Labour government will reverse the decision to prevent Student visa holders from bringing their family members with them to the UK.
Labour proposes establishing a new body to enforce employment rights and investigate abuses, particularly within social care. However, Labour does not plan to reverse the prohibition on carers being accompanied by family members, acknowledging potential exploitation risks.
In its first day in power, the Labour Party announced the UK-Rwanda asylum plan has been scrapped and that funds would be reappropriated to the newly established Border Security Command.

On 4 July 2024, the Labour Party was elected to power by the UK’s people, with Sir Keir Starmer becoming the new prime minister. After 11 years away from the executive branch of the government, the Labour Party and the prime minister will feel the pressure from the British public to implement policies in alignment with the party’s political standing and move away from the Conservative Party’s approaches to various issues.

This article will summarise some of the changes to immigration policies that may be implemented by this new government.

Reduction of Net Migration

The departing Conservative government previously announced its intention to reduce net migration by an estimated 300,000 people per year. This would represent a substantial decrease compared to the previous two years, when net migration stood at 685,000 in 2023 and a record 764,000 in 2022.

The Labour Party has a historical reputation of showing a more lenient approach to immigration. However, considering the record levels of net migration in recent years, this new government is expected to adopt a similar approach to its predecessor. In its manifesto, while avoiding setting specific targets, Labour announced its immigration policy “will reduce the reliance on overseas workers, address home-grown skills shortages and ensure that hard work is rewarded with proper wages and conditions.”

Work-Sponsored Visas

Labour has outlined plans to address shortages in construction, IT and engineering by reforming the apprenticeship levy to upskill resident workers. Labour intends to review the prior Conservative government’s recent increases in salary thresholds for this category, from £26,200 to £38,700, which represented a 48% increase; this resulted in many businesses having to adapt their hiring policy, specifically in relation to foreign nationals, and many businesses withdrew employment offers to prospective employees whose salaries would not meet the threshold. It could be argued that addressing this issue by lowering the threshold to its previous amount could be detrimental to the government aim of reducing net migration.

Labour also announced an intention to pass laws to prevent employers from overly relying on recruiting of skilled workers from overseas.

International Students

The prior Conservative government implemented policies intended to reduce the misuse of the Student visa route, including preventing Student visa holders from applying for work-sponsored visas before completion of their courses (with some limited exceptions) and from sponsoring their dependent family members (partners and children) for visas.

Labour’s Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has emphasized the importance of international students, recognizing their contributions to the UK’s educational institutions and economy. No specific policies have been announced, however it is considered unlikely that the Labour government will reverse the decision to prevent Student visa holders from bringing their family members with them to the UK.

UK visa application fees have increased significantly in recent years, including the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge, which was increased from £624 to £1,035 per year for adults and £364 to £776 per year for children and students. Faced with these increases, employers have had to adapt their hiring policies or choose to not hire foreign nationals at all.

This also presents an increased challenge for partners and parents of foreign nationals. For example, the total cost of applying for a visa as the family (partner or child) of a British person is approximately £4,900 for a partner and £4,174 for each child, for visas with a duration of two years and nine months. Thereafter, the status holder (partner/child) will have to apply for an extension of two years and six months at a total cost of £3,635 for a partner and £2,988 for a child. These sums do not account for any legal representation costs, visa appointment fees, cost of translating necessary documents, tuberculosis test fees or any other ancillary costs that may be incurred on a case-by-case basis. In other words, individuals are expected to incur fees of up to £10,000 to be permitted to live with their partners and/or children, and this amount increases with each accompanying child.

Labour has not announced any specific policy in relation to the IHS or visa application fees. However, this has been a concern for applicants and practitioners alike and may require government intervention.

Health Care Visa

The Labour Party’s immigration policy also includes measures to tackle exploitation within the health and care sector. They propose establishing a new body to enforce employment rights and investigate abuses, particularly within social care. However, they do not plan to reverse the prohibition on carers being accompanied by family members, acknowledging potential exploitation risks.

UK-Rwanda Asylum Plan

The UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership, also known as the Rwanda asylum plan, was introduced in a speech made by Boris Johnson in April 2022. The plan proposed to relocate asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda. From its inception, the plan was heavily criticized by the British public and the opposing parties.

In its first day in power, the Labour Party announced the £310 million plan has been scrapped and that £75 million of the funds intended for the plan would be reappropriated to the newly established border security force, the Border Security Command (BSC). In an announcement, the new Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced that the BSC will be tasked with strengthening border security and tackling the criminal organisations responsible for bringing people to the UK through the English Channel and the North Sea.

Immigration is always a contentious subject for any party in power and it is certainly at the forefront of minds of the leaders of the Labour Party, illustrated by the immediate scrapping of the Rwanda plan and the introduction of the BSC. However, the party has stopped short of providing specific figures regarding their plan for immigration, ensuring they do not have specific figures that people can assess.

The material contained in this communication is informational, general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. The material contained in this communication should not be relied upon or used without consulting a lawyer to consider your specific circumstances. This communication was published on the date specified and may not include any changes in the topics, laws, rules or regulations covered. Receipt of this communication does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this communication may be considered attorney advertising.

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Entering and staying in the UK
Visas and entry clearance
Visa sponsorship
Applications, renewals and services: SMS guide 3
UK Visas and Immigration

SMS guide 3: applications, renewals and services (accessible)

Updated 17 July 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-and-renew-sponsorship-management-system-sms-user-manual/sms-guide-3-applications-renewals-and-services-accessible

Additional SMS manuals

There are 12 SMS manuals available, plus a supplementary policy manual for completing a CAS. The manuals are grouped into three categories: common, CAS and CoS. The table below describes the purpose and audience of each manual. You should read all manuals applicable to your licence before contacting the relevant helpdesk.

Manual reference	Manual title	Type	Purpose	Audience
Manual 1		Common	Use this manual to log into SMS, change your password, manage SMS users and view important messages posted by the Home Office. In addition, this manual explains who should use SMS and for what purpose. The manual features a full introduction to SMS as well as a comprehensive troubleshooting section.	All sponsors
Manual 2		Common	To help sponsors manage their key personnel, change their licence details, manage PAYE references, and apply for allocations of CoS/CAS.	All sponsors
Manual 3		Common	To help sponsors apply for Premium customer service, Basic Compliance Assessment and manage action plans.	All sponsors
Manual 4a		CAS	This manual contains supplementary information on completing a CAS. Use this guide to determine what information is necessary in each field of the CAS.	Sponsors licensed in the Student Route
Manual 5		CAS	To help sponsors report student activity, for example if a student’s circumstances change or submitting a graduate notification. This manual also contains help with reporting fee updates and adding sponsor notes to CAS that have already been assigned.	Sponsors licensed in the Student Route
Manual 6		CAS	To help sponsors complete all other functions of CAS, such as managing batches of CAS, managing pre-stored addresses for use when creating CAS, transferring ownership of CAS, printing CAS and exporting CAS.	Sponsors licensed in the Student Route
Manual 7		CAS	To help sponsors use the bulk data transfer (BDT) functions of SMS, including graduate notifications. You must have a bespoke IT system in place to use BDT.	Sponsors licensed in the Student Route
Manual 8		CoS	To help sponsors create and assign individual and batches of CoS.	Sponsors licensed in any Worker or Temporary Worker route
Manual 9		CoS	To help sponsors report worker activity, for example if a worker’s circumstances change. This manual also contains help with adding sponsor notes to CoS that have already been assigned.	Sponsors licensed in any Worker or Temporary Worker route
Manual 10		CoS	To help sponsors complete all other functions of CoS, such as managing batches of CoS, managing pre-stored addresses for use when creating CoS, transferring ownership of CoS, and printing CoS.	Sponsors licensed in any Worker or Temporary Worker route
Manual 11	Temporary Work -	CoS	To help sponsors create and manage groups of CoS. Groups of CoS are only available to sponsors licensed in Temporary Work - Creative Worker.	Sponsors licensed in the Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting route
Manual 12		CoS	To help sponsors apply for defined CoS, track applications for defined CoS and once granted, create defined CoS.	Sponsored licensed in Skilled Worker

Term	Meaning
SMS	Sponsorship Management System
CoS	Certificate of Sponsorship
CAS	Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
AO	Authorising Officer
KC	Key Contact
BDT	Bulk Data Transfer
SELT	Secure English Language Test
.XML	Extensible Mark-up Language
.PDF	Portable Document Format
Automation	On 6 April 2014 we introduced new functionality in SMS to automatically renew CoS allocations and to apply changes to your address, or that of your AO and KC. We will write you if you meet the criteria and automation has been set.

Guide 1: How to apply for or renew Worker Sponsor Premium customer service

Follow the step by step instructions to apply for or renew Worker Sponsor Premium customer service.

Step	Instruction
1	From the Licence summary, applications and services screen, select Apply for or renew Worker Sponsor Premium customer service.
2	From the Worker Sponsor Premium customer service introduction screen, choose the fee applicable to the service level for which you wish to apply, then select Next.
3	From the Worker Sponsor Premium customer service declaration screen, complete the date, your name, your position in the organisation and tick the declaration box. When complete, select Continue.
4	From the Premium customer service payment screen, select OK to proceed with the transaction; this will open our contracted third party payment service (Worldpay).
5	When the payment process is complete, the Premium customer service submission confirmation screen is displayed. Select Submission sheet.
6	You do not need to send the submission sheet to us, but you should print and save a copy for your own records.
7	If your application is granted (you can check the status within Applications and renewals tracking), you can view your Premium service contact details. From the Licence summary, applications and services screen, select Premium service contact details.
8	If you have a query you should contact your Licence manager in the first instance. From the Licence summary, applications and services screen, select Premium service contact details.

Guide 2: How to apply for, or decline to apply for a Basic Compliance Assessment (Student Sponsor status)

Follow the step by step instructions to apply for, or decline to apply for a Basic Compliance Assessment. You must be licensed under Student Route and rated ‘Probationary sponsor’ (displayed as ‘A-rated’ in SMS) for 11 months to initially apply for a Basic Compliance Assessment.

You should check the Licence summary screen to see when you are eligible to apply for a Basic Compliance Assessment. You should read the Sponsorship policy guidance before applying for a Basic Compliance Assessment.

Step	Instruction
1	From Licence summary, applications and services screen, select Apply for Basic Compliance Assessment.
2	From the Basic Compliance Assessment application introduction screen, select Next. To decline to apply for a Basic Compliance Assessment, select Decline and see Step 6 for further instructions.
Note	1. If you are a Student Premium sponsor, there is no fee for a Basic Compliance Assessment. 2. If the Next button is unavailable (greyed out), you are not eligible to apply for Student Sponsor status at this time. You can apply for a Basic Compliance Assessment to renew your Student Sponsor status up to 31 days in advance of your Student Sponsor status end date.
3	From the Basic Compliance Assessment application declaration screen, complete the date, your name, your position in the organisation and tick the declaration box. When complete, select Continue.
4	From the Basic Compliance Assessment payment screen, select OK to proceed with the transaction; this will open our contracted third party payment service (Worldpay).
5	Once the payment process is complete, the Basic Compliance Assessment submission confirmation screen is displayed. Select Submission sheet.
Note	You do not need to send the submission sheet to us, but you should print and save a copy for your own records.
6	To decline: From the Decline to apply for a Basic Compliance Assessment – declaration screen, complete the date, your name, your position in the organisation and tick the declaration box. When complete, select Next.
7	From the Basic Compliance Assessment application decline confirmation screen, select Confirm to proceed. If you do not wish to decline to renew/apply, select Cancel.
Note	If you proceed, you will be unable to reverse this decision and you should surrender your Student Route licence. If you don’t surrender your Student Route licence before your Student Sponsor status expires, we will take action to revoke your sponsor licence.
8	From the Basic Compliance Assessment decline submission confirmation screen, select Submission sheet.
9	The must send the completed submission sheet to the address specified within the indicated timescale.

Guide 3: How to pay for or decline to pay for an action plan (Worker or Temporary Worker sponsors only)

Follow the step by step instructions to pay for or decline to pay for an action plan.

If we have written to you requesting payment for an action plan, you must use this function to pay, or decline to pay for it. You can also view completed action plan payment requests that have been made using SMS and track the status of an action plan. Only Level 1 users can view and pay for action plans.

You should read the Sponsorship policy guidance before paying for or declining to pay for an action plan.

Step	Instruction
1	From the Licence summary, applications and services screen, select Action plan details.
2	From the Action plan details screen, you can view your outstanding action plan payments (if applicable). Choose the radio button next to the request, then select Pay. At this stage, if you wish to decline to pay, select Decline and see Step 6 for further instructions.
3	From the Online payment screen, select OK to proceed with the transaction; this will open our contracted third party payment service (Worldpay).
4	When the payment process is complete or if no payment was required, the Action plan payment summary screen is displayed.
5	On the Action plan details screen, you no longer have any outstanding payments and you can see the Action plan current status and the details of the action plan are visible in the Competed action plan payment requests section.
6	To decline: From the Decline to pay for an action plan – declaration screen, if you still wish to decline to pay for your action plan and surrender your sponsor licence, complete the date, your name, your position in the organisation and tick the declaration box. When complete, select Confirm.
7	After confirming to decline payment for an action plan, you are returned to the Action plan details screen, where you can see that you no longer have any items outstanding. We will contact you to initiate the process of surrendering your licence.

Guide 4: How to track new and renewal applications

Follow the step by step instructions to track the progress of your applications for Premium customer service and Basic Compliance Assessment.

Step	Instruction
1	From Licence summary, applications and services screen, select Applications and renewals tracking.
2	From the Applications and renewals tracking screen, you can track the progress of, Premium customer service applications, Premium customer service renewals, and Basic Compliance Assessment applications. Further information can be obtained from the help links on this screen, for instance, explanations of the stages through which applications progress. Select Back to return to the main menu.

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This guidance tells caseworkers how to consider applications to enter, remain or settle in the UK under the Skilled Worker route. 'You' in this guidance means a caseworker. This guidance is designed to be used alongside Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules.
Skilled worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa is the main work visa route for employers to recruit international workers in the UK. It was introduced in January 2021 as part of the new Points Based Immigration System, replacing Tier 2.
UK Skilled Worker Visa
The UK Skilled Worker visa allows you to work an eligible job in the UK for an approved employer. This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) Work Visa. The Skilled Worker visa is the most sought-after visa out of all the work visas that the UK offers.
Work in the UK as a researcher or academic leader (Global Talent visa)
Get endorsement for the Global Talent visa to work in the UK as a researcher or academic leader - fellowship, UKRI endorsement, peer review.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker visa is the primary route for skilled international workers to enter the UK. Much like it's predecessor, the Tier 2 visa, this route is sponsored and the University must meet certain requirements before we can offer an individual sponsorship.
Tradeable points for PhD Skilled Worker applicants
PhD applicant minimum salary requirement. 20 points can be awarded for meeting the conditions of Option B providing the salary equals or exceeds all of the following: 90% of the going rate for the occupation code. 10 points are awarded for the educational qualification and 10 points are awarded for the applicant's salary. The minimum salary ...
Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker visa is a sponsored visa. Your visa can be sponsored for the length of your employment, up to 5 years. You can extend it as many times as you like, but after 5 years you may be eligible to apply to settle permanently in the UK.
Skilled Worker Visa (Application Guidance)
The Skilled Worker visa allows qualifying individuals to come to the UK to work for an approved sponsor in an eligible role. We guide sponsors and workers with a job offer through the complex Home Office visa application.
UKCISA
Skilled Worker visa: minimum salary (new entrants) This guidance document outlines all of the eligible jobs under Option E (new entrant) and their respective minimum salaries. Skilled Worker caseworker guidance. This guidance is intended for use for Home Office caseworkers, but does include helpful information to applicants and employers.
Tradeable Points for a PhD in a STEM subject in the Skilled Worker route
Applicants under the Skilled Worker route require 50 mandatory points to be eligible for permission to enter or stay, which are obtained by meeting the sponsorship, skill level and English language criterion. A further 20 tradeable points must be awarded for meeting the salary requirement. The minimum salary a Skilled Worker needs to be paid ...
Visas and Nationality Services
VISAS AND NATIONALITY SERVICE (PHD VERIFICATION WITH ENGLISH PROFICIENCY) this service is for you if you would like to use your PhD to qualify for tradeable points for the Skilled Worker route, and demonstrate your English proficiency for a UK visa application
Graduate visa: Overview
Apply for a Graduate route visa if you've been on a student visa and want to stay in the UK to work - eligibility, fees, documents, extend, bring your partner and children.
Skilled Worker Visa
Skilled Worker Visa. The Skilled Worker route allows employers to recruit individuals from outside the UK and Ireland to fill a wide range of skilled vacancies in the UK. From January 2021, the job you're offered will need to be at a required skill level of RQF3 or above (equivalent to A level). You will also need to be able to speak English ...
UK Immigration: The Newly Elected Labour Government's Approach to
Labour also announced an intention to pass laws to prevent employers from overly relying on recruiting of skilled workers from overseas. International Students. ... UK visa application fees have increased significantly in recent years, including the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge, which was increased from £624 to £1,035 per year for ...
Skilled Worker visa: Apply from outside the UK
Apply for a Skilled Worker visa (formerly a Tier 2 General work visa) if you've been offered a skilled job with a UK employer - eligibility, fees, documents, extend, switch or update, bring your ...
South Africa Wants to Fix 'Hostile' Skilled Worker Visa Regime
One of the 35-year-old minister's priorities includes adopting a points system to allow skilled workers to take up employment based on their qualifications, job offers and income level. Another is resolving confusion around a so-called nomad visa, which is designed to cater to remote workers who want to base themselves in South Africa.
Skilled Worker visa: Documents you'll need to apply
Apply for a Skilled Worker visa (formerly a Tier 2 General work visa) if you've been offered a skilled job with a UK employer - eligibility, fees, documents, extend, switch or update, bring your ...
Labour shelves foreign worker crackdown despite population surge
Labour has shelved a legal crackdown on foreign workers amid the biggest rise in the population for at least 75 years.
SMS guide 3: applications, renewals and services (accessible ...
UK Visas and Immigration. Guidance ... Sponsored licensed in Skilled Worker: Glossary. Term Meaning; SMS: ... From the Worker Sponsor Premium customer service introduction screen, choose the fee ...

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Skilled worker visa

Summary of key changes to Skilled Worker visa from 4th April 2024

Increase in the minimum salary requirements for applications where a Certificate of Sponsorship is issued after 4 April 2024

Increase in the going rates for individual job SOC codes in line with median (50th percentile) salary rate for a specific role from the current 25th percentile

Removal of the Shortage Occupation List and replacing it with an Immigration Salary List

Relaxing the supplementary work permission rules

Obtaining points

Mandatory points

Tradeable points

Non-tradeable points (mandatory) - 50 points required

Tradeable points: new salary thresholds from 4 April 2024

A (20 points)

B (20 points)

C (20 points)

D (20 points)

E (20 points)

F (20 points)

G (20 points)

H (20 points)

I (20 points)

J (20 points)

K (20 points)

Eligibility requirements

When to apply

Application process

Pay Immigration Healthcare Surcharge

Visa conditions

Frequently asked questions

Does the Skilled Worker Visa lead to settlement in the UK?

When can I start working full time if I switch to the Skilled Worker visa?

Further support and guidance

Related information

Information for students

UK Skilled Worker Visa

Eligibility Requirements for UK Skilled Worker Visa

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

English Language Requirement

Conditions of the UK Skilled Worker Visa

Required Documents for the UK Skilled Worker Visa

Applying for a UK Skilled Worker Visa From Outside the UK

Processing Time for the UK Skilled Worker Visa

Fees for the UK Skilled Worker Visa

What Is the Duration of the UK Skilled Worker Visa?

Entering the UK With a Skilled Worker Visa

Can I Extend a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

How to Extend a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

How to Switch to a Skilled Worker Visa?

Updating the UK Skilled Worker Visa

Can I Obtain ILR With a UK Skilled Worker Visa?

Can My Family Members Join Me?

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Requirements For Sponsorship

Genuine Vacancy

Job Profile

Qualifications

Offer of a Skilled Role