The Skilled Worker Visa is available to individuals globally who possess a job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor in the UK. This pathway offers potential settlement and allows for the inclusion of dependent partners and children. To obtain this visa, applicants must secure sponsorship for a specific job meeting skill and salary criteria from a Home Office-licensed employer. Separate guidance is provided for UK employers seeking Skilled Worker sponsor licences.
Additionally, individuals interested in establishing or already owning a UK business may qualify for a Skilled Worker visa through self-sponsorship, facilitated by their own UK company. Notably, there is no cap on the number of individuals permitted entry via the Skilled Worker route.
Skilled Worker Visa Requirements:
To qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas and Immigration that you meet several criteria. These include being over 18 years old, possessing a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for your intended job, ensuring the job offer is genuine and at an appropriate skill level, meeting specific salary thresholds, having the sponsor fulfill any necessary Immigration Skills Charge payments, demonstrating English language proficiency at CEFR Level B1, showing financial self-sufficiency, providing a criminal record certificate if needed, and submitting a valid TB certificate if applicable.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirements:
To secure a Skilled Worker Visa, you need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by a Home Office-approved employer authorized to sponsor under the Skilled Worker route. The CoS must be issued within three months of your visa application date and include essential details like your name, job role, salary, and a start date within three months of application.
Additionally, your sponsor must hold an A-rated status on the Home Office's register of licensed sponsors, unless you're continuing to work for the same sponsor from your last Skilled Worker permission. It's crucial that the CoS has not been used in a previous application, granted or refused, or withdrawn by the sponsor or canceled by the Home Office
Immigration Skill Charge (IHS) Fee:
The Immigration Skills Charge is a fee applied to each foreign worker sponsored by an employer. This charge is levied whenever an employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship to a migrant worker.
Minimum Salary Requirement:
Employers aiming to hire skilled workers under the Skilled Worker route must ensure that their employees receive a salary meeting or exceeding both a general salary threshold and the applicable 'going rate' for the relevant SOC 2020 occupation code, subject to the possibility of trading points.
Typically, this salary should meet the following criteria: £38,700 annually for most positions, although variations apply based on factors such as previous Skilled Worker permissions or specific job categories. The general salary threshold adjusts for varied working hours, considering up to 48 hours weekly, while the going rate is determined on a 37.5-hour workweek basis, pro-rated according to the hours specified on the certificate of sponsorship.
Tradable points:
Skilled workers sponsored under the Skilled Worker route may receive salaries below £38,700 annually if they earn additional 'tradable points' for certain qualifications or circumstances. For instance, those with a relevant PhD may be paid £34,830 or more yearly, meeting specific percentage thresholds of the going rate for their occupation. Similarly, PhD holders in STEM fields may earn £30,960 or above annually, satisfying designated percentage requirements.
Additionally, individuals on the Immigration Salary List or new entrants to the labor market may receive salaries meeting or exceeding £30,960 per year, with variations based on the going rate and specific percentage thresholds.
Salary Requirements Granted Before 4 April 2024:
Skilled Workers who were initially granted permission under the regulations preceding April 4, 2024, and have maintained continuous permission since, may receive salaries meeting certain criteria if they apply for further leave before April 4, 2030. These criteria include a general salary threshold, typically £29,000 annually, though adjusted to £26,100 or £23,200 if 'tradable points' are scored.
Additionally, they must meet the going rate for their SOC 2020 occupation code. Some Skilled Workers initially granted permission before April 4, 2024, may earn less than £29,000 annually but may qualify if awarded 'tradable points' for other attributes, such as holding a relevant PhD, with varying thresholds based on the type of PhD and occupation code, or if they're new entrants to the labor market, meeting specific percentage requirements of the going rate.
Immigration Salary List:
The Home Office curates a roster of skilled positions where employers often struggle to find suitable candidates with the necessary skills. Employers can enlist migrants to occupy roles listed on the Immigration Salary List, allowing for recruitment at salaries below the standard general threshold, as detailed earlier.
English Language Requirement:
To be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa, you must exhibit proficiency in English across all four components (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) at least at an intermediate level, as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), known as level B1.
Dependants of Skilled Workers:
Skilled Workers may be joined or accompanied by a dependent partner over the age of 18 and/or or a dependent child under the age of 18.
Our adept team of business immigration advisors boasts extensive experience in aiding both employers and skilled workers across diverse industries and companies of all scales. Whether strategizing to align with your start date or ensuring seamless career progression in line with your immigration objectives, our advisors provide comprehensive support. Moreover, we specialize in assisting UK employers in acquiring Skilled Worker sponsor licences, ensuring their maintenance at peak rating, and adherence to sponsor duties!