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Check your Certificate of Sponsorship
Skilled Worker visa
Overview
A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.
This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.
It also allows you to work in UK waters.
Eligibility
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
- work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
- do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do and the date you got your CoS
You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.
How long you can stay
Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer. If you want to stay longer in the UK, you can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.
After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.
How to apply
You must apply online, or use the services of a company that will do this for you.
How you apply depends on whether you’re:
- outside the UK and are coming to the UK
- inside the UK and extending your current visa
- inside the UK and switching from a different visa
- If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa.
Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.
How much it costs
To obtain a Skilled Worker visa, the following payments must be paid:
- Visa application process. The standard cost ranges from £719 to £1,639 depending on your circumstances. In many cases, this fee is covered by the employer.
- Healthcare surcharge payment. This is usually £1,035 per year.
- Visa application center services, where the applicant will receive the visa. Costs range from £715 to £1,952 depending on processing times and visa category.
Extension of a Skilled Worker visa
If you wish to extend your Skilled Worker visa, you must have a sponsoring employer with whom you will continue to work, along with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
- visa extension up to 5 years – £2,473 per person
- visa extension more than 5 years – £3,422 per person
If you’re applying from inside the UK to extend, switch or update your visa, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:
- visa extension up to 5 years – £917 per person
- visa extension more than 5 years – £2,120 per person
Healthcare surcharge
You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay – this is usually £1,035 per year.
What you can and cannot do
With a Skilled Worker visa you can:
- work in an eligible job
- study
- bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
- 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’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements
You cannot:
- apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
- change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa