UK Skilled Worker visa: requirements and costs

Who can apply

You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa. Your job must be on the list of eligible occupations. You must work for a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office.^[1][2][3]

If you are a care worker or senior care worker in England, your employer must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. You must also be paid at least the minimum salary rate for the type of work you will be doing.^[4][5]

What you need to show

You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You must prove your English skills are at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.^[6][7]

You must prove you have enough personal savings. You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. You must have had these personal savings available in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days, with the 28th day falling within 31 days of your application.^[8][9][10]

Documents you must provide

You must provide a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality. You must also provide proof of your knowledge of English. If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must provide a certified translation.^[11][12][13]

You must provide details about your job. This includes your job title, annual salary, and your job's occupation code. You must also provide the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number.^[14][15][16]

You must have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer. You must provide your certificate of sponsorship reference number when you apply.^[17][18]

You must provide a criminal record certificate if you are applying from outside the UK and work in certain fields. If you are under 28, you must provide a criminal record certificate from any country you have lived in for a total of 12 months or more since turning 18. If you are 28 or older, you must provide a criminal record certificate from any country you have stayed in over the last 10 years.^[19][20][21]

Costs and money

You must pay the application fee. If you apply from outside the UK for a visa up to 3 years, you must pay an application fee of £819 per person. If you apply from outside the UK for a visa of more than 3 years, you must pay an application fee of £1,618 per person.^[22][23][24]

If you apply from inside the UK for a visa up to 3 years, you must pay an application fee of £943 per person. If you apply from inside the UK for a visa of more than 3 years, you must pay an application fee of £1,865 per person.^[25][26]

If your job is on the immigration salary list, the application fee is £628 if you are staying for up to 3 years. If your job is on the immigration salary list and you are staying for more than 3 years, the application fee is £1,235.^[27][28]

You must pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay. This surcharge is usually £1,035 per year.^[29][30]

Timing and how to apply

You must apply online. You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.^[31][32]

Checklist

• A confirmed job offer from an approved UK employer^[1][3]
• Your certificate of sponsorship reference number^[18]
• A valid passport or other document showing your identity and nationality^[11]
• Proof of your knowledge of English to at least level B2^[12][7]
• At least £1,270 in personal savings held for 28 consecutive days^[9][33]

Questions people ask

This explains what one official page says. It is not legal advice, and the page itself is the authority. Rules change; the wire reports it when they do.