UK Work visa requirements

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must fulfill the following criteria:

Your occupation must be eligible for this visa.
You are employed by a UK-based employer approved by the Home Office.
Your compensation must meet or exceed the minimum salary applicable to your job type.

The minimum salary is determined by the highest value among the following three options:

£26,200 annually
£10.75 per hour
The ‘going rate’ for your specific job type

Additionally, your employer is responsible for ensuring that your remuneration complies with the minimum wage and adheres to UK regulations regarding weekly working hours. Failure to meet these requirements by your employer will result in the rejection of your visa application.

Determine Your Job’s Eligibility

To ascertain if your job is eligible for a Skilled Worker visa, you must first identify its 4-digit occupation code. If you already possess a job offer, request your employer to provide your occupation code.

Search for Your Job’s Occupation Code

Utilize the ONS occupation coding tool if you are unaware of your code. While not all job titles are included, try searching for similar roles if your exact title is not listed. Ensure that the job description aligns with your responsibilities, as some similar jobs, such as chefs and cooks, have different eligibility codes.

Verify Occupation Code Eligibility

Once you know your occupation code, refer to the extensive table of eligible jobs to check if it is included. The table is organized by occupation code, and you can use your web browser to search for your code on the page.

Salary Requirements

Typically, you should earn a minimum of £26,200 annually or £10.75 per hour, whichever is higher. If the going rate for your job exceeds both figures, you are generally required to be paid at least the going rate. Each occupation code has its own annual going rate, which you can verify in the going rates table.

Healthcare or Education Employment

Different salary rules apply to some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is determined by national pay scales.

If you do not meet the standard salary requirements and do not work in healthcare or education, you might still qualify if your salary is at least £20,960 per year and £10.75 per hour.

Approved UK Employers

Before applying for a Skilled Worker visa, you must have a job offer from an approved UK employer, also known as a sponsor. View the list of approved UK employers. If your employer is not currently approved, they can apply for a sponsor licence, with processing taking approximately 8 weeks.

Job Offer from an Approved Employer

If you already have a job offer from an approved employer, your employer, or sponsor, will verify your eligibility and issue a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ as an electronic record. This certificate includes a reference number essential for your visa application. Apply for your visa within three months of receiving the certificate of sponsorship and check the required documents for your application.