The Skilled Worker visa is the United Kingdom’s primary work visa route for foreign nationals taking up sponsored employment with a UK-based organisation. It is the route through which most international professionals enter the UK labour market for long-term roles, and it provides a defined pathway to settlement for those who continue to meet the requirements over time.

This guide sets out the key elements of the Skilled Worker visa for international employees who have been offered a role in the UK or are considering one. It covers eligibility, salary thresholds, the application process, dependant rights, and the route to settlement, alongside practical guidance on the questions to raise with your prospective employer and the support a relocation management company can provide during the move itself.

Skilled Worker visa UK: key requirements at a glance

Requirement	What applies in 2026
Sponsoring employer	Must hold a valid UK sponsor licence and issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role
Skill level	The role must be at RQF Level 6 (graduate level) or above, unless it appears on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List
General salary threshold	£41,700 per year, or 100% of the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher
Hourly rate floor	£17.13 per hour for most Table 1 roles, based on a maximum 48-hour working week
English language	CEFR Level B2 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening for new applicants from 8 January 2026
Maximum stay per grant	Up to five years before extension or settlement application
Pathway to settlement	Indefinite Leave to Remain typically available after five continuous years on the route, subject to ongoing eligibility

Eligibility requirements for the UK Skilled Worker visa

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence issued by the Home Office. Your employer must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship, which is valid for three months from issue. Your visa application must be submitted within that window.

The role itself must meet the skill level requirement, which from 22 July 2025 sits at RQF Level 6, equivalent to graduate level. Most professional, managerial, and technical roles fall within this range. Roles below this skill level are generally no longer eligible for sponsorship under the standard route, although some appear on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, which apply different rules and are subject to expiry dates.

Your job will also be assigned a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, which determines the going rate that applies to your role. Both the general salary threshold and the going rate for your SOC code must be met.

Application process and processing times for the Skilled Worker visa

The application process for a Skilled Worker visa typically involves the following steps:

• Receive a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence
• Receive your Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer, which contains the role details, salary, and SOC code that the Home Office will assess against
• Complete the online visa application via the GOV.UK portal, paying the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge
• Submit supporting documents, including your passport, proof of English language ability, and any qualifications or financial evidence required for your route
• Provide biometric information at a visa application centre in your country of residence, or via the UK Immigration: ID Check app where available
• Receive the decision and travel to the UK once the visa is granted

Standard processing times for applications submitted from outside the UK are typically up to three weeks once biometrics have been provided. Applications from within the UK, for example to switch from another visa category, generally take up to eight weeks. Priority and super-priority services are available in some categories for an additional fee.

The Certificate of Sponsorship issued by your employer is valid for three months. Your visa application must be submitted within this window, and any delays in gathering documents can compromise that timing.

Pathway to settlement for Skilled Worker visa holders

The Skilled Worker visa provides a route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), the UK’s permanent residence status. Under the current framework, you can typically apply for ILR after five continuous years on the Skilled Worker route, provided you continue to meet the salary, sponsorship, and absence requirements throughout that period.

Settlement applications also require demonstrating a continued knowledge of English at the required level and passing the Life in the UK test. Periods of absence from the UK are subject to limits during the qualifying period, and unauthorised gaps in employment or sponsorship can break the continuity required for settlement.

The qualifying period for settlement is currently under review, and changes to the timeline have been announced as part of the broader 2025 and 2026 immigration reform programme. Applicants should confirm the current settlement requirements at the point they become eligible to apply.

Questions to ask your employer before accepting a UK Skilled Worker role

Before accepting a role that requires a Skilled Worker visa, there are several areas it is worth confirming directly with your prospective employer. The answers to these questions can materially affect the cost, timing, and overall experience of the move, and they are easier to raise before the offer is signed than after.

Sponsorship and visa-related questions

• Does the organisation currently hold a valid UK sponsor licence, and how long has it been licensed?
• Will the Certificate of Sponsorship be issued at the correct skill level and SOC code for the role, and what going rate applies?
• Who will cover the visa application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and any biometric or document authentication costs?
• Which costs are covered for dependants applying alongside the principal applicant?
• What is the expected timeline from offer acceptance to visa issue, and when is the intended start date?
• Who is the point of contact internally for sponsorship-related questions during the application period?

Relocation and settling-in questions

• Is relocation support provided, and is it delivered in-house or through a relocation management company?
• What does the relocation package cover, including flights, temporary accommodation, shipment of household goods, and settling-in support?
• Is there assistance with finding permanent accommodation, opening a UK bank account, and registering for local services?
• What support is available for dependants, including school search for children and employment support for accompanying partners?
• Will tax advisory support be provided, particularly where tax obligations in the home country may continue during the UK assignment?
• Is language or cross-cultural training available for the employee and family?

Role, extension, and settlement questions

• How will the organisation handle salary reviews to ensure the role continues to meet the Skilled Worker threshold at extension?
• What is the organisation’s approach to sponsoring extensions beyond the initial visa grant?
• Is there support for the employee’s pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain, including record-keeping for absences and continuous employment?
• What happens to the visa if the role ends earlier than planned, for any reason?

Employer sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route

The Skilled Worker visa is a sponsorship-based route, which means that no individual application is possible without an approved UK employer behind it. Employers wishing to sponsor international employees must first apply to the Home Office for a sponsor licence, a process that involves demonstrating that the organisation is genuine, has appropriate HR systems in place, and can meet the ongoing sponsor obligations.

Once licensed, the employer assumes a defined set of duties, including issuing Certificates of Sponsorship for eligible roles, maintaining accurate records of sponsored employees, reporting changes in employment circumstances within prescribed timeframes, and demonstrating compliance during Home Office audits. The Immigration Skills Charge, which is paid by the employer rather than the employee, applies to most Skilled Worker sponsorships and represents a material cost component of the route.

How a relocation management company supports employees moving to the UK

Where an employer engages a relocation management company (RMC), the employee benefits from a single point of coordination for the move itself. While the visa application is handled by the employer’s immigration adviser, the broader relocation typically involves several specialist providers working in parallel. An RMC consolidates this activity and ensures that the operational elements of the move are delivered consistently, which is particularly valuable for employees relocating with dependants or from distant home countries.

The areas in which an RMC typically supports Skilled Worker visa holders and their families include:

• Home search and temporary accommodation
• School search and family support
• Partner and spouse support
• Area orientation and settling-in services
• Household goods move and shipping
• Ongoing point of contact throughout the move

How MovePlus supports UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for organisations

MovePlus acts as a strategic partner to organisations sponsoring international employees in the United Kingdom, helping HR and mobility teams manage the operational and compliance dimensions of the Skilled Worker route consistently across their assignment population. The MOVEPLUS™ platform centralises mobility information, documents, and decisions, and supports coordination with specialist immigration, tax, and legal partners as requirements change by role and location.

Through the MOVEPLUS™ dashboard, mobility teams gain clear visibility of key dates and documentation across their sponsored employees, helping them monitor visa expiry alerts, Certificate of Sponsorship validity, and reporting deadlines proactively. This structured oversight allows organisations to manage their UK sponsor obligations consistently, supporting both compliance and a positive experience for the employees moving on Skilled Worker visas.

Frequently asked questions about the UK Skilled Worker visa

What is the minimum salary required for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?

The general minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa is £41,700 per year, or 100% of the going rate for the specific occupation code, whichever is higher. Only guaranteed gross basic pay is counted toward the threshold. Overtime, allowances, bonuses, and benefits are generally excluded. Reduced thresholds may apply for new entrants, PhD holders, and roles on the Immigration Salary List.

How is the salary threshold calculated if my working hours are longer than 48 per week?

The Home Office calculates the salary threshold against a maximum of 48 working hours per week, regardless of whether your contractual hours are longer. Any hours worked beyond 48 are not counted toward the threshold, so the pay for those hours does not help you meet the minimum requirement.

What English language level do I need for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?

From 8 January 2026, new Skilled Worker visa applicants must demonstrate English at CEFR Level B2 across reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This can be evidenced through an approved Secure English Language Test, a degree taught in English from a recognised institution, or nationality from a majority English-speaking country listed in the Immigration Rules.

Do I need to retake the English test if I already hold a Skilled Worker visa at the previous B1 level?

No. Applicants who already hold a Skilled Worker visa granted under the previous B1 standard can typically extend their permission without retaking the test at the higher B2 level. The new requirement applies to new applications rather than to existing visa holders renewing within the route.

Can my partner and children come with me on a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes. Your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner (where the relationship meets the qualifying conditions), and children under 18 can apply as your dependants under the Skilled Worker route. Dependants can apply alongside you or join you later, subject to meeting the eligibility and financial requirements set out in the Immigration Rules.

Can my spouse or partner work in the UK as a Skilled Worker dependant?

Yes. Dependants of Skilled Worker visa holders are generally permitted to work in the UK without restriction, including in self-employment. The exception is certain professional sports roles. This open right to work is one of the key advantages of the Skilled Worker dependant route for dual-career households.

Can my children attend UK state schools as dependants?

Yes. Children of Skilled Worker visa holders can attend UK state schools on the same basis as resident children. State school places are allocated by catchment area and by waiting list, which is why school search is typically aligned with home search during the relocation planning process.

How long does it take to get a Skilled Worker visa?

Standard processing times are typically up to three weeks for applications submitted from outside the UK, once biometrics have been provided. In-country applications, such as switches from another visa category, generally take up to eight weeks. Priority and super-priority services are available for an additional fee in some categories.

Does the Skilled Worker visa lead to permanent residence in the UK?

Yes. The Skilled Worker visa provides a pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain, the UK’s permanent residence status. Under the current framework, eligibility arises after five continuous years on the route, subject to meeting the salary, sponsorship, and absence requirements and passing the Life in the UK test. The qualifying period is currently under review, and applicants should confirm the current rules at the point they become eligible to apply.

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Sources

• GOV.UK. Skilled Worker visa: eligibility, salary requirements, sponsor licence, and application guidance. Official UK Government immigration information.
• UK Home Office (2025). Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules and accompanying guidance on Skilled Worker route reforms effective 22 July 2025.
• UK Migration Advisory Committee (2025). Review of Salary Requirements and Temporary Shortage List Stage 1 review.

Disclaimer

This article is intended as a general guide for international employees and HR professionals. UK immigration rules change frequently and the information above reflects the position as of the publication date. Nothing in this article constitutes legal or immigration advice. Always confirm current requirements on GOV.UK or with a qualified UK immigration lawyer before submitting any application or making decisions on individual cases.