Welcome to TWO's Application Portal. This is the home for lots of useful information to support the visa application process.

Skilled Worker Visa: Practicalities

Published 31 August 2023

When applying for a UK visa, individuals will likely have to pay a healthcare surcharge as part of the visa application. This will enable access to the National Health Service (NHS). This article summarises the who, what, why, where and when surrounding the IHS.

As you will see, there is much information to share with you about Skilled Worker visas! Each of the coloured sections below is expandable content, to enable you to focus on what is relevant to you.

Process - What to Expect

Collate Information and Supporting Documentation

Information

Prepare for the application by downloading our Skilled Worker Application Information List. This outlines outlines some of the application questions that will require you to collate information, which can take time time. If we are supporting you with your application, this is the information we will require from you.

Supporting Documentation

To be able to submit your application, there is documentation you should have readily available. Some of the documentation which you may need to provide with your visa application can take time to obtain - in particular an ATAS certificate, or criminal record checks from other countries can take months to obtain. More information on documentation is within the "Eligibility Information" section on this page. Do ensure you have considered these timeframes in conjunction with when you can apply (see next bullet point).

When to Apply

When you apply needs consideration for a number of reasons:

The certificate of sponsorship is valid for 3 months, so you must submit your application before it has expired.

You can apply for your Skilled Worker visa no earlier than 3 months prior to the start date on your certificate of sponsorship (i.e. if the start date is 01 August, you can only apply from 01 May onwards.)

You will be unable to travel once you have submitted your visa application - if you do, it will result in your application being withdrawn. Should you have any plans to travel around the application time, these should be factored into the decision on when to apply.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online, the form you use will depend on your circumstances:

Applying from outside the UK

Extending your current visa (i.e. same sponsor, same job role)

Switching visa category

Applicants are able to enter information and save the application to return to another time, it does not have to be completed in one sitting. In order to progress through the application, all fields must be completed. You can fill with blank information however, and return to complete at a later stage.

You will be required to pay associated fees at the point of submission. Keep in mind that the card you use to pay fees will be where any refunds are processed, should this should be relevant in the future.

You will need to submit your supporting documents. You can either upload them via the online service, or you can choose to have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment.

Biometrics

During the application, you will need to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph). This can be done via an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point, or via the UK Immigration: ID Check app. We elaborate more on this within our Biometrics page.

N.B. Once you have submitted your application and your biometric information, do not travel until you have received a decision on your application. This will result in your application being withdrawen.

Priority Processing Services

Application Decision

The Home Office will contact you via email to confirm the outcome of your visa application.

If the visa is approved, there will be a pdf file attached to the email to confirm the type of visa you will be on, and the route to settlement etc. This is important to keep for future reference.

If the application is refused, the email will include reasons why the application was not successful. You will be given options to appeal, if this is relevant to the specific circumstances.

Visa Type

Your visa will either be in physical or digital format. The type of status granted will depend upon your nationality and how you submit your biometric information:

A visa national will always receive a physical visa – entry clearance sticker within passport for entry into the UK, followed by BRP once in the UK.

A non-visa national will receive a digital status if they submit biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check app, or a physical visa (entry clearance sticker followed by BRP) if attend biometric appointment.

Travel to UK (if relevant)

It is important that your date of entry into the UK is in line with your visa. If you enter before the validity period of your Skilled Worker visa, you will be a visitor in the UK. As such, you will not have the right to work. If this happens, you will need to leave the UK (to any country - e.g. France for proximity!) and then return within the validity period of the visa. You will then legally be able to work in your sponsored role.

If you are outside of the UK and provide your biometric information at an appointment, you will receive a vignette (sticker within your passport) to enable you to enter the UK. You will then need to report to a Post Office within 28 days, to obtain your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).

If you provide your biometric information via the UK Immigration: ID Check app you will receive a digital immigration status instead of an entry vignette. When entering the UK, you will need to use the e-gates at the airport.

Start Work

You can start working in your sponsored employment as soon as you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, even if this is before the start date recorded on your CoS.

Once you have been granted permission, your should start working in your sponsored employment no later than 28 days after whichever is the latest of:

the start date on your CoS (taking into account any changes to that date reported before a decision on the visa application was made)

the “valid from” date on your entry clearance vignette (visa)

the date you are notified of your immigration permission.

You must present evidence of your right to work in the UK (with your entry vignette or via share code to your digital status) to your employer before you start your employment. They will need to have a record of your status and right to work to be compliant with the Home Office. If you only have your entry vignette at this point, you must provide a share code to your employer as soon as you obtain your BRP and can view your status online.

Once your employment starts, you will have responsibilities as a sponsored worker. We provide more information on the Future Considerations page. You should discuss any changes to your circumstances with your HR team.

National Insurance Number

You may need to apply for an NI number if you do not already have one. You may have one on the back of your biometric residence permit. An NI number will ensure you pay the correct tax and national insurance contributions; it will also enable you to register with a local doctor. You will need to inform your payroll department of your NI number. For more information see Apply for National Insurance Number.

Whilst in the UK on a skilled worker visa, you will not have recourse to public funds, i.e., benefits paid for by the state. However, public funds do not include benefits which are based on National Insurance contributions (such as statutory maternity pay). See Information on Public Funds for more information.

Application Checklist

When you come to submit your application, the system will generate a unique checklist for you, depending on your circumstances. This is because the evidence UKVI will require will depend upon the information you enter into your application. As a starting reference, the information below highlights what you may need to provide. We elaborate on each element in the following section 'Eligibilty Information'.

Sponsorship Information

Certificate of sponsorship

Appropriate occupation code

Salary threshold met

Supporting Documentation

Appropriate qualification

English Language

Maintenance

Valid passport or ID document to show nationality

Additional Documentation

Tuberculosis screening (if relevant)

Criminal record check (if relevant)

ATAS (if relevant)

Eligibility Information

Certificate of Sponsorship

Within your application you will need to include your certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from your sponsor. A CoS is essentially an electronic record of your sponsorship, and it is provided within the visa application as a unique reference number. The Home Office will use this reference to retrieve information regarding your sponsorship - the role you will be doing and how the requirements for sponsorship are met.

Appropriate Occupation Code

In order to be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa, the role you will be doing must meet the eligibility requirements for sponsorship. Every role is classified by a standard occupation classification (SOC code); some SOC codes are eligible for sponsorship, others are not. Those which are eligible for sponsorship are included within Appendix Skilled Occupations. If the role is on the list, it can be sponsored, if it is not on the list then sponsorship in that role will not be possible.

Your CoS will confirm you will be sponsored in an appropriate role.

Salary Threshold Met

Unless tradeable points apply, the minimum salary you must be paid as a sponsored Skilled Worker is whichever is the higher of £26,200 per year OR the going rate for the job stated within Appendix Skilled Occupations.

N.B. These salaries are calculated on a 37.5 hour week; if your contracted hours are different then you would need to pro-rate the salary to be confident you have met the salary threshold. Example calculation: working 35 hours per week on £32,000:

£32,000 / 37.5 (UKVI contracted hours) x 35 (actual contracted hours) = £29,867. This would therefore be the threshold for sponsorship.

Tradeable Points Clarification

There are certain situations where an individual can trade points on their qualifications or their job characteristics, and be paid a lower salary. There is still a minimum salary threshold, however where tradeable points are being used within the visa application, it will be a lower threshold than the normal going rate. More information on each situation where tradeable points can be used can be expanded below.

New Entrant

An applicant can be paid 70% of the going rate for the occupation stated on Appendix Skilled Occupations (but no lower than £20,960), if they are considered to be a new entrant within their career. The sponsor must tick the box on the CoS to state you will be applying as a new entrant, and therefore the lower salary will be accetable for the visa application.

You will be classified as a new entrant in any of the following situations:

You are switching from Student or Graduate visa

You will be under 26 on the date of the Skilled Worker visa application

You will be sponsored to work in a postdoctoral position in any of the following occupation codes:

2111 Chemical scientists

2112 Biological scientists and biochemists

2113 Physical scientists

2114 Social and humanities scientists

2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified

2311 Higher education teaching professionals;

Your job offer is for a UK regulated profession & you will be working towards full registration status with the professional body.

N.B. You can only be classified as a new entrant for four years; this could impact upon how long you are sponsored for:

Any time spent on a Graduate visa counts towards these four years (so if you are applying to switch at the end of your Graduate visa, you would only be able to be sponsored as a Skilled Worker for two years).

If you are applying to switch from a Student visa, you can be sponsored for a maximum of four years, after which time you would need to have a pay increase to the going rate in order to be eligible to be sponsored for an extension visa application.

Shortage Occupation

If an applicant is being being sponsored to work in a shortage occupation role, they can be paid 80% of the going rate for the occupation code stated on Appendix Skilled Occupations (but no lower than £20,960). The relevant occupation code for the role would need to be on the Home Office list of shortage occupation roles.

PhD Quaification

Note that this is only relevant if you will not be paid the going rate for the occupation as stated in Appendix Skilled Occupations. If your application will meet the salary threshold, you do not need to consider PhD tradeable points, and your sponsor will not refer to your PhD for the purpose of points - if they do it will confuse the application process.

If an applicant has a PhD or other acadmeic doctoral qualification, they can be paid either 90% of the going rate stated on Appendix Skilled Occupations (but no lower than £23,580), or 80% of the going rate (but no lower than £20,960) if they have a PhD in a STEM subject. In both cases the PhD must be relevant for the job they will be sponsored to do.

You must be sponsored for a job in an occupation code listed as being “eligible for PhD points” within Appendix Skilled Occupations.

You must have a UK PhD or other academic doctoral qualification, or an overseas academic qualification which Ecctis confirms meets the recognised standard of a UK PhD.

Your sponsor must tick the box on the certificate of sponsorship stating you will be using tradeable points and must provide a credible explanation of how the qualification is relevant to the job for which the applicant is being sponsored.

If it is a PhD in a STEM subject then your sponsor must also provide a credible explanation that the qualification in question is in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subject.

Appropriate Qualification

Text

English Language

Within your application you must show English language ability in 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) of at least level B1 (intermediate) of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages. There are a number of ways you can show this. We provide more detail on this within our English Language page.

Maintenance (funds)

As part of your visa application, you may need to show you have sufficient funds to support yourself whilst in the UK.

If you are applying for entry clearance, or have been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, you will need one of the following; either

your sponsor can certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate you up to the end of the first month of your employment, to an amount of at least £1,270. They do this by ticking a box regarding certifying maintenance on your certificate of sponsorship.

you must demonstrate funds of at least £1,270 in an instantly accessible account for a period of 28 days. We provide more detail on this within our Financial Requirements page.

If you are applying for permission to stay and have been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, you will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

Tuberculosis Screening (if relevant)

If you are applying for entry clearance as a Skilled Worker you may need to provide a valid medical certificate confirming that you have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in yourself. We provide more detail on this within our Tuberculosis Screening page.

Criminal Record Check (if relevant)

If the applicant you are applying for entry clearance and arebeing sponsored for a job in any of the occupation codes listed below, you must provide a criminal record certificate from the relevant authority in any country in which you have been present for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the 10 years before the date of application, and while aged 18 or over. The requirement does not apply if you can provide a satisfactory explanation why it is not reasonably practicable for you to obtain a criminal record certificate from any or all of the relevant authorities.

Occupation Codes Requiring Criminal Record Check

1181 Health services and public health managers and directors

1184 Social services managers and directors

1241 Health care practice managers

1242 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors

2211 Medical practitioners

2212 Psychologists

2213 Pharmacists

2214 Ophthalmic opticians

2215 Dental practitioners

2217 Medical radiographers

2218 Podiatrists

2219 Health professionals not elsewhere classified

2221 Physiotherapists

2222 Occupational therapists

2223 Speech and language therapists

2229 Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified

2231 Nurses

2232 Midwives

2312 Further education teaching professionals

2314 Secondary education teaching professionals

2315 Primary and nursery education teaching professionals

2316 Special needs education teaching professionals

2317 Senior professionals of educational establishments

2318 Education advisers and school inspectors

2319 Teaching and other educational professionals not elsewhere classified

2442 Social workers

2443 Probation officers

2449 Welfare professionals not elsewhere classified

3213 Paramedics

3216 Dispensing opticians

3217 Pharmaceutical technicians

3218 Medical and dental technicians

3219 Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified

3231 Youth and community workers

3234 Housing officers

3235 Counsellors

3239 Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified

3443 Fitness instructors

3562 Human resources and industrial relations officers

6121 Nursery nurses and assistants

6122 Childminders and related occupations

6123 Playworkers

6125 Teaching assistants

6126 Educational support assistants

6141 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants

6143 Dental nurses

6144 Houseparents and residential wardens

6145 Care workers and home carers

6146 Senior care workers

ATAS (if relevant)

If the ATAS requirement applies, you must provide a valid ATAS certificate.

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to all international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects.

The subjects and research areas are those where knowledge could be used in programmes to develop Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT), weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or their means of delivery. Researchers and students in these sensitive subjects must apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before they can study or start research in the UK.

Students and researchers who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate.

Researchers and students of all other nationalities must apply for an ATAS certificate.

Costs

The fees associated with your visa will be payable at the point at which you submit your application. The costs will be calculated depending on the information you enter into the application, as they will depend upon how long you are applying to be in the UK, and what type of job role you are doing. For example, if your job type is listed here a shortage occupation role, your visa fees will be reduced. Similarly, if you are doing a health and care role, your visa fees will be reduced and you will not be liable for the immigration health surcharge.

Below is an outline of the costs and a demonstration of how they vary depending on length of visa and other variables.

Visa Application Fees

Applying Outside the UK

(extending visa or switching visa category)

To be in UK up to 3 years - £719 per person

To be in UK up to 5 years - £1,420 per person

Applying Inside the UK

(arriving into the UK with new visa)

To be in UK up to 3 years - £827 per person

To be in UK up to 5 years - £1,500 per person

Shortage Occupation Role

(either in or out of UK, to work in shortage role)

To be in UK up to 3 years - £551 per person

To be in UK up to 5 years - £1,084 per person

Immigration Health Surcharge

In order to access NHS services whilst in the UK, you are required to pay an immigration health surcharge (unless you will be sponsored in a health and care role).

The cost is £624 per year of stay in the UK, so for 3-year visa this will be £1,872 and for 5-year visa this will be £3,120.

These figures will rise to £3,105 and £5,175 respectively in the Autumn 2023.

We have created a separate page which provides detail on the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Example Total Costs for 3 and 5 year Skilled Worker visa applications

(including application fee and immigration health surcharge)

Applying Outside the UK

3 years = £719 + £1,872 = £2,591 per person

5 years = £1,420 + £3,120 = £4,540 per person

Applying Inside the UK

3 years = £827 + £1,872 = £2,699 per person

5 years = £1,500 + £3,120 = £4,620 per person

Shortage Occupation Role

3 years = £551 + £1,872 = £2,423 per person

5 years = £1,084 + £3,120 = £4,204 per person

Dependents

Partner Dependent

Relationship Requirement

If the applicant and their Skilled Worker partner are not married or in a civil partnership, all of the following requirements must be met:

They must have been living together in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least the two years before the date of application; and

Any previous relationship of the applicant or their Skilled Worker partner with another person must have permanently broken down; and

The applicant and their Skilled Worker partner must not be so closely related that they would not be allowed to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK.

Financial Requirement

If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

If the applicant is applying for entry clearance, or has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:

funds of at least the amount required in SW 33.3 must be held collectively by one or more of the following:

i) the applicant; and

ii) the Skilled Worker (P); and

iii) if the applicant is applying as a dependent child, their parent who is lawfully present in the UK or being granted entry clearance, or permission to stay, at the same time;

the Skilled Worker’s sponsor must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the dependent partner and/or any dependent child as well as the Skilled Worker, up to the end of the first month of each of their grants of permission, to at least the amounts required. They do this by ticking a box regarding certifying maintenance on the Skilled Worker's certificate of sponsorship.

The funds required are:

(a) £285 for a dependent partner in the UK, or applying for entry clearance; and

(b) £315 for the first dependent child in the UK, or applying for entry clearance; and

If the applicant is required to show funds, these must be held in addition to any funds required for the Skilled Worker to meet the financial requirement and any other dependants in the UK or applying at the same time. They must have been held for a 28-day period and as specified in Appendix Finance. We provide more detail on this within our Financial Requirements page.

Criminal Record Check

Where the main applicant Skilled Worker is being sponsored for a job that requires a criminal record check (see above Eligibility section), an applicant applying for entry clearance as the partner of the Skilled Worker must provide a criminal record certificate from the relevant authority in any country in which they have been present for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the 10 years before the date of application, and while aged 18 or over.

This requirement does not apply if the applicant provides a satisfactory explanation why it is not reasonably practicable for them to obtain a criminal record certificate from any or all of the relevant authorities.

Child Dependent

Relationship Requirement

The applicant must be the child of a parent (P) where one of the following applies:

P has permission on the Skilled Worker route; or

P is, at the same time, applying for (and is granted) entry clearance or permission on the Skilled Worker route; or

P is settled or has become a British citizen, providing P had permission on the Skilled Worker route when they settled and the applicant had permission as P’s child at that time.

The applicant’s parents must each be either applying at the same time as the applicant or have permission to be in the UK (other than as a Visitor) unless:

the parent applying for or with entry clearance or permission to stay as a Skilled Worker is the sole surviving parent; or

the parent applying for or with entry clearance or permission to stay as a Skilled Worker has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing; or

the parent who does not have permission as a Skilled Worker –

(i) is a British citizen or a person who has a right to enter or stay in the UK without restriction; and

(ii) is or will be ordinarily resident in the UK; or

the decision maker is satisfied that there are serious and compelling reasons to grant the child entry clearance or permission to stay with the parent who is applying for or has entry clearance or permission as a Skilled Worker.

If the applicant is a child born in the UK to a Skilled Worker or their partner, the applicant must provide a full UK birth certificate showing the names of both parents.

Care Requirement

If the applicant is aged under 18 on the date of application, there must be suitable arrangements for the child’s care and accommodation in the UK, which must comply with relevant UK legislation and regulations.

Age Requirement

The child must be under the age of 18 on the date of application, unless they were last granted permission as the dependent child of their parent or parents.

If the child is aged 16 or over at the date of application, they must not be leading an independent life.

Financial Requirement

If the applicant is applying for entry clearance, or has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:

funds of at least the amount required in SW 33.3 must be held collectively by one or more of the following:

i) the applicant; and

ii) the Skilled Worker (P); and

iii) if the applicant is applying as a dependent child, their parent who is lawfully present in the UK or being granted entry clearance, or permission to stay, at the same time;

The funds required are:

(a) £285 for a dependent partner in the UK, or applying for entry clearance; and

(b) £315 for the first dependent child in the UK, or applying for entry clearance; and

Visa Conditions

Supplementary Work

You can do additional paid work on this visa as long as you are still doing the job you are being sponsored for. You can also do unpaid voluntary work. Overtime for your sponsor does not count as supplementary work.

The conditions for supplementary work are that the work is:

in either a job on the Shortage Occupation List or a job in the same occupation code as the job for which your certificate of sponsorship was assigned; and

for no more than 20 hours a week; and

you continue to work for your sponsor and any supplementary work takes place outside of your contracted hours for your sponsored employment.

For information, providing the supplementary employment conditions are met, the work can be paid as self-employed or employed.