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Skilled Worker Visa UK

The Skilled Worker Visa category allows individuals to work and live in the UK if they are sponsored to do a specific skilled job for a UK Company that has a valid Sponsor Licence. This category replaces the Tier 2 (General) Worker category and is now more accessible, not only to Senior Management and Professionals but also to individuals employed for Secretarial and Junior Executive positions.

Family members (Dependent Partners and Children) can apply to accompany Skilled Worker Applicants to the UK. 

The length of a Skilled Worker Visa will vary based on the length of Sponsorship assigned by the UK Employer or Sponsor. A Skilled Worker Visa can last for up to 5 years without extension. After 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, a Skilled Worker may apply for Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK. 

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Established in 2008, Garth Coates Solicitors is a leading Law Firm in Immigration who can provide professional legal advice to ensure that your Application satisfies the strict requirements of the Immigration Rules. Our team of legal professionals offer comprehensive and considered advice to enable our clients to make informed choices. We strongly believe that our clients deserve the best; we take our responsibilities very seriously to ensure that client satisfaction is achieved by providing a professional yet friendly legal service. We aim to resolve all immigration matters brought to us by working diligently and together with the client, keeping them informed of the progress of their case at all stages. Our outstanding success rate is maintained thanks to the high standard of our work. If you would like us to assist you with your Immigration Matter, kindly click here to leave us an Enquiry. Alternatively, we can be reached via telephone at (00 44) (0)20 7799 1600 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (UTC+00.00 London) every Monday to Friday.
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FAQs

A UK Skilled Worker Visa allows a person to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job for an employer approved by the Home Office. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) route and remains one of the main work visa options for overseas professionals who have a qualifying job offer from a licensed sponsor.

This is a sponsored work route, which means the applicant cannot usually apply without a valid job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK employer. It is also an important long-term route because, in many cases, it can lead to settlement after 5 continuous years in the UK. Garth Coates advises on Skilled Worker visa applications, extensions and settlement planning.

A person can usually apply for a Skilled Worker Visa if they have a genuine job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office, and the job itself is eligible for the route. GOV.UK says the applicant must be working for an approved employer, doing an eligible job, and being paid at least the minimum salary required for that job.

Eligibility depends on more than just having an offer letter. The employer must hold a sponsor licence, the role must fit the correct occupation code, and the salary must satisfy the current rules. Garth Coates also highlights that once the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned, the Skilled Worker visa application should be submitted within 3 months.

For many new Skilled Worker applications, GOV.UK says the usual salary threshold is at least £41,700 per year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. That means even where the general threshold is met, the application can still fail if the salary does not meet the occupation’s specific going rate.

Some applicants can qualify on lower pay in limited situations. For example, GOV.UK says jobs on the Immigration Salary List can qualify at £33,400 per year, provided the role still meets the relevant going-rate rules. The salary structure has changed significantly in recent years, so it is important to check the current threshold rather than relying on older guidance.

A Skilled Worker Visa application usually requires documents proving identity, sponsorship and eligibility. In practice, applicants will normally need a valid passport, their Certificate of Sponsorship reference number, and supporting documents that match their circumstances. The exact evidence can vary depending on nationality, where the person is applying from, and whether any additional requirements apply.

Useful documents may include:

  • A valid passport or travel document
  • Certificate of Sponsorship details
  • Proof of the job offer and role, where relevant
  • Financial evidence, if required
  • Tuberculosis test results, if required
  • Evidence linked to dependants, if family members are applying with you

A strong application usually depends on the sponsor records and personal documents matching clearly. Garth Coates can help applicants organise this evidence and reduce the risk of inconsistencies.

Yes, in many cases a person already in the UK on another immigration route can switch to a Skilled Worker Visa from inside the country, provided they meet the current requirements. This can be especially relevant for people already in the UK as students or on post-study routes who receive an offer from a licensed sponsor.

However, switching is not available to everyone, and timing matters. The role, occupation code, salary and Certificate of Sponsorship dates all need to line up properly. Garth Coates has published guidance specifically on switching into Skilled Worker sponsorship, including from Student and Graduate routes, which reflects how important planning can be in these cases.

Yes, a Skilled Worker Visa holder can usually be joined by eligible dependants, such as a partner and children, if they meet the dependency requirements. This makes the route practical for many professionals who are relocating to the UK with their family rather than moving alone.

That said, applicants should still plan carefully because fees and supporting documents apply separately to dependants. There have also been wider rule changes affecting some shortage-based routes in recent periods, so it is sensible to confirm the current position for the specific occupation and sponsorship category before applying. Garth Coates can help coordinate main applicant and dependant applications so the full family arrangement is considered together.

Yes, the Skilled Worker route can lead to settlement. Garth Coates states that Skilled Workers who have spent 5 continuous years in the UK can become entitled to apply for settlement, and GOV.UK continues to treat Skilled Worker leave as a route that can lead to indefinite leave to remain where the rules are met.

Settlement is not automatic, though. Applicants normally need to show that they still meet the relevant salary and sponsorship conditions at the point of settlement, and the exact salary rules can differ depending on when the person first entered the Skilled Worker route. Because of that, long-term planning matters from the start rather than only at renewal stage.

Garth Coates is a specialist UK immigration law firm that advises on Skilled Worker visas, switching, sponsorship and settlement. Its Skilled Worker service states that the firm has helped many skilled individuals extend their visas and ultimately obtain settlement, and that its team supports applicants through the wider immigration process.

Legal support can be especially useful where there are questions about sponsor licences, job coding, salary levels, switching from another route, or dependants. A carefully prepared application can reduce the risk of refusal and make the process easier to manage for both the worker and the sponsoring employer. Garth Coates can assist from the initial eligibility stage through to the visa application and later immigration steps.

Garth Coates, Immigration Law Firm
Garth Coates

Principal Partner

A Message from Our Principal

At Garth Coates Solicitors, we provide expert legal advice and unwavering support across the full spectrum of UK immigration matters. Before qualifying as a solicitor, I worked within the UK Home Office (UKVI) as an Immigration Officer — a role that gave me valuable insight into the inner workings of the immigration system. Since then, I have gone on to represent clients at several of the UK’s most prominent immigration law firms, and later established this firm to deliver a more focused and client-centred approach.

Together with my senior legal team, we bring over 30 years of combined experience in the UK immigration sector. This depth of expertise enables us to successfully handle even the most complex and challenging cases — from visa refusals and judicial review proceedings to corporate sponsorships, family reunifications, and permanent settlement applications.

We are proud of our high success rate, earned through strategic thinking, meticulous preparation, and a commitment to delivering results. Our multilingual team of solicitors, caseworkers, and support professionals is well-equipped to serve a global clientele with care, professionalism, and cultural understanding.

At Garth Coates Solicitors, we fight for our clients’ rights and treat each case with the attention and seriousness it deserves. Whether you’re applying for the first time, facing an appeal, or unsure of your options, we are here to guide you with clarity and confidence.

Warm regards,

Contact us for a Skilled Worker Visa UK consultation

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