Business Immigration
The main UK work visa for sponsored overseas workers. It covers a wide range of skilled occupations across technology, finance, engineering, healthcare, education and many other sectors. We advise both employers assigning Certificates of Sponsorship and individuals applying for leave.
The Skilled Worker visa operates under the UK points-based system. Applicants must score 70 points to qualify. 50 of those points are mandatory and cannot be traded: a job offer from a licensed sponsor (20 points), an eligible occupation code (20 points), and English language at B1 level (10 points). The remaining 20 points come from meeting the salary requirement. There is no cap on the number of Skilled Worker visas issued each year.
All six requirements must be met. Failure on any single point will result in refusal.
You must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence covering the Skilled Worker route. The employer must assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before you apply. Without a CoS reference number, an application cannot be submitted.
The role must appear on the list of eligible occupations in the Home Office's Skilled Worker Appendix. Each occupation is assigned a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The correct SOC code determines the going rate salary requirement for your specific role — assigning the wrong code is a common cause of refusal.
Your salary must meet both the general salary threshold and the going rate for your specific occupation code — whichever is higher applies. The general threshold is £38,700 per year. A lower new entrant rate of £30,960 applies if you are under 26, switching from a Student or Graduate visa, in a postdoctoral position, or in certain other qualifying circumstances.
You must demonstrate English language ability at B1 level (intermediate) or above on the Common European Framework of Reference. This can be met by holding a GCSE, A-level, degree or higher qualification taught in English, passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), or being a national of a majority English-speaking country.
Unless your sponsor has A-rated status and certifies maintenance on your CoS, you must show you have held at least £1,270 in your bank account for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before your application date. This is waived if your sponsor confirms they will cover your costs for the first month.
You must not fall within the general grounds for refusal. Certain criminal convictions, immigration breaches, or deception in a previous application can result in mandatory refusal. Your sponsor also has ongoing duties to report and cannot sponsor workers where the role is primarily for their benefit rather than the business.
Thresholds apply from April 2024. The higher of the general threshold and the going rate for the occupation always applies.
| Applicant type | Minimum salary |
|---|---|
| General rate (most applicants) | £38,700 per year |
| New entrant rate (under 26, Student/Graduate visa switchers, postdocs) | £30,960 per year |
| Health and Care Worker — NHS pay bands | Aligned to Agenda for Change pay scales |
| All applicants — going rate for the occupation | Whichever is higher than the above |
The going rate is set per SOC code in the Home Office Skilled Worker Appendix. We check this for every role before a CoS is assigned.
The Health and Care Worker visa is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker route for qualified doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and adult social care workers. It carries significant cost advantages: reduced application fees and full exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is otherwise £1,035 per year per person.
The sponsoring employer must be the NHS, an NHS-commissioned service, or a CQC-registered adult social care provider. Salary requirements are aligned to NHS Agenda for Change pay bands rather than the standard Skilled Worker thresholds. We advise on band alignment, eligible job codes and the application process for both the employer and the worker.
The visa is granted for up to five years. It can be extended as long as you remain in qualifying employment with a licensed sponsor. There is no limit on the number of times it can be extended.
Your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. Dependants can work in the UK without restriction. They do not need a separate work visa.
After five years of continuous residence on the Skilled Worker route, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. You must meet absence requirements, pass the Life in the UK test, and continue to meet the salary threshold.
We advise both the sponsoring employer and the visa applicant — covering every stage from occupation code assessment to ILR.
We check the correct SOC code for the role, confirm the going rate applies, and manage the CoS request through the Sponsor Management System. Getting these steps right at the start avoids refusals and avoids re-assigning a new CoS.
Where an employer is sponsoring multiple workers or needs to plan ahead, we advise on undefined CoS allocation, defined CoS timing for overseas applicants, and how to structure employment terms to meet the thresholds.
Before you apply, we assess your eligibility in full — occupation code, salary, English language evidence, and maintenance funds — so you know where you stand before committing to an application fee.
We prepare your full application, review all supporting documents, and submit on your behalf or guide you through the process. We advise on priority processing where timelines are tight.
Your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants on your Skilled Worker visa. We manage dependant applications alongside the main application and advise on any additional requirements.
After five years of continuous residence on the Skilled Worker route, you may be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain. We advise on absences, salary continuity, and Life in the UK test requirements ahead of an ILR application.
Free practical guides on this topic from our Checklists & Guides library.
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Whether you are an employer assigning a CoS or an individual preparing your application, we can advise on your specific circumstances.
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General enquiries
info@visaprofessionals.comSpeak to Irfan directly
irfan@visaprofessionals.comPhone
0203 137 8699