UK Skilled Worker visa: salary, sponsorship and application checks

Start with the job and sponsor, then check the salary rules applying to your circumstances. Meeting a general salary figure alone does not establish eligibility.

Which salary rule applies?

The standard Skilled Worker requirement is generally the higher of £41,700 per year or the occupation’s going rate. GOV.UK describes exceptions and different requirements for some health and education jobs and certain applicant circumstances. Do not apply a discounted amount without checking the conditions.

Find the occupation code, check whether the job is eligible, then compare the salary with the correct going-rate table and any applicable transitional provisions. The sponsor, job duties, certificate of sponsorship and salary all matter. The old £38,700 general threshold is not the current standard figure.

Official Skilled Worker job and salary requirements · When a lower salary may qualify

Health and Care is not closed for all professions

The Health and Care Worker route remains available for eligible professions. Restrictions on new overseas recruitment into care-worker and senior-care-worker jobs must not be described as closing the whole route to doctors, nurses and other eligible health professionals. Check the exact occupation and any switching or transitional conditions on GOV.UK.

Prepare the application in this order

1. Identify the route that matches the work you will actually do. An occupation title alone may not identify the correct code.
2. For sponsored routes, confirm the employer’s sponsor status and the details on the certificate of sponsorship.
3. Check the relevant job eligibility and salary rules, including exceptions and previous immigration permission where relevant.
4. Read the official document and application requirements for applying from outside the UK, switching or extending. These are different situations.
5. Check the current fee, healthcare-surcharge position and dependant conditions for your own route before budgeting.
6. Keep the source link and date with your checklist. Refer unresolved individual circumstances to an appropriately regulated adviser.

Costs, timing and settlement

Application costs depend on the route and application details. Use the official Skilled Worker cost guidance or the corresponding page for your chosen route. A salary threshold is not a visa fee. Processing estimates and possible settlement routes are subject to conditions; this guide does not promise an outcome or a fixed settlement date.

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