The UK Skilled Worker visa is still the main way to move to Britain for a job, but it is much harder to get than it was two years ago. Since July 2025 most jobs must be at degree level, the general salary threshold is £41,700, and from January 2026 new applicants need B2 English. This guide explains the Skilled Worker visa rules as they stand in October 2026, what it costs, and how to avoid the job-offer scams that target applicants from Pakistan, India and Africa.
Table of Contents
What the Skilled Worker visa is
The Skilled Worker visa lets you live and work in the UK for an approved employer. You cannot apply on your own. A company with a Home Office sponsor licence must offer you a job and assign you a certificate of sponsorship (CoS), which is an electronic record with a reference number you use in your application.
The visa can last up to five years before you need to extend it, and you can bring a partner and children in most higher-skilled roles.
Who qualifies in 2026
To apply, you need:
- A job offer from a licensed UK sponsor
- A certificate of sponsorship for that job
- A job on the list of eligible occupations, at the right skill level
- A salary that meets the threshold for your job
- English at level B2
- Personal savings of £1,270, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance
The skill level rule changed in July 2025
From 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker applications are generally limited to occupations at RQF level 6, which is roughly graduate level. Jobs at RQF levels 3 to 5 (medium-skilled) can only be sponsored if they appear on the Temporary Shortage List or the Immigration Salary List, and that list is in place until the end of 2026. People in these medium-skilled roles generally cannot bring dependants.
The care worker route was closed to new overseas recruitment at the same time. If an agent is still selling care worker visas from abroad, treat it as a warning sign.
Salary threshold and going rates
Your salary must meet the higher of two figures:
- The general salary threshold: £41,700 a year
- The going rate for your occupation code, which is set for each job
Some applicants can be paid less, down to £33,400, if they count as new entrants. That includes people under 26, recent graduates switching from a Student or Graduate visa, and those working towards professional registration. The salary must be for a standard working week, and allowances such as housing usually do not count.
Check the going rate for your occupation code on GOV.UK before you accept an offer. If the employer’s figure is below the going rate, the certificate cannot be used.
English language: B2 from January 2026
Since 8 January 2026, new Skilled Worker applicants must show English at B2, up from B1. You can meet it with an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI, a degree taught in English (confirmed through Ecctis), or nationality of a majority English-speaking country. Pakistan is not on that list, so most Pakistani applicants use a SELT or their degree.
IELTS Academic or General taken outside the UKVI system does not count as a SELT. Book the UKVI version. Our IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL vs Duolingo guide explains which test versions are accepted for UK visas.
Skilled Worker visa costs
The Home Office fees for the main applicant are:
- Outside the UK, up to 3 years: £819
- Outside the UK, more than 3 years: £1,618
- Inside the UK, up to 3 years: £943
- Inside the UK, more than 3 years: £1,865
- Immigration Salary List jobs: £628 or £1,235, inside or outside the UK
On top of that you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 for each year of the visa. For a five-year visa applied for from abroad, that comes to £1,618 plus £5,175, or £6,793, before any family members. Each dependant pays a similar visa fee and their own surcharge.
The employer pays the Immigration Skills Charge, which went up on 16 December 2025. They are not allowed to recover it from you. They also pay for the certificate of sponsorship itself.
Proof of funds
You need £1,270 in your bank account, held for 28 days in a row, with day 28 falling within 31 days of your application. You do not need this if you have been in the UK for 12 months or more, or if your sponsor ticks the box on your certificate confirming it will support you during your first month.
Documents checklist
- Certificate of sponsorship reference number
- Valid passport
- Proof of English at B2
- Bank statements, if you need to show funds
- Tuberculosis test certificate, which is required for applicants from Pakistan and many other countries
- Criminal record certificate for some jobs, such as health, education and social care
- Degree certificate or Ecctis confirmation, if relevant
How to apply for a Skilled Worker visa
- Find a licensed sponsor. The Home Office publishes a register of licensed sponsors that you can search by company name.
- Get a job offer and agree a salary that meets the threshold and going rate.
- Receive your certificate of sponsorship from the employer.
- Apply online on GOV.UK within three months of the certificate being assigned, and no more than three months before your start date.
- Give biometrics at a VFS Global centre, or use the UK ID Check app if eligible.
- Wait for a decision. The standard time from outside the UK is about three weeks.
Job offer scams to watch for
Fake sponsorship offers are a serious problem, especially in Pakistan, India, Nigeria and Ghana. Common signs include:
- Being asked to pay for a certificate of sponsorship (sponsors pay for these, and charging workers is not allowed)
- An offer with no interview, or an interview only on WhatsApp
- A company that does not appear on the register of licensed sponsors
- Pressure to transfer money quickly, often thousands of pounds
If something feels wrong, check the company yourself and walk away. Our guide to crypto and online scams in Pakistan shows how fraudsters usually work.
Settlement: five years or ten?
Under the current Immigration Rules, Skilled Workers can usually apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years. The government has proposed an earned settlement model with a ten-year baseline, shorter for high earners and some public service workers. As of early October 2026, the House of Commons Library notes that these changes have not yet been brought into force. Plan for five years under today’s rules, but watch for updates before you reach that point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
£41,700 a year or the going rate for your job, whichever is higher. New entrants can be paid at least £33,400.
Can I apply for a Skilled Worker visa without a job offer?
No. You need a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer.
Can I bring my family?
Yes, for most RQF 6 jobs. People in medium-skilled roles on the Temporary Shortage List generally cannot bring dependants.
Is the care worker visa still open?
Not for new applicants from overseas. It closed on 22 July 2025.
If you would rather study in Britain first, read our UK student visa guide. The official rules are on the GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa page.
