Skilled Worker Visa

• • With a Skilled Worker visa you can come to the UK and work for a company that is approved by the Home Office. You can keep living in the UK for up to 5 years without needing to renew your visa.
• • You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa maximum three months before your starting date at the offered job. You can expect a decision approximately 6-weeks after your application.
• • The Visa fee differs between 610 GBP and 1,408 GBP, depending on your special circumstances.
• • Anyone who works in healthcare, such as doctors and nurses, can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa instead. It’s cheaper than a Skilled Worker visa and byusing this way, you won’t need to pay an annual immigration health surcharge.

Who Can Apply?

• • A skilled Worker visa covers an exhaustive list of professions ranging from chefs to architects and IT Specialists. You can see the full list of eligible professions by checking the list of occupations and seeing whether you are qualified.
• • Aside from meeting the requirement for an eligible profession, your employer also has to be approved by the Home Office to sponsor you.
• • Another point you need to ensure that the annual salary for the job you are planning to do in the UK must meet the minimum threshold. Depending on your situation this can be;

• 1) 25,600 GBP per year
• 2) 10,10 GBP per hour
• 3) The fixed “going rate” for the job you’re planning to do

You need to satisfy the highest one and subject to your personal circumstances this may differ. On the other hand, if your job is listed on the “Skilled Worker visa shortage occupations”, satisfying only 80% of the “going rate” for your profession will be sufficient.

What are the English requirements for the UK Skilled Worker visa?

• • Anyone who wants to live in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa needs to satisfy the English language requirement. You’ll need to prove that you passed one of the Home Office approved English language tests, prior to your application. You’ll need to show that your level is at least B1 on the CEFR scale. Language Test is a key part of the successful Skilled Visa application.
• • Before taking the test, please check the list of countries that are exempt from this rule and are not required to show proof of English level.

• • Another exemption to sitting a test is put in place for persons who have a degree level in English (can be a Bachelors, Masters or PhD).

What is needed for a successful Skilled Worker visa application?

Below named documents are needed to file a Skilled Worker visa application;

1. A valid passport
2. A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) assigned by your UK employer
3. The job offer must require a skill level at or above RQF3 (A level equivalent)
4. Proof of English Level
5. Evidence that the candidate meets the financial requirement, either by documenting their savings or an undertaking from a UK employer
6. Tuberculosis Test, if your country is on the Appendix T

What are the Financial Requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa?

• • Applicants need to prove that they have sufficient funds to live a life in the UK. Bank Statements may be required to show that for most situations however, they are not the only way to prove it.
• • Anyone who in their Certificate of Sponsorship has a “certified maintenance” clause and has an A-rated sponsor, does not need to supply additional finance documents.
• • Also, anyone who has lived in the UK continuously for the 12-month period prior to the Skilled Worker visa application does not need to provide proof of finances.
• • Persons who are not exempt from the Financial Requirement rule must provide bank statements covering the 28-day period prior to the application date. These statements need to show at least 1,270 GBP in their personal bank accounts.