Moving to the UK for Work: How the Skilled Worker Route Really Works

The Skilled Worker visa is how most people move to the United Kingdom to take a job. It is a points-based route, and the points are not the hard part. The hard part is the very first one: a confirmed job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence. Without that, the rest of the points do not matter. With it, the path is fairly mechanical.

This guide breaks down the points you need, the salary thresholds and the exceptions that lower them, how to find an employer who can actually sponsor you, what it costs, and how the visa leads to settlement.

What the Skilled Worker visa is

It is a work visa tied to a specific job with a specific UK employer. The employer must hold a sponsor licence and assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship for a role that sits at or above the required skill level and appears on the eligible occupation list. The visa can be granted for up to five years at a time, can be extended, and counts toward permanent settlement.

The points: what you need

You need 70 points, and they come from a fixed set of requirements:

• A job offer from a licensed sponsor at the right skill level.
• English language ability at an intermediate level.
• A salary that meets the threshold for your role.

The job offer and sponsorship are non-negotiable. Everything else is a box you tick around them.

The salary threshold (and the exceptions)

You generally must be paid at least a general salary floor, which after recent reforms sits around £38,700 a year, or the "going rate" for your specific occupation if that is higher. The exact figures are updated by the government, so confirm the current numbers, but the key point is that several groups can qualify on a lower salary:

• Health and care roles have their own, lower thresholds under a dedicated route.
• New entrants, such as younger workers and recent graduates, can be held to a reduced floor for a period.
• Shortage and other listed occupations can carry lower going rates.

If a headline salary number looks out of reach, check whether your occupation or situation falls into one of these lower bands before you rule yourself out.

Finding a licensed sponsor

This is the real work. Practical moves:

• Apply to employers that are on the public register of licensed sponsors. If a company is not on it, it cannot sponsor you, full stop.
• Healthcare, social care, technology, engineering, education and hospitality are among the sectors that sponsor in volume.
• Say plainly that you need sponsorship. Sponsors expect it; non-sponsors will not start a licence for one hire.
• Make the hire easy to justify with a clear, in-demand skill set, since sponsorship adds cost and paperwork for the employer.

How to apply, step by step

1. Get the job and the Certificate of Sponsorship from your licensed employer.
2. Confirm you meet the salary and English requirementsfor your role.
3. Apply online, pay the fees and the health surcharge, and prove you have enough money to support yourself unless your sponsor certifies it.
4. Give your biometrics and submit your documents.
5. Wait for the decision, with a faster priority service usually available for an extra fee.

Costs: the fees and the health surcharge

Budget for the visa application fee, which varies with the length of the visa, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is charged per year of your visa and gives you access to the National Health Service. The surcharge is the cost that surprises people most, because it is paid up front for the whole visa period. You also need to show maintenance funds unless your sponsor covers them. Many employers help with some of these costs, so ask.

From Skilled Worker to settlement

The Skilled Worker visa is a route to permanent settlement. After five years of continuous lawful residence on it, and meeting the residence and other rules, you can usually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and later for citizenship. That makes it not just a job visa but the start of a path to staying for good. If you are still deciding between countries, it is worth reading how a points-based system like Australia's compares, since that route needs no job offer at all.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer before I can apply?

Yes. The Skilled Worker visa requires a confirmed job from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence and assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship. It is the first thing to secure.

What salary do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?

Generally a general threshold of around £38,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation if higher, with lower thresholds for health and care roles, new entrants and certain listed occupations. Confirm the current figures before applying.

How do I know if an employer can sponsor me?

They must appear on the public register of licensed sponsors. If a company is not on that list, it cannot sponsor a Skilled Worker visa.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. Partners and children can usually come as dependants, subject to the requirements and additional fees.

Does the Skilled Worker visa lead to permanent residence?

Yes. After five years on the route and meeting the rules, you can normally apply for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and later for British citizenship.