Regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority · Ref No. F201700062
Work Visas
The Skilled Worker route requires a sponsoring employer and a role that fits the route.
For most applicants the questions are practical: whether they can apply from inside the UK, what happens to their family, and what the route means for the longer term.
You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor, a Certificate of Sponsorship, a role at the required skill level, salary that meets the relevant requirement for the occupation, English language at the required level, and to satisfy the suitability requirements.
You cannot apply speculatively. The sponsor's licence and the certificate come first, which is why job searching and immigration planning need to run together.
Your permission is tied to your sponsor and your role. Changing employer, and often changing role, requires a new certificate and a new application granted before you start.
Extended absence from work, unpaid leave beyond the permitted period, or your employer losing its licence can all affect your permission. Keep your own copies of your certificate, payslips and permission documents.
Partners and children can generally apply as dependants, with permission to work and study in most cases.
Time on the route counts towards settlement after five years of continuous residence, subject to absence limits, the salary requirement at that point, and the knowledge of language and life requirement.
What is actually needed depends on your circumstances. We confirm the list with you before anything is prepared.
We start with your history, your relationships, your work and your time in the UK. The right route follows from the facts.
We explain which route fits, what it requires and what the realistic alternatives are if it does not.
We work out what the Home Office will expect, what you already have and what needs to be obtained.
We prepare the application, explain anything that needs explaining and advise on what happens after submission.
Applicant-facing answers about the Skilled Worker route and the conditions attached to it.
This page is general information about UK immigration and is not advice on your individual circumstances. Requirements, guidance and procedures change. Please obtain advice before relying on anything published here.
We will tell you how UKU can assist, and what the realistic options are.
