JMW Solicitors does not offer services related to finding employment in the UK. If you are looking to speak to a solicitor about any legal matters concerning an immigration application, contact us today.
Skilled Worker Visa Solicitor
The Skilled Worker visa was previously known as the Tier 2 (General) work visa. The Skilled Worker visa permits eligible applicants with a job offer from an approved sponsor to live and work in the UK.
As specialists in UK immigration law, JMW Solicitors can offer clients a full service that includes advice and assistance with a Skilled Worker visa application. With offices located in the heart of central London, Manchester and Liverpool, we can help clients based in the UK as well as those overseas with immigration advice and practical support.
We regularly assist human resources teams and employers with this type of visa, and are well-positioned to successfully and expeditiously manage these applications for both employers and employees.
If you would like to know more about the UK Skilled Worker visa application process, get in touch with our expert immigration solicitors today by calling 0345 872 6666, or fill in our online enquiry form and we will get back to you.
How JMW Can Help With a Skilled Worker Visa Application
The UK government has laid down stringent requirements in relation to these applications, which must be met. Applications must be made via a specified form, including payment of the correct Home Office fees.
Our experienced team of immigration solicitors will prepare all necessary documentation and liaise with the Home Office regularly to ensure a successful outcome. We can also help employers to ensure they understand the process and have correctly assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship to any migrant worker.
Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship is a crucial part of a visa application, and it is essential to make sure it is done correctly, with the correct information being provided; otherwise, an application may be refused by the Home Office.
JMW is a top 100 UK law firm with over 500 employees and offices in London, Manchester and Liverpool. We have an exemplary track record of excellent legal services, and are recognised in the legal sector as one of the leading full-service law firms in the UK. We provide the high professional standards that you would expect from an established law firm, and also retain the client accessibility more typical of smaller firms.
Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility Requirements
To secure permission to enter or remain as a Skilled Worker, the applicant must have:
- A job offer from a UK employer who has been approved by the Home Office as a qualified sponsor (holds a sponsor licence)
- A Certificate of Sponsorship from that employer that details the role
- An appropriate salary (ranges from £25,000 depending on the role and attributes of the worker)
- An understanding of the English language at CEFR level B1
- Sufficient maintenance funds to cover the costs of living in the UK (this requirement is automatically met by those who have been present in the UK for 12 months)
Skilled Workers can only be employed in positions recognised by the Home Office as suitable for sponsorship; since 22 July 2025, these are positions at RQF level six (degree level) or above, although some lower-skilled roles are also suitable for sponsorship. Those who were sponsored prior to 22 July 2025 can continue to be sponsored in positions at RQF level three (A-Level).
The Immigration Rules in relation to suitable roles and acceptable salaries are extremely complex; our experienced immigration lawyers often advise businesses on meeting these requirements when they wish to sponsor workers, and can help you to maintain compliance as a sponsor licence holder.
How Does a UK Employer Sponsor a Skilled Worker?
In order to employ a Skilled Worker, there are certain requirements that must be met with points scored. An applicant must score 50 mandatory points against the following criteria:
- An offer of a job by a Home Office-approved sponsor - 20 points
- The job must be at an appropriate skill level - 20 points
- The ability to speak English at a required level - 10 points
In addition, there are up to 20 tradeable points.
A UK employer can sponsor a Skilled Worker by obtaining a sponsor licence from the Home Office and issuing Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to prospective employees. This process requires the employer to meet strict eligibility compliance and to keep detailed records in relation to their sponsored workers.
The employer must apply for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence using the Home Office’s online system and submit supporting documents to demonstrate that:
- They are a genuine organisation operating legally in the UK.
- They have appropriate systems to monitor sponsored workers.
- There is a genuine vacancy that meets the skill and salary thresholds.
Typical supporting documents include VAT registration certificates, evidence of employer’s liability insurance policies, business bank statements, leases or proof of ownership of business premises etc. Extensive information in relation to your organisation and your need for a sponsor licence must also be provided to the Home Office.
Once approved, the employer receives access to the Sponsor Management System (SMS) and can apply for and assign CoS to any applicants the business wishes to sponsor. The CoS includes details about the job, salary, working hours, and the worker. Each certificate has a unique reference number, which the worker uses when applying for their visa.
The business must pay the Immigration Skills Charge and a CoS assignment fee for each sponsored worker. Some roles/individuals are exempt from the Immigration Skills Charge. The Immigration Skills Charge fee depends on the size of the business and the length of the sponsorship.
The prospective employee will then apply for a Skilled Worker visa using the CoS reference number.
Once a worker commences their sponsored role, the employer must keep accurate records of the worker’s contact details and right to work, monitor their attendance and report changes to their employment (e.g. early termination, change of role) within 10 working days using the SMS. As part of the sponsor licence application process, you must assign responsibility for these obligations to specific members of your organisation. Once a licence has been issued, JMW can also be nominated as a Level 1 User, enabling us to assist with the drafting and assignment of CoS and SMS updates going forward.
Non-compliance with sponsorship duties can lead to licence suspension or revocation, which will also affect the immigration status of any sponsored workers.
What is the minimum salary for a skilled worker visa?
For those sponsored as a Skilled Worker visa holder since 22 July 2025, the general minimum salary that a Skilled Worker visa applicant must receive is £41,700. The salary paid must also comply with the 'going rate' specified in the 2020 Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) for the role. In certain circumstances, depending on the role being undertaken and the particular characteristics of the proposed Skilled Worker, the general salary threshold and going rate can be reduced. This is summarised in the below table:
| Option | Requirements |
|---|---|
| A - Standard Skilled Worker sponsored from 22 July 2025 | The applicant's salary equals or exceeds both: £41,700 per year and 100% of the going rate for their SOC. |
| B - Relevant PhD sponsored from 22 July 2025 | PhD in a subject relevant to their job and the applicant's salary equals or exceeds both: £37,500 per year and 90% of the going rate of their SOC. |
| C - Relevant STEM PhD sponsored from 22 July 2025 | PhD in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) subject relevant to their job and the applicant's salary equals or exceeds both: £33,400 per year and 80% of the going rate for their SOC. |
| D - Immigration Salary List role sponsored from 22 July 2025 | The job is in the Immigration Salary List and the applicant's salary equals or exceeds both: £33,400 per year and 100% of the going rate for their SOC. |
| E - New Entrant sponsored from 22 July 2025 | The applicant is a new entrant to the labour market and their salary equals or exceeds both: £33,400 per year and 70% of the going rate for their SOC. |
| F - Listed health or educational occupation | The job is a listed health or education occupation and the applicant's salary equals or exceeds both: £25,000 per year and the going rate for their SOC. |
Note that different salary levels apply to those who were issued a Skilled Worker visa prior to the previous Immigration Rule change on 4 April 2024; these salaries range between £25,000 and £31,300, with different going rates also applying to these applications.
FAQs About Skilled Worker Visas
Eligibility and Applications
Is my job skilled enough for a Skilled Worker visa? How do I find out?
Not all jobs are eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship. To be eligible for the Skilled Worker visa category, your job role must be skilled to at least RQF level 6, which is the equivalent to degree-level, unless the worker first received sponsorship prior to 22 July 2025, or the role is contained on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. The role will need to be matched to an occupation code which is suitable for sponsorship, and must comply with complex salary requirements.
It can be difficult to determine your job role's skill level, particularly if it doesn't ‘sit' clearly within a specific SOC code; however, we can assist with this assessment.
Can I receive a bonus on top of my salary?
Generally, allowances and bonuses cannot be used to meet minimum income requirements.
Does an English degree count as proof for a Skilled Worker visa application?
If you have an English degree from a UK university, you can provide this as proof of your English language knowledge. If you have undertaken a degree taught in English that was taught by a university outside the UK, you will either need to apply to UK NARIC to confirm that it is equivalent to a UK degree and was taught in English, or pass a relevant English test.
Can I use an English language test I passed a couple of years ago as proof in my application?
If you have undertaken an acceptable English language test in the last two years, it may be used as proof in your Skilled Worker visa application. To successfully claim points for English language knowledge, you need to take an approved English language test that features on the UK government's website. Sometimes, approved tests undertaken more than two years prior to the date of a Skilled Worker application can be relied on if the Home Office has accepted the qualification for the purpose of a previous successful UK immigration application.
How long does a Skilled Worker visa application take to process?
Processing times can vary depending on whether an application is made in the UK or abroad. Processing times can vary depending on whether an application is made in the UK or abroad. Applications submitted within the UK under the standard service can take an average of eight weeks to be processed. The priority service can result in a decision being issued within five working days or 24 hours, depending on which service you opt for.
When applying from abroad, the processing times vary; generally, decisions are issued within three weeks. Priority services are also available to overseas applicants.
Can the Skilled Worker visa lead to settlement or British citizenship?
The Skilled Worker visa can lead to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR) and eventually British citizenship, provided the visa holder meets the eligibility requirements at each stage. A Skilled Worker visa holder can usually apply for settlement after five continuous years of lawful residence in the UK under the Skilled Worker route.
To qualify for ILR, the applicant must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during the qualifying five years. At the time of applying for settlement, the applicant’s salary must meet a relevant threshold and must still be employed by a UK sponsor licensed by the Home Office in a role that meets the Skilled Worker route requirements. They must pass a Life in the UK test, and must provide specified evidence in relation to their role and salary.
Once granted ILR, an individual may become eligible to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after one additional year, provided they were physically present in the UK five years before the date of application. They cannot have spent more than 450 days outside the UK in those five years, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months, and they must meet the good character requirements, which include checks on criminal convictions, immigration history, and financial conduct. Different naturalisation requirements exist for those who are married to a British citizen.
Families and Dependents
Can family members join a Skilled Worker visa migrant?
If a Skilled Worker visa application is successful, dependent family members can seek permission to join you in the UK or to remain with you. Examples of dependants include children under the age of 18, a husband/wife, a civil partner, or an unmarried partner.
Note that since 11 March 2024, Care Workers and Senior Care Workers have not been able to sponsor their family members to join them in the UK. This provision only applies to the Care Workers and Senior Care Workers who have been granted entry clearance or permission to remain under the Rules in force since 11 March 2024. Individuals who are sponsored to undertake a role on the Temporary Shortage List from 22 July 2025 are also not able to sponsor their family members.
Can dependants work while in the UK?
Dependants are allowed to work in the UK and can undertake self-employment and voluntary work. They cannot, however, work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. Also, children are permitted to attend state schools in the UK.
Making Changes to a Skilled Worker Visa
Can I switch jobs on a Skilled Worker visa?
The Skilled Worker visa only grants you permission to work for the employer that originally sponsored your application. If you wish to switch jobs to a new employer or to a different occupation code, you will need to apply to update your Skilled Worker visa by submitting a new application accompanied by a new CoS. If you wish to change your job, you must ensure your new role is among the eligible occupations listed by the Home Office, or your Skilled Worker application may be refused.
Can I get a second job with a Skilled Worker visa?
You are allowed to get a second job (and undertake supplementary employment) subject to the following restrictions:
- The second job must be carried out for no more than 20 hours per week, outside of your sponsored work, and you must continue to work for the sponsor in the job outlined on your Certificate of Sponsorship
- The second job role must be in the same SOC code as your sponsored role, be on the Immigration Salary List, or be in any Occupation Code that is suitable for sponsorship as a Skilled Worker
If the second job does not meet the above requirements, you will need to obtain sponsorship in the same way as your primary role.
Can I change from a student visa to a Skilled Worker visa?
If you have completed either a bachelor’s, master’s, or postgraduate certificate in education, professional graduate diploma of education, or 24 months of study towards a PhD in the UK under your most recent grant of leave as a student, you could be eligible to apply for a skilled worker visa from within the UK. You may also be able to benefit from reduced new entrant salary rates.
Can I apply for a skilled worker visa if I haven’t completed my degree?
You can only switch from a Student visa if you have successfully completed your course, or have completed at least 24 months of a PhD; the Certificate of Sponsorship must have a start date no earlier than course completion (24 months of completion for a PhD). If you have been unable to successfully complete your course, you will need to make your Skilled Worker visa application from your country of residence.
Why Choose JMW?
Whether you are a UK company looking to hire from overseas, or a foreign worker seeking employment with a UK business, professional legal advice can make a big difference to the success of an application. By working with knowledgeable business immigration lawyers, organisations can comply with their obligations as sponsor licence holders, while individuals can understand the restrictions imposed by their visas and get tailored support through the application process.
JMW's expert Skilled Worker visa solicitors have assisted parties on both sides of this arrangement and helped businesses in the UK benefit from greater access to overseas talent. We can offer legal assistance on this and other visa routes to help you make the right choice. Our immigration specialists review supporting documents at the application stage to give you the highest chance of success, and can advise businesses on everything from eligible occupations to the minimum salary requirements. We can help you to meet the legal requirements and implement the necessary procedures to operate a Skilled Worker visa sponsor licence, and assist with your ongoing compliance as a sponsor licence holder.
With a strong track record of success and meticulous attention to detail, the team at JMW is best-placed to support UK employers and overseas workers to follow the Immigration Rules in all visa-related matters.
Talk to Us
At JMW, our Skilled Worker visa solicitors are experts in all stages of the immigration process, which means we can advise you on choosing the right UK visa for your needs, meeting the eligibility criteria and making the necessary application.
To get support with an application for a Skilled Worker visa, contact JMW’s immigration solicitors today by calling 0330 162 6067, or fill in our online enquiry form and we will get back to you.