Overview
The Skilled Worker visa enables individuals to come to or remain in the UK for an eligible job with an approved employer. It has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa, offering a pathway for skilled workers to work and contribute to the UK economy.
If you or your family member are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be eligible to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. The majority of people had a deadline of 30 June 2021 to apply, but there are exceptions. You can still apply if you have a later deadline, such as when joining a family member who was already living in the UK by 31 December 2020, or if you have “reasonable grounds” for being unable to apply by the initial deadline, such as illness or being a victim of domestic abuse. To determine your eligibility to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme after the deadline, it is advised to check the specific criteria outlined by the scheme.
If you do not meet the requirements for the EU Settlement Scheme, you will need to obtain a visa to work in the UK. Irish citizens, however, are exempt from the visa requirement and do not need to apply for either a visa or the EU Settlement Scheme.
Eligibility
In order to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, several requirements must be met. Firstly, you need to be employed by a UK-based company that has obtained approval from the Home Office. Additionally, you must possess a “certificate of sponsorship” from your employer, which provides details about the position you have been offered in the UK. Your job must also be listed as an eligible occupation, and you must receive a minimum salary that corresponds to the specific type of work you will be doing. It is important to note that the eligibility criteria may vary depending on the nature of your job.
Prior to applying for the visa, you must have a confirmed job offer in place.
Proficiency in English is another essential requirement. You must be able to speak, read, write, and comprehend English. Typically, you will be asked to demonstrate your English language skills as part of the application process.
If you do not meet the criteria for a Skilled Worker visa, there might be alternative visa options available to you for working in the UK.
The duration of your visa can last for up to 5 years before it needs to be extended. It is necessary to apply for an extension or update of your visa prior to its expiration, as well as in the event of a job or employer change.
If you want to stay longer in the UK
You have the option to apply for an extension of your visa multiple times, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. Once you have resided in the UK for a period of 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for settlement, also known as “indefinite leave to remain.” This status grants you the freedom to live, work, and study in the UK without any time restrictions, and you may also be eligible to apply for certain benefits.
The application for a visa can be submitted up to 3 months before the intended start date of your employment in the UK, as indicated on your certificate of sponsorship. Alongside your application, you will need to provide proof of your identity and submit the necessary documents. It is important to note that if you require an appointment to complete this process, additional time should be allocated. The requirement for an appointment will be communicated to you when you begin your application.
Getting a decision
After submitting your online application and completing the necessary steps of proving your identity and submitting the required documents, the processing time for your visa application will typically be as follows:
- If you are outside the UK, you can expect a decision within 3 weeks.
- If you are inside the UK, the processing time is generally 8 weeks.
In certain cases, it may be possible to expedite the decision-making process by paying an additional fee for a faster decision. The specific procedure for requesting expedited processing depends on whether you are applying from outside the UK or from within the UK.
If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Skilled Worker visa.