How to apply work visa for UK in 2024?
the UK Work Visa
The different kinds of UK work visas, the requirements, the application process, the rights and obligations of work visa holders, and other pertinent information.
You can live and work in the UK for a set amount of time with a UK work visa, many of which are renewable indefinitely. You must be eligible for a UK Work visa and submit the required application paperwork.
What Are the Types of Work Visa for the UK?
There are different types of work visas for the UK:
- Skilled Worker Visa
- UK Start-Up Visa
- UK Graduate Work Visa
- UK Domestic Worker Visa
- High Potential Individual Visa
- International Sportsperson Visa
- Minister of Religion Visa
- Youth Mobility Scheme
- Global Business Mobility Worker Visas
- Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
- Expansion Worker Visa
- Secondment Worker Visa
- Service Supplier Visa
- Graduate Trainee Visa
- Temporary Worker Visas
- Creative Worker Visa
- Seasonal Worker Visa
- International Agreement Worker Visa
- Charity Worker Visa
- Government Authorized Exchange Visa
UK Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker visa enables you to work an eligible job for a UK employer. The eligibility requirements are as follows:
- You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for the visa.
- You must work for a UK employer approved by the Home Office.
- You must have a certificate of sponsorship given by your employer.
- You must have a job listed in the eligible occupations.
- You must receive the minimum salary for the job you will do.
- Your English level must be at least B1.
UK Start-Up Visa
With a Start-Up visa, you can open a new business in the UK as an entrepreneur. The eligibility requirements are as follows:
- You must be 18 or older.
- Your business must have been endorsed by an approved UK endorsing body.
- Your English level must be B2.
- You must have at least £945 in your bank account for 90 days before applying.
- You must already have the valid UK leave under either Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur, Tier 2, Tier 4 (General), or as a visitor doing allowed activities as a potential entrepreneur.
UK Graduate Work Visa
With a UK Graduate Work visa, you can work flexibly, switch jobs, and develop your career for two years after completing a course in the UK. You can apply for this visa if:
- You are currently in the UK on a student visa.
- You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible courses for at least 12 months with your student visa.
- Your university or college has told the Home Office that you have completed the course.
- UK Domestic Worker Visa
- The UK Domestic Worker visa allows you to work for a private household in the UK. You can work as a nanny, chauffeur, cleaner, cook, etc. To qualify for the UK Domestic Worker visa,
- you must meet the following requirements:
- You are over the age of 19.
- You live outside the UK.
- You are a domestic worker in a private household.
- You have worked for that employer for at least 12 months.
- You work in the same household as your employer.
- You plan on leaving the UK after six months.
- You don’t need public funds.
High Potential Individual Visa
The High Potential visa allows graduates of top global universities to work in the UK for two years. You don’t need a job offer for this type of this visa. To apply for this visa, you must fulfil the listed conditions:
- An eligible university must award you a qualification within five years.
- You must be 18 or older.
- You must have at least an English level B1.
- You must have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
- You must not have been granted permission under the Student Doctorate Extension Scheme as a graduate or a high-potential individual.
International Sportsperson Visa
The International Sportsperson visa allows sponsored coaches or sportspeople to work in the UK to develop their sport at the highest level. To qualify for the International Sportsperson visa, you must meet the listed requirements:
- You must be a qualified coach or elite sportsperson recognised by your governing body.
- The governing body of your sport must endorse your application.
- Your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level.
- You must have a certificate of sponsorship.
- You must provide proof that you know the English language.
- You must have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
- You must show your travel history for the last five years.
- You must have a tuberculosis test if you are from a listed country.
- You must have an eligible occupation if switching from a student visa.
Minister of Religion Visa
The Minister of Religion visa enables you to go to the UK and work as a minister of religion or a religious missionary. You need to fulfil the following conditions to qualify for the Minister of Religion visa:
- You must be over the age of 18.
- You must obtain a certificate of sponsorship from your UK sponsor.
- You must prove that you know English.
- You must have sufficient financial means to support yourself in the UK.
- You must show your travel history for the last five years.
- You must have a tuberculosis test if you are from a listed country.
Youth Mobility Scheme
The Youth Mobility Scheme is for adults who want to work in the UK for up to two years. This program allows you to work, live, and travel in the UK. You are eligible to apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme if you are between the age of 18 and 30 and from:
- Australia
- Canada
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- San Marino
- Iceland
- British overseas citizen
- British overseas territories citizen
- British national (overseas)
You must be selected for the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for a visa if you are from:
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- South Korea
- Taiwan
You cannot apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme if you already have this visa in the UK.
Global Business Mobility Worker Visa
The Global Business Mobility consists of five sponsored visa routes for overseas businesses that want to establish a UK branch, transfer staff, or for other business purposes. The five Global Business Mobility visa routes are:
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa – This visa allows you to come to the UK and work as a senior manager or specialist, temporarily transferring to a UK branch of their overseas employer.
- Expansion Worker visa – With this visa, you can establish a branch of your overseas business in the UK.
- Secondment Worker visa – With this visa, your employer can transfer you to the UK for temporary business reasons.
- Service Supplier visa – This visa allows you to temporarily come to the UK if the work is under a contract to supply services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
- Graduate Trainee visa – This visa allows you to work in the UK as part of a graduate training program for a specialist or managerial role.
Temporary Worker Visa
The temporary work visa allows you to work in the UK for a limited period. There are five types of UK Temporary Work visas:
- Creative Worker visa – This visa allows you to come to the UK to work in the creative sector to contribute to the cultural life in the UK.
- Seasonal Worker visa – With this visa, you can work in the horticulture sector of the UK.
- International Agreement Worker visa – This visa is for those who want to enter the UK to do work covered by international law or treaty.
- Charity Worker visa – You can volunteer in the UK for one year.
- Government Authorized Exchange visa – This visa allows you to come to the UK for an internship, training, a research program, or work experience.
Requirements for the UK Work Visa
You can only apply for a UK Work visa if you meet the financial requirements and have the certificate of sponsorship for the work visas that require one.
The Certificate of Sponsorship
A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) is a document that your employer provides you with. Having the CoS when applying for certain UK Work visas would be best. UK visa routes that require a CoS are:
- UK Skilled Worker visa
- International Sportsperson visa
- Minister of Religion visa
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa
- Expansion Worker visa
- Service Supplier visa
- Secondment Worker visa
- Creative Worker visa
- Seasonal Worker visa
- International Agreement visa
- Charity Worker visa
Financial Requirement
For most UK work visas, you must have a certain amount of money in your bank account as proof that you can support yourself during the initial part of your stay in the UK. Most UK Work visas require at least £1270. However, the Graduate Work visa and the Domestic Worker visa do not have such requirements, whereas the Youth Mobility scheme requires at least £2,530. You don’t have to meet this requirement if:
- You have been in the UK with a valid visa for one year.
- Your employer will support you financially for the first month with at least £1,270.
What Are the Fees for the UK Work Visas?
When you apply for a UK visa route, you must pay the following fees:
| Type of visa | Application fee | Healthcare surcharge | Personal funds |
| Skilled Worker Visa | £625 to £1,423, depending on your situation | £624 per year | at least £1270 |
| Start-up visa | £378 | £624 per year | at least £1270 |
| Graduate Work Visa | £715 | £624 per year | – |
| Domestic Worker Visa | £531 | – | – |
| Minister of Religion Visa | £625 | £624 per year | at least £1,270 |
| Youth Mobility scheme | £259 | £470 per year | at least £2,530 |
| Global Business Mobility Worker Visa | £259 | £624 per year | at least £1,270 |
| Temporary Worker Visa | £259 | £624 per year | at least £1,270 |
Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations
| Occupation code | Job types included on the shortage occupations list | Areas of the UK where there is a shortage | Annual salary (80% of the going rate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1181 | Health services and public health managers and directors – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £33,040 (£16.94 per hour) |
| 1242 | Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £22,640 (£11.61 per hour) |
| 2111 | Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry | Scotland only | 80% of the going rate: £22,800 (£11.69 per hour) |
| 2112 | Biological scientists and biochemists – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £24,480 (£12.55 per hour) |
| 2113 | Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the construction-related ground engineering industry: engineering geologist hydrogeologist geophysicist |
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £26,080 (£13.37 per hour) |
| 2113 | Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the oil and gas industry: geophysicist geoscientist geologist geochemist technical services manager in the decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry senior resource geologist and staff geologist in the mining sector |
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £26,080 (£13.37 per hour) |
| 2114 | Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £20,480 (£10.50 per hour) |
| 2121 | Civil engineers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £27,760 (£14.24 per hour) |
| 2122 | Mechanical engineers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £26,400 (£13.54 per hour) |
| 2123 | Electrical engineers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £31,440 (£16.12 per hour) |
| 2124 | Electronics engineers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £27,120 (£13.91 per hour) |
| 2126 | Design and development engineers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £27,280 (£13.99 per hour) |
| 2127 | Production and process engineers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £25,600 (£13.13 per hour) |
| 2129 | Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £26,720 (£13.70 per hour) |
| 2135 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £30,080 (£15.43 per hour) |
| 2136 | Programmers and software development professionals – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £27,200 (£13.95 per hour) |
| 2137 | Web design and development professionals – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £21,440 (£10.99 per hour) |
| 2139 | Information technology and communications professionals are not elsewhere classified – only cyber security specialists | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £25,680 (£13.17 per hour) |
| 2216 | Veterinarians – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £26,960 (£13.83 per hour) |
| 2425 | Actuaries, economists and statisticians – only bio-informaticians and informaticians | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £26,880 (£13.78 per hour) |
| 2431 | Architects – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £26,320 (£13.50 per hour) |
| 2461 | Quality control and planning engineers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £25,280 (£12.96 per hour) |
| 3111 | Laboratory technicians – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £15,120 (£7.75 per hour) |
| 3411 | Artists – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £16,400 (£8.41 per hour) |
| 3414 | Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales). |
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £16,960 (£8.70 per hour) |
| 3415 | Musicians are only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions and meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras. The orchestra must be a full member of the Association of British Orchestras. |
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £24,960 (£12.80 per hour) |
| 3416 | Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £23,360 (£11.98 per hour) |
| 3421 | Graphic designers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £18,400 (£9.44 per hour) |
| 5215 | Welding trades – only high-integrity pipe welders, where the job requires three or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through illegal work. | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £18,480 (£9.48 per hour) |
| 6145 | Care workers and home carers - private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | No going rate – the salary must be at least £20,960 per year or £10.75 per hour |
| 6146 | Senior care workers – all jobs | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | 80% of the going rate: £14,880 (£7.63 per hour) |
Sources URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-shortage-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-shortage-occupations
Skilled Workers Permit
The Skilled Worker visa enables qualified individuals to travel to the UK and work for a recognised employer in a position that qualifies.
We assist employees and sponsors with the challenging Home Office visa application.
Expert Worker Visa
The primary pathway to immigration to the UK for non-UK resident workers is the Tier 2 (General) visa, which the Skilled Worker visa has replaced.
Understanding the requirements for the Skilled Worker visa will be crucial to avoid problems or delays with the Home Office application, whether you are an employer looking to hire a skilled worker from abroad or a person requesting a sponsorship visa. You will forfeit the application fee if your application is rejected.
With so much on the line, skilled workers and their sponsors must seek legal counsel to understand their options for immigrating and to confirm that the skilled worker visa is the best option.
What does a skilled worker visa entail?
Employers can hire non-UK residents under the Skilled Worker visa for specific skilled roles.
The visa is available to people who reach 70 points by fulfilling criteria like having a qualifying job offer from a UK sponsor, having the required skill and salary level, and speaking English.
The skilled worker visa allows dependent children, 'durable' partners, and spouses to apply to join the primary visa applicant in the UK. It also provides a path to settlement and Indefinite Leave to Remain.
What conditions must a skilled worker visa meet?
A new Appendix, Skilled Worker, outlines the guidelines and specifications for the route for skilled worker visas. For consideration under this route, applicants—including EEA nationals hired from outside the UK after 1 January 2021 and ineligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme—will need to accumulate 70 points.
The required 70 points for a skilled worker visa are divided into 20 points for "tradeable" criteria and 50 points for mandatory criteria (such as a job offer, English proficiency, and the required skill level for the position offered).
| Skilled worker requirement | Points | Mandatory or tradeable? |
| A genuine job offer from a licensed sponsor | 20 points | Mandatory |
| Speak English to the required standard | 10 points | Mandatory |
| Job offer is at a skill level of RQF3 or above | 20 points | Mandatory |
| Salary of £20,480 to £23,039 or at least 80% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | 0 points | Tradeable |
| Salary of £23,040 to £25,599 or at least 90% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | 10 points | Tradeable |
| Salary of £26,200 or above or at least the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | 20 points | Tradeable |
| Job in a shortage occupation as designated by the Migration Advisory Committee | 20 points | Tradeable |
| Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job | 10 points | Tradeable |
| Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | 20 points | Tradeable |
Jobs that are eligible for skilled workers
The sponsor should locate the appropriate SOC code to determine whether the position qualifies for the Skilled Worker route. The ONS occupation coding tool is typically used for this. The position being filled should be described in the list's job description.
Once the code has been found, it must be cross-referenced with the list of qualified positions to ensure it is included and falls under the Skilled Worker route.
If the correct SOC code is used, the Home Office may accept the visa application.
Instead, healthcare professionals should consider the Health and Care Worker visa to work in the UK's health or adult social care sectors. This route, which is tailored for jobs in the health sector, provides visa holders with several advantages over those granted under the Skilled Worker programme, including a lower application fee and an exclusion from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Requirement for Skilled Workers
Roles with skill levels below RQF3, equal to an A-level, will not be accepted under the skilled visa route.
There are no general work permits or immigration routes for 'low-skilled' workers or occupations below this level, though alternative immigration routes may be considered.
Required minimum pay for skilled workers
Unless the 'going rate' for the specific role is higher, the general minimum salary threshold for skilled worker visas is £26,200 per year. There is a going rate for each occupational code.
The salary level must be determined hourly rather than just annually. Even if the annual salary exceeds the required minimum, the minimum wage cannot be less than £10.10.
In some circumstances, where the job on offer will pay less than the general salary threshold or specific salary requirement for that role—but no less than £20,480—the applicant may still be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa by bartering some of their desirable qualities for a lower salary to gain the necessary number of points.
If the candidate has a job offer in a specific shortage occupation, a postdoctoral position in science or higher education, a STEM PhD level qualification relevant to the job (if they have a relevant PhD level qualification), or all three, they can expect to be paid between 70% and 90% of the applicable going rate for the position as long as their salary is at least £20,480 per year.
A new entrant is someone who, as of the date of their application, is younger than 26 and who is seeking a maximum of three years of leave as a skilled worker, postdoctoral researcher sponsored, recent graduate, in professional training, or in the process of earning a professional qualification.
Even though a minimum salary of £20,480 must still be met, the salary requirement for new hires is 30% lower than the rate for experienced workers in any occupation. Additionally, there are different minimum wage requirements for employees in specific health or education professions.
English proficiency required
The minimum level of English proficiency for reading, writing, speaking, and understanding is level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Unless they have already demonstrated their English language proficiency as part of a prior UK immigration application or if they are a citizen of one of several exempt nations, most applicants for a skilled worker visa will need to show that they meet the language requirement.
Language proficiency must be demonstrated, unless exempt, by earning a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English, passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), or having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher, or Advanced Higher in English.
Applicants are exempt from the English language requirement if they are from:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
Certificate of sponsorship requirement
Before the worker can submit their visa application, their UK sponsor must issue them a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to confirm that the individual and role meet the sponsorship eligibility requirements.
The CoS is a reference number the Skilled Worker visa applicant must provide with their Home Office application. Only licenced sponsors can issue a CoS.
There are now two types of Certificate of Sponsorship: the defined Certificate of Sponsorship and the undefined Certificate of Sponsorship. These replace the old restricted and unrestricted CoS applicable before 1 December 2020.
- Undefined CoS are for either:
- workers already in the UK with valid leave who are applying to switch into the skilled worker category from another immigration route, or
- those applying under one of the other visa routes from within the UK or overseas.
- Defined CoS are for out-of-country skilled worker visa applications (not ICT ).
Sponsors will need to apply for a defined CoS. This is a specific application to the Home Office, and details of the specific job and salary will need to be provided.
For undefined CoS, sponsors will either be asked to submit a request for a yearly allocation in advance of April, or they will be allocated a quantity automatically. It is also possible to apply for additional COS during the year.
Financial maintenance requirement
The applicant must show they meet the financial requirement and have sufficient funds to support themselves as they will need access to public funds such as benefits.
The rules state applicants must have at least £1,270 in their bank account when applying. This amount must have been available for at least 28 consecutive days, with day 28 being within 31 days of making the visa application. The applicant must provide evidence of their savings unless they have been in the UK for 12 months with lawful status or if their sponsor agrees to meet their costs of up to £1,270 during their first month in the UK.
The sponsor should confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will meet the financial requirement under your certificate's ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section. This is under ‘Additional data’.
Additional funds will be needed if dependants are applying.
Criminal record requirement
Some applicants may also need to show a criminal records certificate if their occupation requires this.
How to apply for a Skilled Worker visa
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, the applicant must submit an online application and supporting documentation and pay the relevant fee. They will also need to provide their biometric information at the visa processing centre local to them, either overseas or in the UK.
Applications can be made up to 3 months before the day the worker’s intended employment starts in the UK, as stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
The applicant must submit an online application within three months of being assigned their certificate of sponsorship. Each certificate has a unique reference number that they will need to apply.
They will also be required to attend an appointment at a visa application centre to enrol their biometric information and submit supporting documents. The necessary documentation will include:
- A current passport or other travel document to prove they can travel
- Expired passports or travel documents to show their travel history
- Proof of their knowledge of English, where applicable
- Proof of their savings, where applicable
- Their tuberculosis test results if they are from a listed country
- A criminal record certificate from any country they have lived in for 12 months or more in the last ten years, where they will be working in either the education, health or social care sector in the UK
The Home Office will assess their application based on their accumulated points under the points-based system.
The offer of a genuine job with a valid certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee the successful grant of a Tier 2 visa. The prospective employee must still meet all the other relevant criteria. The Home Office will also consider any general grounds for refusal, including any relevant criminal history or previous immigration violations.
Where Can AtoZ Serwis Plus Help You?
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You can navigate intricate visa procedures with the assistance of AtoZ Serwis Plus and submit your visa application with greater assurance thanks to our extensive knowledge, experience, and robust processes.
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