Apply for Skilled Worker Visa UK

Common Skilled Worker visa problems we help solve

Many Skilled Worker visa refusals occur long before the application reaches a Home Office caseworker. Incorrect occupation codes, salary calculation errors, and Certificate of Sponsorship issues can all lead to delays, refusals, or costly reapplications.

Our refusal-prevention matrix reviews every stage of your case before submission. We regularly assist applicants facing:

• Incorrect or unsuitable SOC code selections
• Salary packages that fail to meet Home Office requirements
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) errors
• Switching from another UK immigration category
• English language evidence concerns
• Maintenance requirement issues
• Dependant partner and child applications
• Employer sponsorship and compliance questions

By identifying potential refusal risks early, we help applicants submit complete and accurate Skilled Worker visa applications with confidence.

Skilled Worker visa eligibility

Obtaining a visa begins with a valid job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Your role must meet specific skill levels (typically RQF Level 6) and salary thresholds.

To qualify for the UK skilled worker visa, you must meet the English language requirement (level B2) and show maintenance funds of at least £1,270, unless certified by your A-rated sponsor.

Skilled Worker visa salary requirements

To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, your salary must normally meet both the minimum salary threshold and the Home Office going rate for your occupation code. The exact requirement depends on the role you have been offered, your experience level, and whether any salary discounts apply.

Salary assessments are often more complicated than they first appear. Factors such as working hours, occupation codes, new entrant status, and Immigration Salary List occupations can all affect whether a role qualifies for sponsorship.

Many applicants assume their advertised salary automatically meets the immigration rules. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Before submission, we review your Certificate of Sponsorship and salary package to ensure the figures satisfy the Skilled Worker visa requirements.

CoS requirements

A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is one of the most important requirements of a Skilled Worker visa application. Your sponsoring employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and assign a Certificate of Sponsorship containing details of your role, salary, and employment arrangements.

Although the CoS is an electronic record rather than a physical document, the information it contains must be accurate. Errors relating to job descriptions, occupation codes, salaries, working hours, or sponsor details can result in delays or refusal.

As part of our application review process, we verify your Certificate of Sponsorship against the immigration rules and identify any issues before your application is submitted to the Home Office.

Processing times

Below are the typical processing times for a Skilled Worker visa application.

Skilled Worker visa costs in 2026

Below are the standard Home Office application fees for the Skilled Worker route.

English language requirement

Usually, in order to work in the United Kingdom, you have to demonstrate the ability to speak English at the B2 level. This can be done via taking an accredited test such as IELTS or Pearson or through getting an English-language degree that is accredited by Ecctis.

Citizens of predominantly English-speaking countries such as the USA, Canada, or Australia are exempted.

Maintenance requirement

You have to demonstrate that you will not exhaust your funds upon arrival. This normally involves proving that you have a minimum of £1,270 in your bank account and that this amount remains there for 28 consecutive days (not more than 31 days before you apply).

But you don’t have to produce all this documentation if your employer is an A-rated sponsor. They can tick the “certification of maintenance” box in your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), guaranteeing to support you financially during the first month should you need it.

Skilled Worker visa to ILR

Once you have completed 5 years continuous residence on a Skilled Worker visa you can usually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. You can apply 28 days before your 5 year qualifying period. You will need to meet your job’s going rate or the £41,700 general threshold – whichever is higher.

Navigating an ILR application for Skilled Workers requires strict adherence to continuous residence limits, absence tracking, and document compliance. Explore our dedicated UK Indefinite Leave to Remain page to review full eligibility guidelines and current Home Office ILR fees.