The Skilled Worker visa allows foreign nationals to live and work in the UK if they have a job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office. It replaced the old “Tier 2 (General) visa” and is one of the main pathways for long-term employment and settlement in the UK.
It is a points-based visa, meaning you must score enough points based on job offer, skills, salary, and English ability.
To qualify, you must:
Special categories exist for jobs in healthcare, social care, and education, with reduced salary thresholds and high demand.
Work legally in the UK in an approved job.
Path to settlement: After 5 years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if you still qualify.
Family included: Spouse/partner and children can come with you as dependents.
Flexibility: You can change employers if your new job is also with an approved sponsor.
Healthcare workers fast-track: Doctors, nurses, and care workers often have quicker processing and lower salary requirements.
Anil, a software engineer from India, secures a job with a UK tech company on the list of approved sponsors. His Skilled Worker visa allows him to move with his wife and child.
Maria, a nurse from the Philippines, applies under the Health and Care Worker visa route, which is part of the Skilled Worker category. She benefits from lower visa fees and faster processing.
Ahmed, a secondary school math teacher from Egypt, gets a Skilled Worker visa after being hired by a school facing a teacher shortage.
You can stay up to 5 years at a time. After that, you can extend or apply for settlement.
Yes. Your partner and children can apply as dependents.
Yes, but your new job must also be with an approved employer and you must update your visa.
Yes. After 5 years, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Yes. You pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your application, giving you access to the NHS.