UK Skilled Worker Visa Requirements

The UK government introduced major reforms to the Skilled Worker visa in 2026, with the most significant changes taking effect on 22 July 2025. These updates have raised the bar for overseas workers wanting to come to the UK and for employers wishing to sponsor staff from abroad.

If you're planning to apply, or if you're an employer thinking about hiring from overseas, understanding the new UK Skilled Worker visa requirements is essential.

Key Skilled Worker visa requirements include a job offer from a licensed sponsor, a minimum salary of £41,700, an RQF Level 6+ role, and English proficiency.

In this guide, we explain the UK Skilled Worker visa requirements for 2026, so you understand exactly what is expected when preparing your visa application.

Table of Contents

What is the UK Skilled Worker Visa?

The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's primary work visa route, allowing overseas nationals to live and work in the UK if they have a job offer from an approved sponsor. It replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa and has been one of the most common ways for skilled professionals to enter the UK workforce.

With this visa, you can:

• Work in an eligible role for a licensed employer.
• Stay in the UK for up to 5 years, with the possibility of settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
• Bring eligible family members (dependants) with you, although restrictions now apply for some roles.

What are the UK Skilled Worker Visa Requirements for 2026?

To apply for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026, you must meet the following requirements:

• Must be 18 years or older
• Have a valid job offer from a licensed UK sponsor
• Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer
• The job must be on the eligible occupations list
• Role meets minimum skill level (RQF Level 6 or above)
• Salary meets the required threshold (usually £41,700/year or the "going rate")
• English proficiency at B1 level (CEFR) unless exempt
• Show £1,270 in savings (unless employer covers maintenance)
• Suitable accommodation arranged in the UK
• Meet any additional requirements based on your job or personal circumstances

Job and Sponsorship Requirements for the Skilled Worker Visa

To apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you must have a genuine job offer from a Home Office-approved employer, and the job must be at an appropriate skill level (RQF Level 6 or higher)

Approved Employer (Sponsor Licence)

Only certain UK employers are permitted to hire overseas workers under the Skilled Worker route. These employers hold what is known as a Sponsor Licence, which means they have met strict requirements set by the Home Office and are trusted to employ overseas staff.

The government keeps an official list of all licensed sponsors, and you must ensure that your employer appears on this list. If the company offering you a job does not hold a licence, you will not be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa, even if the job itself would otherwise be eligible.

Key points:

• Only UK employers who have been approved by the Home Office can hire workers under this route.
• These employers are known as licensed sponsors and appear on the government's list of approved sponsors.
• If your job offer comes from a company that is not on this list, you will not be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have secured a role with an approved employer, the next step is for your employer to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This is not a paper certificate but a digital reference number that contains details about your job, your salary, and the employer's sponsor licence.

Without this CoS certificate, your Skilled Worker visa application cannot proceed. It acts as proof to the Home Office that your role is genuine and that your employer is authorised to sponsor you.

Key points:

• Once your employer has offered you the role, they must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship.
• This is a digital reference number (not a paper document) that confirms details of your job, salary, and your employer's licence.
• You will need this certificate to complete your Skilled Worker visa application.

Eligible Occupation and Skill Level

Not every job in the UK qualifies for sponsorship. In fact, the rules became much stricter in July 2025, when the government raised the required skill level from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (degree-level). This means that only jobs that are considered graduate-level occupations now qualify for most applicants.

There are limited exceptions for roles on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL), but these routes come with extra conditions, such as restrictions on bringing dependants to the UK.

Key points:

• Not every job in the UK qualifies for sponsorship.
• In July 2025, the government raised the required skill level from A-level (RQF Level 3) to graduate-level (RQF Level 6).
• This means most applicants must now have a job that is considered a degree-level occupation.
• Some exceptions exist for jobs on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL). However, these are limited and come with extra restrictions.

Genuine Vacancy Requirement

Another key aspect of the Skilled Worker visa is the genuine vacancy requirement. The Home Office will not accept job offers that seem to have been created solely to secure a visa for someone. The role must be real, essential for the business, and suitable for the level of sponsorship being applied for.

If an employer is found to be creating fake or artificial roles to bring workers into the UK, they risk losing their sponsor licence entirely, which would prevent them from sponsoring any further overseas staff.

Key points:

• The Home Office also checks whether the job is a genuine role.
• This means the position must exist because the business needs it, not simply to allow someone to obtain a visa.
• Employers who attempt to create false roles risk losing their sponsor licence.

Salary Requirements for the Skilled Worker Visa

From 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker visa applicants must earn at least £41,700 per year or the going rate for their specific job, whichever is higher. The UK government sets the ‘going rate' for each eligible occupation code.

Some exceptions allow Skilled Worker visa applicants to qualify with a lower salary. This includes workers under 26 years old, students or recent graduates, postdoctoral researchers, and those with a PhD relevant to their role. Jobs listed on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) also benefit from lower thresholds.

For those working in health and care roles, the minimum salary is generally £25,000 per year or the appropriate NHS pay scale. However, since 22 July 2025, overseas recruitment for social care workers and senior care workers has been closed, meaning only certain health roles, such as nurses, doctors, and paramedics, remain eligible for sponsorship.

English Language Requirement for the Skilled Worker Visa

To qualify for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you need to demonstrate that you can read, write, speak, and understand English to at least B1 level on the CEFR scale.

How Can You Meet the English Language Requirement?

The English language requirement for the UK Skilled Worker visa can be met in one of three ways:

1. Option 1: Pass an approved English language test
2. Option 2: Hold an academic qualification taught in English
3. Option 3: Be a citizen of a majority English-speaking country

By the end of 2025, the government has announced it will introduce stricter English language requirements, making it even more important for applicants to meet this standard.

Financial and Cost Requirements for a UK Skilled Worker Visa

When applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you need to demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and pay the associated application fees.

Applicants must usually show at least £1,270 in personal savings. These funds need to have been in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before applying. In some cases, your employer can cover this cost and confirm it on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), meaning you won't need to show your own savings.

You will also need to pay the visa application fee, which typically ranges from £769 to £1,751, depending on your job, visa length, and whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK.

In addition, all applicants are required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), currently £1,035 per year. This fee ensures you have access to the National Health Service (NHS) while living and working in the UK.

Documents Required for a UK Skilled Worker Visa

You will need to provide:

• Current passport or valid travel document
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number from your employer
• Job title and annual salary
• Job’s occupation code
• Employer name and sponsor licence number (on your CoS)
• Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself
• Proof of accommodation, e.g., tenancy agreement
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Proof of relationship with partner or children if they are applying with you
• Tuberculosis (TB) test results, if required

Take a look at the full UK Skilled Worker visa documents checklist for 2026.

Protections for Existing Skilled Worker Visa Holders

If you already hold a Skilled Worker visa, you're protected by transitional arrangements:

• You can continue working in your current role, even if it no longer meets the new skill threshold.
• You're allowed to extend your visa.
• You can switch employers as long as your new role is within the Skilled Worker framework.
• You can still bring dependants under the old rules.

This means the new restrictions mainly affect new applicants, not those already in the UK.

Major Rule Changes for the UK Skilled Worker Visa (July 2025)

In July 2025, the UK government introduced significant changes to the Skilled Worker visa, making the rules stricter for new applicants.

1. Increased Skill Requirement (RQF Level 6)

The minimum skill requirement for most jobs was raised to degree level (RQF Level 6). This means that only graduate-level roles are now eligible for sponsorship, replacing many lower-skilled occupations that were previously accepted.

2. Removal of 100+ Occupations

Over 100 occupations that were eligible at RQF Level 3 have been removed from the visa route, narrowing the range of jobs for which overseas workers can apply.

3. End of Overseas Recruitment for Care Workers

The government also ended overseas recruitment for care workers and senior care workers. Employers can no longer sponsor these roles from outside the UK, although some limited exceptions exist for individuals already in the country.

4. Temporary Shortage List (TSL)

To address temporary labour shortages, a new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) was introduced. Some jobs below RQF Level 6 may still be sponsored under this list, but these roles are time-limited and come with additional conditions.

5. Restrictions on Dependants

Finally, there are new restrictions on dependants. Workers in roles on the TSL or Immigration Salary List (ISL) that are below RQF Level 6 are no longer able to bring partners or children to the UK.

Other Key Changes and Considerations

The July 2025 reforms introduced several other important rules that new applicants need to be aware of.

1. Digital Status

The UK is phasing out physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs). From 2025, most migrants will instead receive a digital eVisa, which can be accessed and shared online.

2. Criminal Record Certificate

Depending on the job you are applying for and where you have lived previously, you may need to provide a criminal record certificate as part of your application. This is particularly common for jobs involving vulnerable people, such as in education or healthcare.

3. Tuberculosis (TB) Test

If you are applying from a country listed by the UK government as having a higher risk of TB, you must provide a valid TB test certificate with your application.

Final Thoughts

The UK Skilled Worker visa requirements in 2026 are stricter than ever. With higher salary thresholds, tougher skill level requirements, and new restrictions on care workers and dependants, applicants must carefully check their eligibility before applying.

At the same time, the Skilled Worker visa remains one of the most important routes for professionals who want to live and work in the UK. It offers stability, the possibility of bringing family (for many roles), and a clear pathway to settlement after 5 years.

Because the rules are complex and still evolving, it is always advisable to seek expert legal guidance before applying. A single mistake, such as an incorrect salary calculation or a missing document, can lead to refusal.

Need Help with Your UK Skilled Worker Visa Application?

If you require legal assistance with your UK Skilled Worker visa application, contact our immigration solicitors in London at 0208 616 5535 or via our enquiry form.