UK Skilled Worker Visa: the complete guide for employers.

Everything you need to sponsor an employee on the Skilled Worker route, from salary requirements and costs through to settlement and ongoing compliance.

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Last updated: 23 April 2026

What the Skilled Worker route is.

The Skilled Worker route is the main way UK employers hire from overseas. To sponsor someone you need a valid sponsor licence, a genuine role at the skill level the rules require, and a salary that meets at least the higher of the published going rate for the occupation code and the general threshold.

Beyond salary, budget for the visa fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge and the Immigration Skills Charge. The figures are set out below. A grant can run for up to five years at a time, and time on the route can count toward settlement.

Once someone is here, the work shifts to ongoing compliance: right-to-work checks, record-keeping, and reporting certain changes within set timeframes.

Information only. General information about the Skilled Worker route. For advice on your own case, speak to one of our immigration solicitors.

Key facts

Costs and timelines at a glance.

General salary threshold: £41,700 / yr
Going rate: varies by occupation code
New-entrant salary: £33,400 (70% of going rate)
Visa fee (up to 3 years, from outside the UK): £819
Visa fee (over 3 years, from outside the UK): £1,618
Visa fee (up to 3 years, inside the UK): £943
Visa fee (over 3 years, inside the UK): £1,865
Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 / yr
Immigration Skills Charge (small or charitable sponsor, first 12 months): £480
Immigration Skills Charge (small or charitable sponsor, each further 6 months): £240
Immigration Skills Charge (any other sponsor, first 12 months): £1,320
Immigration Skills Charge (any other sponsor, each further 6 months): £660
Processing (from outside the UK): ~3 weeks
Processing (inside the UK): ~8 weeks
Maximum length per grant: 5 years
Settlement (ILR): after 5 years

Fees are from the current Home Office schedule. Always verify current fees on gov.uk.

Explore the guides.

Costs & salary

Skilled Worker Visa Costs UK 2026

Full breakdown of Skilled Worker visa fees including application costs, IHS, ISC, and employer obligations.

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Skilled Worker Visa Salary Requirements

General and going rate salary thresholds, new entrant discounts, tradeable points, and pay period compliance rules.

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Employment changes

Skilled Worker Visa Promotion: Do You Need a New Visa?

When a job promotion triggers a new visa application — SOC code changes, salary threshold impacts, and employer compliance obligations.

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UK Skilled Worker Visa Compliance for Global Mobility Firms

Scaling compliance for global mobility operations — operational controls, audit readiness, and managing multiple sponsored workers.

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Settlement & compliance

Proposed Changes to ILR: What HR Teams Should Be Aware Of

Proposed earned settlement changes, income thresholds for ILR, and what employers should prepare for in sponsored worker settlement pathways.

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What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa?

The general threshold is £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. New entrants can be paid £33,400 (70% of the going rate), and reduced thresholds apply for roles on the Immigration Salary List and for PhD-relevant roles. Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts.

How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?

From outside the UK the visa fee is £819 for up to 3 years and £1,618 for over 3 years; inside the UK it’s £943 and £1,865. On top of that, the Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 a year, and the employer pays the Immigration Skills Charge (£480 or £1,320 for the first 12 months, then £240 or £660 for each further 6 months, by sponsor type).

Do you need a new visa after a promotion?

Not always. If the worker stays with the same employer and the occupation code doesn’t change, there’s usually nothing to file. If the occupation code changes, or they move off an Immigration Salary List role, it may need a fresh application.

How long does a Skilled Worker visa last?

Up to five years per grant, with no limit on extensions. Time on the route can count toward settlement (indefinite leave to remain), typically after five years of continuous residence.

What English language level is required?

New applicants must meet the English requirement for the route. People who held the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending may rely on the level they met before. Settlement has its own English requirement.

Can a Skilled Worker change employers?

Yes, but the new employer must be a licensed sponsor and assign a new certificate of sponsorship, and the worker must not start the new role until their new permission is granted.

Sponsoring a skilled worker?

Use the workspace to run the salary check and stay audit-ready. Our immigration solicitors can prepare the application itself.

See the Skilled Worker route page Book a consultation