Introduction

The UK Skilled Worker Visa allows qualified workers to move to the UK and work for a Home Office-approved employer. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) Visa and is now the main route for hiring overseas employees.

This guide explains the process step-by-step, the documents required, and what applicants and employers must prepare.

✅ Who Can Apply?

1. A person can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa if:
2. They have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer
3. The employer holds a valid Sponsor Licence
4. The job is on an eligible occupation code
5. The salary meets the required threshold
6. They meet English language and financial requirements

If these boxes are ticked, the applicant can continue to the full process below.

✅ Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a UK Skilled Worker Visa

✅ Step 1: Get a Job Offer from a Licensed Sponsor

The employer must be approved by the Home Office and listed on the UK Register of Sponsors.
If a company is not licensed, they must apply for a Sponsor Licence first.

The job offer must be:

• Genuine
• Skilled to the correct level
• Paid at or above the legal salary requirement

✅ Step 2: Employer Issues a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once the job is confirmed, the employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship through the Sponsorship Management System.

The CoS contains:

1. Employer details
2. Job title and occupation code
3. Working hours
4. Salary
5. Start and end dates of employment
6. Unique reference number for the visa application

The worker cannot apply for a visa without this number.

✅ Step 3: Prepare Required Documents

Applicants will normally need:

• Valid passport
• Certificate of Sponsorship number
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Proof of qualifications (if required for the job)
• TB test certificate (for certain countries)
• Police clearance (if requested)

If the employer certifies maintenance, the applicant does not need their own bank statements.

✅ Step 4: Apply Online for the Visa

The Skilled Worker Visa is applied through the UK Government website.
The application requires:

• Personal information
• Travel history
• Passport details
• Employment and CoS details
• Payment of fees and Immigration Health Surcharge

Most applicants apply from outside the UK, but people already in the UK on eligible visas (such as Student Visa) can switch.

✅ Step 5: Biometrics and Identity Verification

After submitting the online form, the applicant must:

• Attend a visa application centre, or
• Use the UK Immigration ID Check app (for eligible nationals)

Biometrics will be recorded: fingerprints and photograph.

✅ Step 6: Wait for a Decision

Processing times depend on where the applicant applies:

• Outside the UK: usually around 3 weeks
• Inside the UK (switching or extension): normally 8 weeks

Priority services may be available for a faster decision.

✅ Step 7: Travel and Start Work

When the visa is granted, the applicant receives a digital status or visa vignette.
Upon arrival in the UK, they can start working for the sponsor exactly as described in the CoS.

✅ How Long Can Someone Stay on a Skilled Worker Visa?

Most visas are granted for up to 5 years at a time.
Workers can later apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if they meet the residence and salary requirements.

✅ Can Family Members Join?

Yes. Skilled Workers can bring:

• Husband or wife
• Unmarried partner (if eligible)
• Children under 18

Each family member must submit their own visa application.

✅ Common Reasons Applications Are Refused

• Wrong or false occupation code
• Salary below the required level
• Missing documents
• Employer is not compliant
• Errors on application form
• Previous immigration history problems

Professional guidance helps avoid costly mistakes.

✅ How Stonebridge Legal Solutions Can Help

Stonebridge supports both employers and overseas workers with:

• Skilled Worker Visa applications
• Sponsor Licence for businesses
• Certificate of Sponsorship assignment
• Switching from Student Visa to Skilled Worker Visa
• ILR applications for Skilled Workers

📞 Contact Stonebridge Legal Solutions today for expert guidance through the Skilled Worker process.