UK Skilled Worker Visa: Requirements, Salary Thresholds, and How to Apply in 2026

What Is the Skilled Worker Visa?

The Skilled Worker Visa is the primary route for non-UK nationals to work in the United Kingdom in qualifying roles. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa when the UK's points-based immigration system was introduced in January 2021.

To be eligible, you need a job offer from a licensed UK employer in a qualifying occupation, at a salary that meets the relevant threshold. The employer must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before you can apply.

If you are currently looking for a role that meets these requirements, set up a sponsored job alert on Hiredge to receive verified sponsored opportunities that match your skills and experience.

The Points-Based System

The Skilled Worker Visa uses a points-based assessment. You need to reach 70 points. Points are awarded for:

A job offer from a licensed sponsor: 20 points

A job at the required skill level (RQF Level 3 or above): 20 points

Meeting the English language requirement: 10 points

Meeting the salary threshold: 20 points

The first three requirements (job offer, skill level, English language) are mandatory and together provide 50 points. The remaining 20 points come from meeting the salary requirements, which is why the salary threshold is effectively a binary pass or fail condition.

Salary Thresholds in 2026

The salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker Visa changed significantly in April 2024 and remain in place for 2026.

General threshold: £38,700 per year for most new applicants

New entrant rate: £30,960 per year for workers who are switching from a student or graduate visa, are under 26 at the time of application, or are working towards a recognised professional qualification

Going rate: Each eligible occupation has a published "going rate" based on the Office for National Statistics median salary for that occupation. You must be paid whichever is higher: the general threshold or the going rate for your specific role.

Healthcare and education exception: Roles in the NHS, social care, and education on national pay scales have their own salary floors set at lower levels than the general threshold. A Band 5 Registered Nurse starting salary of approximately £29,970 qualifies under the healthcare exception even though it falls below £38,700.

Shortage Occupation and Immigration Salary List

The previous Shortage Occupation List was abolished in April 2024 and replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL). Roles on the ISL are those where the government has identified a shortage of domestic workers.

For roles on the ISL, the salary threshold is reduced to 90 per cent of the going rate. This makes it marginally easier to meet the salary requirement for certain occupations in shortage. Check the current ISL on the GOV.UK website, as it is reviewed periodically.

Eligible Occupation Codes

The Skilled Worker Visa covers roles at RQF Level 3 and above (broadly equivalent to A-level standard or higher). Most professional and technical roles qualify. The Home Office uses Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes to define eligible occupations.

Roles not covered include:

Most unskilled and semi-skilled manual occupations

Some seasonal and agricultural roles (covered by separate routes)

Roles below RQF Level 3

When a licensed employer issues you a Certificate of Sponsorship, they specify the SOC code for your role. If the SOC code is not on the eligible list, the CoS will be invalid for a Skilled Worker Visa.

English Language Requirements

You must demonstrate English language ability at B1 level or above on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Acceptable evidence includes:

A UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI

A degree taught and awarded in English

Nationality of a majority English-speaking country as defined by the Home Office

Certain professional qualifications recognised by the Home Office

Finding a Qualifying Job Offer

The practical challenge for most applicants is finding an employer willing to sponsor them, in a role that meets the salary and occupation requirements. There are several strategies:

Use the Home Office Register. Only employers on the Register of Licensed Sponsors can issue a CoS. Use the Hiredge Sponsor Checker to verify any employer before you apply.

Set up a sponsored job alert. Hiredge's sponsored job alert filters every result against the Home Office register automatically. You only receive listings from verified sponsors, saving you hours of manual checking.

Target high-sponsorship sectors. NHS and healthcare, technology, finance, engineering, and higher education all have high concentrations of licensed sponsors. Read our guide to the top UK employers that sponsor visas in 2026.

Apply early and proactively. Sponsored roles attract significant competition from both domestic and international candidates. Applying within the first 48 hours of a listing going live gives you a material advantage.

The Application Process

Once you have a job offer and a CoS reference number from your employer, the Skilled Worker Visa application process is as follows:

Complete the online visa application form on GOV.UK

Pay the visa application fee (currently £719 for roles of three years or less, £1,420 for longer)

Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently £1,035 per year for most applicants)

Submit biometric information at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre

Wait for a decision (standard processing is within eight weeks; priority processing takes five working days at additional cost)

Switching to a Skilled Worker Visa from Inside the UK

If you are already in the UK on a Graduate Visa, Student Visa, or certain other visa categories, you can switch to the Skilled Worker Visa without leaving the UK, as long as you have a valid job offer and CoS. This is one of the most common routes for international graduates who secure their first post-study role.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

After five continuous years on the Skilled Worker Visa, you become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which gives you permanent settlement in the UK. ILR applications require you to have been continuously employed in a qualifying role throughout the five years and to meet the knowledge of life in the UK requirement.

Tailoring Your Application

Once you have identified a qualifying role, use Hiredge's cover letter generator and CV tailoring tool to produce a targeted application. Uploading the full job description and your CV ensures the AI references your real experience and mirrors the employer's language, which significantly improves your chances at the shortlisting stage.