If you are considering applying for a UK business or work visa, you have likely considered pursuing the Skilled Worker visa. The Skilled Worker visa is available for eligible applicants who are looking to immigrate to the United Kingdom for the purpose of being employed there for a maximum period of five years. Today’s blog will provide a brief overview of the Skilled Worker visa, before listing the eligible occupations available to those seeking the Skilled Worker visa. In addition, readers of today’s blog will learn basic FAQs about this specific visa category, such as, “What counts as a skilled worker?” And, “What is the minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa?” And, “What qualifies as a skilled worker in UK?” And finally, “What is the process for switching to a Skilled Worker visa?” Keep reading to find the answer to these and other questions, below.
What qualifies as a skilled worker in UK?
- If you are wondering what counts as a Skilled Worker, consider the following: Skilled Workers are allowed to immigrate to the UK for the purpose of being employed in a position that has been endorsed by the British government. Those who receive a Skilled Worker visa will be empowered to remain in the country for five years, with the possibility of extending that period.
- Only those who have a job waiting for them in the country are eligible for a Skilled Worker visa. What this means is that you cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa without already having proof of employment in the country.
- In addition to fulfilling the English language fluency conditions and other financial requirements (and being employed by an endorsed company), Skilled Workers must obtain a certificate of sponsorship from their job provider, and work at a position that is on the eligible occupations list. In addition, your employer must offer you salary that is a minimum amount (as per the terms of the Skilled Worker pay-scale).
- Skilled Worker visa applicants should apply online. When you are ready to apply for your visa, contact us here.
- The basic price of the Skilled Worker visa is £610 to £1,408; neither of which is not inclusive of the healthcare surcharge and other financials you will need to provide on your application.
- You should submit your Skilled Worker visa application no earlier than three months prior to your job’s start date.
- Most Skilled Worker visa applicants will receive indication of their acceptance within either eight weeks or three weeks, depending on whether you applied from within the country or from abroad.
What are the eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker Visa?
- The eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker Visa are listed below exactly as provided on UK government website:
- Chief executives and senior officials
- Production managers and directors in manufacturing
- Production managers and directors in construction
- Production managers and directors in mining and energy
- Financial managers and directors
- Marketing and sales directors
- Purchasing managers and directors
- Advertising and public relations directors
- Human resource managers and directors
- Information technology and telecommunications directors
- Functional managers and directors not elsewhere classified
- Financial institution managers and directors
- Managers and directors in transport and distribution
- Managers and directors in storage and warehousing
- Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services
- Health services and public health managers and directors
- Social services managers and directors
- Managers and directors in retail and wholesale
- Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture
- Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services
- Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors
- Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors
- Publicans and managers of licensed premises
- Leisure and sports managers
- Travel agency managers and proprietors
- Health care practice managers
- Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
- Property, housing and estate managers
- Garage managers and proprietors
- Hairdressing and beauty salon managers and proprietors
- Shopkeepers and proprietors – wholesale and retail
- Waste disposal and environmental services managers
- Managers and proprietors in other services not elsewhere classified
- Biological scientists and biochemists
- Social and humanities scientists
- Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified. For Skilled Worker purposes, occupation code 2119 includes researchers in research organisations other than universities.
- Design and development engineers
- Production and process engineers
- Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified
- IT project and programme managers
- IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
- Programmers and software development professionals
- Web design and development professionals
- Information technology and telecommunications professionals not elsewhere classified
- Conservation professionals
- Environment professionals
- Research and development managers
- Health professionals not elsewhere classified
- Speech and language therapists
- Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified
- Higher education teaching professionals
- Further education teaching professionals
- Secondary education teaching professionals
- Primary and nursery education teaching professionals
- Special needs education teaching professionals
- Senior professionals of educational establishments
- Education advisers and school inspectors
- Teaching and other educational professionals not elsewhere classified
- Legal professionals not elsewhere classified
- Chartered and certified accountants
- Management consultants and business analysts
- Business and financial project management professionals
- Actuaries, economists and statisticians
- Business and related research professionals
- Business, research and administrative professionals not elsewhere classified
- Chartered architectural technologists
- Construction project managers and related professionals
- Welfare professionals not elsewhere classified
- Quality control and planning engineers
- Quality assurance and regulatory professionals
- Environmental health professionals
- Journalists, newspaper and periodical editors
- Public relations professionals
- Advertising accounts managers and creative directors
- Electrical and electronics technicians
- Building and civil engineering technicians
- Quality assurance technicians
- Planning, process and production technicians
- Science, engineering and production technicians not elsewhere classified
- Architectural and town planning technicians
- IT operations technicians
- IT user support technicians
- Pharmaceutical technicians
- Medical and dental technicians
- Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
- Youth and community workers
- Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified
- Police officers (sergeant and below)
- Fire service officers (watch manager and below)
- Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified
- Authors, writers and translators
- Actors, entertainers and presenters
- Dancers and choreographers
- Arts officers, producers and directors
- Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators
- Product, clothing and related designers
- Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
- Ship and hovercraft officers
- Legal associate professionals
- Estimators, valuers and assessors
- Finance and investment analysts and advisers
- Financial and accounting technicians
- Financial accounts managers
- Business and related associate professionals not elsewhere classified
- Buyers and procurement officers
- Business sales executives
- Marketing associate professionals
- Estate agents and auctioneers
- Sales accounts and business development managers
- Conference and exhibition managers and organisers
- Conservation and environmental associate professionals
- Public services associate professionals
- Human resources and industrial relations officers
- Vocational and industrial trainers and instructors
- Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists
- Inspectors of standards and regulations
- Health and safety officers
- National government administrative occupations
- Officers of nongovernmental organisations
- Transport and distribution clerks and assistants
- Personal assistants and other secretaries
- Gardeners and landscape gardeners
- Grounds-men and greenkeepers
- Agricultural and fishing trades not elsewhere classified
- Moulders, core makers and die casters
- Metal plate workers, and riveters
- Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out
- Metal working production and maintenance fitters
- Precision instrument makers and repairers
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers
- Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians
- Vehicle body builders and repairers
- Vehicle paint technicians
- Aircraft maintenance and related trades
- Boat and ship builders and repairers
- Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers
- Electricians and electrical fitters
- Telecommunications engineers
- TV, video and audio engineers
- Electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere classified
- Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors
- Roofers, roof tilers and slaters
- Plumbers and heating and ventilating engineers
- Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters
- Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified
- Construction and building trades supervisors
- Footwear and leather working trades
- Textiles, garments and related trades not elsewhere classified
- Print finishing and binding workers
- Bakers and flour confectioners
- Fishmongers and poultry dressers
- Catering and bar managers
- Glass and ceramics makers, decorators and finishers
- Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers
- Other skilled trades not elsewhere classified
- Nursery nurses and assistants
- Childminders and related occupations
- Educational support assistants
- Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified
- Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
- Houseparents and residential wardens
- Merchandisers and window dressers
- Market research interviewers
- Customer service managers and supervisors
- Water and sewerage plant operatives
- Marine and waterways transport operatives
- Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified
What is the minimum salary for Skilled Worker visa?
- The minimum salary for a Skilled Worker is either £25,600 for yearly salary, or £10.10 for hourly salary, or the normal rate for the specific job you’re doing (the higher option is best).
- The Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence is what your employer needs to have in order to issue you a certificate of sponsorship, which you will need in order to apply.
What is the process for switching to a Skilled Worker Visa?
- The process for switching to a Skilled Worker Visa is also online. Those present in the country can apply to switch into the Skilled Worker category, so long as they are not already there on a Short-term Student Visa, Visit Visa, or other exempt visa categories.
- If you are thinking about switching to Skilled Worker Visa, contact us here.
What is the process for extending a visa for a Skilled Worker?
- Extending a visa (also known as updating a visa) is available for eligible applicants who have been living in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa. After five years in the country on the visa, you can apply to extend it online, provided you are still employed in the company/position when you applied for your original visa (i.e. that it has its original occupation code).
- If you are considering updating a visa, contact us here.
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