United Kingdom · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Official route — published facts
Read off the responsible authority's own page. Only what it publishes appears here — a field we could not confirm is left out rather than estimated.
- Route
- Skilled Worker visa
- Employer sponsorship
- Required — an employer must sponsor or nominate you
- Salary floor
-
- GBP 41,700 — General minimum Per year — or the 'going rate' for your occupation, whichever is HIGHER. The threshold alone is not enough if your job's going rate exceeds it.
- GBP 33,400 — Job on the immigration salary list
- Annual cap
- No published cap found — this is not the same as the route being uncapped.
The employer must hold a Home Office sponsor licence and issue a certificate of sponsorship before the visa can be applied for.
Official page: Home Office (GOV.UK) ↗ · Read 2026-08
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Most workers use the Skilled Worker visa, which requires a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor, a role at the required skill level, and a salary at or above the applicable threshold. The visa is points-based and administered by UK Visas and Immigration.
Work visas are administered by UK Visas and Immigration (Home Office). The main route is the Skilled Worker visa, which requires sponsorship by a licensed employer.
- The Skilled Worker visa requires a job offer from a licensed sponsor and meeting salary/skill thresholds.
- Employers must hold a sponsor licence before they can sponsor workers.
- Other routes include the Global Talent and Health and Care Worker visas.
- 1
Get a job with a licensed sponsor
Most work routes (the Skilled Worker visa) require a job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence.
- 2
Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship
The employer assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for an eligible occupation meeting the salary and skill thresholds.
- 3
Check you meet the requirements
Confirm you meet the points requirements — sponsorship, salary, skill level and English language.
- 4
Apply online and pay the fees
Apply online, pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and provide biometrics.
- 5
Get the decision and travel
On approval you receive permission to enter (and an eVisa); travel to the UK within its validity.
- 6
Extend or switch and count toward settlement
You can extend or switch routes; time on the Skilled Worker visa can count toward settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
- Job offer from a licensed sponsor
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- Eligible occupation + salary threshold met
- English-language requirement met
- Online application + visa fee + Immigration Health Surcharge
- Biometrics + supporting documents
- Permission to enter / eVisa
- Route toward settlement (ILR) tracked
- GOV.UK — Visas and immigration
Work visas and sponsorship.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa?
Yes — you need a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK employer before you can apply.
Is there a salary requirement?
Yes — you must meet the general salary threshold or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher, with some exceptions.
Can the Skilled Worker visa lead to settlement?
Yes — the qualifying period is currently five years for most work routes. The government has consulted on an 'earned settlement' model that would lengthen this, but it is not yet in the Immigration Rules — check the current position before planning around a settlement date.
Government portals
- UK Government (GOV.UK) — UK's unified government services portal — visas, taxes, driving licences, benefits and more
- UK Visas and Immigration — UK visa applications, Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), and work authorization
- HM Revenue & Customs — Self Assessment tax returns, National Insurance, VAT registration and payment