The Skilled Worker visa lets people from outside the UK come to work for a boss who is approved in a job that needs skills at least at RQF Level 3, like A-level or higher. It took over from the old Tier 2 (General) visa and can lead to staying in the UK for good after five years.
Why It Matters in 2025
This visa is the top way for companies to hire folks for jobs that need medium or high skills in the UK this year. Rules on pay and following the law are tougher now, so it’s key to do everything right from the start. The list of approved bosses gets updated often, so job seekers should always check if their boss has a current license before they apply.
October 2025 Updates at a Glance
Pay levels and standard rates for jobs get checked each year. The higher basic pay rules from 2024 stay in place for 2025, and job-specific rates are in the latest Home Office lists. Make sure to look at the current numbers in the Immigration Rules sections called Appendix Skilled Worker and Appendix Skilled Occupations, which you can find on the GOV.UK site for guidance on immigration rules at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-skilled-worker.
The Immigration Salary List, or ISL, still affects pay rules for some jobs. See if your job code is on it and what that means for your wage needs.
The list of licensed sponsors gets refreshed a lot, sometimes every week. Bosses can join, leave, or get a lower rating. Always match the boss’s name and license number with the newest version of the Register of Licensed Sponsors: Workers on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers.
If you started on this visa before the April 2024 changes, you might have easier pay rules for renewals, job switches, or settling down. Look at the special rules in the Immigration Rules for that.
For care jobs, the limits on bringing family from 2024 keep going in 2025. Check the latest if your job is in care, like codes 6145 or 6146.
Quick tip: Home Office uses fresh pay info to update rates. Don’t use old numbers—always check Appendix Skilled Occupations right when you apply.
Eligibility Criteria (2025)
You usually need to prove:
- A real job offer from a UK boss with a working Skilled Worker sponsor license.
- A valid Certificate of Sponsorship, or CoS, with a job code that’s okay (RQF3 or above).
- Pay that hits both the basic level and the standard rate for that job, based on the newest info.
- English skills at CEFR B1 level in talking, hearing, reading, and writing, shown by a test, degree, or your country.
- Enough money to support yourself, unless your boss says they’ll cover it.
- A TB test if your home country requires it.
- A criminal check for jobs like health, teaching, or care.
- Any needed professional sign-up or ATAS cert for certain roles.
Notes for 2025: Pay charts are fresh—check your job code’s rate and any special rules, like for teachers or health jobs. Options like tradable points for things such as STEM PhDs, new starters, or ISL are still there, but with their own pay math. See the details in Appendix Skilled Worker on GOV.UK.
Required Documents (Detailed Checklist)
Get these ready:
- Your passport, valid and with space for the visa sticker if applying from abroad.
- CoS number and info like boss name, license number, job name, code, pay, and start date.
- Proof of English, like a test paper or accepted degree.
- Money proof if your boss doesn’t cover support, such as bank papers for 28 days.
- TB cert if needed.
- Criminal record paper for jobs with kids or vulnerable folks—see if your code needs it.
- Proof of being registered for regulated jobs in the UK.
- ATAS cert only for some research jobs—ask your boss if it fits.
- Papers for family like marriage or birth certs.
- Any name change docs.
- Old UK visa stuff, like BRP codes, if you’ve been here before.
Application Process (Step-by-Step)
- Check if you qualify: Match your job to a good code and make sure your boss is A-rated on the latest sponsor list.
- Get your CoS: Your boss gives you one—defined if from outside, undefined if inside—with right pay and job facts.
- Check your pay goal: Look at the basic level and your job’s rate. You need the higher one unless a special option fits.
- Collect papers: Gather ID, English, money, TB, criminal, and any pro registration or ATAS stuff.
- Apply online: Fill out the form on GOV.UK for the Skilled Worker visa at https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa. Add your CoS number and upload files.
- Pay up: Cover the app fee and health surcharge (IHS). Boss might help, but don’t count on it.
- Do biometrics: Use the ID app if your passport works, or go to a center for fingerprints and photo.
- Wait: Keep track. You might pay extra for faster service, like 5 days or next day, if available.
- Get decision and go: From outside, you’ll get a sticker or digital okay to enter. Inside, your status updates. Start work on or after the CoS date.
Processing Time & Fees
Usual wait: About 3 weeks from outside after biometrics, 8 weeks inside for switches or extensions. Faster options: 5 days or next day where possible.
Costs to plan for: App fee depends on stay length and if on ISL. IHS per year—it’s high since 2024, check current on GOV.UK. Boss pays for CoS and skills charge usually.
Note: Fees shift. Check latest on GOV.UK before you start.
Duration & Renewal
You get up to 5 years per time, or what’s on your CoS, and can renew. For forever stay (ILR), need 5 years straight, plus living rules, pay, Life in the UK test, and English if not done. Old pay rules might apply if you started before April 2024—see rules at ILR time.
No wait periods or limits on total visas. Switch bosses okay with new CoS and visa update before starting.
Key Rules & Restrictions
Work rules: Stick to your boss and job on the CoS. Extra work up to 20 hours a week in allowed jobs—check the list. No self-work usually, unless it fits extra rules.
Pay basics: Only sure base pay counts. No overtime, bonuses, or perks mostly. Part-time pay scales down, but hourly must meet needs. Report long breaks to boss.
Compliance: Boss reports changes like place, job, or pay on time. Remote work fine, but main spot must be right.
Family: Partners and kids can come usually, but some care jobs block it—check your code. No public money help.
Benefits of Getting This Visa
Clear way to stay forever after five years. Family can live and work here if allowed. Switch jobs in the system with new CoS. Your skills get valued in many fields. Get NHS access via IHS and UK job rights.
Common Challenges & How to Avoid Them
- Wrong job code: Fix by matching duties, not just title, to descriptions in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
- Pay mistake: Check basic and job rate for your apply month. Use only base pay.
- Boss problems: Confirm A-rating and exact details on the sponsor register. If downgraded, they might not give new CoS.
- No money cert: If boss won’t, show your own 28-day funds right.
- Bad English test: Use only approved ones at B1 all around.
- Mismatched papers: Make sure CoS, contract, and app all line up. Fix before sending.
How to Verify Your October 2025 Salary Target (Quick Method)
Find your job code with boss. Check basic pay threshold in Appendix Skilled Worker on GOV.UK. See job rate in Appendix Skilled Occupations. Add any okay discounts like new entrant or ISL. You need the higher of basic or job rate usually.
Sponsor List Updates: What Applicants Should Do
Look up the current Register of Licensed Sponsors: Workers on GOV.UK. Check exact name, license number, A-rating, and Skilled Worker route. If not there or bad rating, wait till fixed before quitting or paying.
Related/Alternative Visa Options
Health and Care Worker visa for health or care with own pay rules. Global Talent for top folks in science, arts, tech. Scale-up for quick unsponsored status after 6 months. Global Business Mobility for company moves or setups. Graduate route for post-UK study work—see how it compares to Skilled Worker.
Also look at: UK Health and Care Worker Visa 2025 guides, or Graduate Route 2025 rules and switches to Skilled Worker.
Conclusion
Tougher pay needs, new job rates, and changing sponsor lists shape this visa in 2025. Begin soon: Nail your job code, check October pay tables on GOV.UK, and confirm boss license. With good prep—right pay, papers, and solid boss—you’ll get your UK work visa and aim for long-term stay.
