Not all jobs are eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship. To be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa, your job role must be skilled to at least RQF level 3, which is the equivalent to A-levels. The role will also need to be matched to an occupation code which is suitable for sponsorship.

It can be difficult to determine your job role’s skill level, particularly if it doesn’t ‘sit’ clearly within a specific SOC code; however, we can assist in this determination.

Generally, allowances and bonuses that are guaranteed can be included; however, performance-related bonuses cannot. The Home Office will only consider guaranteed basic gross pay when awarding points for minimum income.

If you have an English degree from the UK, you can provide this as proof of your English language knowledge. If you have taken an English degree that was taught in a different country, you will either need to apply to UK NARIC to confirm that it is equivalent to a UK degree and was taught in English, or pass a relevant English test.

If you have taken a recognised English language test in the last two years, it may be used as proof in your Skilled Worker visa application. To successfully claim points for English language knowledge, you need to take an approved English language test that features on the UK government’s website. 

Processing times can vary depending on whether an application is made in the UK or abroad. Applications submitted within the UK under the standard service can take an average of eight weeks to be processed. The priority service can take either five working days or 24 hours, depending on which service you opt for, from the date of the biometric enrolment appointment.

When applying from abroad, the processing times vary from country to country; generally, decisions are issued within three weeks. The five-day and 24-hour priority services are available to overseas applicants. 

If a Skilled Worker visa application is successful, dependent family members can seek permission to join you in the UK or to further remain with you. Examples of dependants include children under the age of 18, a husband/wife, a civil partner, an unmarried partner or same-sex partner. 

Note that since 11 March 2024 Care Workers and Senior Care Workers have not been able to sponsor their family members to join them in the UK. This provision only applies to the Care Workers and Senior Care Workers who have been granted entry clearance or permission to remain under the Rules in force since 11 March 2024.

Dependants are allowed to work in the UK and can undertake self-employment and voluntary work. They cannot, however, work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. Also, children are permitted to attend state schools in the UK. 

The Skilled Worker visa only grants you permission to work for the employer that originally sponsored your application. If you wish to switch jobs to a new employer or to a different occupation code, you will need to apply to update your Skilled Worker visa.

You are allowed to get a second job (and undertake supplementary employment) subject to the following restrictions:

• The second job must be carried out for no more than 20 hours per week, outside of your sponsored work, and you must continue to work for the sponsor in the job outlined on your Certificate of Sponsorship
• The second job role must be in the same SOC code as your sponsored role, be on the Immigration Salary List, or be in any Occupation Code that is suitable for sponsorship as a Skilled Worker

Additionally, you are able to engage in voluntary work.

If the second job does not meet the above requirements, you will need to obtain sponsorship in the same way as your primary role. 

If you have completed either a bachelors, masters, postgraduate certificate in education, professional graduate diploma of education, or 12 months of study towards a PhD in the UK under your most recent grant of leave as a student, you could be eligible to apply for a skilled worker visa from within the UK.

You can only switch from a Student visa if you have successfully completed your course, or have completed at least 24 months of a PhD; the Certificate of Sponsorship must have a start date no earlier than course completion (24 months of completion for a PhD). If you have been unable to successfully complete your course, you will need to make your Skilled Worker visa application from your country of residence.