Skilled Worker Visa
A Skilled Worker Visa allows you to travel to or stay in the UK to carry out an eligible employment activity for an authorized employer.
For a Skilled Worker Visa, you need to:
- work for a UK employer with the approval of the Home Office.
- have a "sponsorship certificate" from your employer with information about the role you were offered in the UK.
- have a confirmed job offer before applying for a visa.
What can you do
With a Skilled Worker you can:
- work
- study
- bring your partner and your children with you as "dependants", if they are eligible
- take on additional work under certain circumstances
- do voluntary work
- travel overseas and go to the UK again
- apply to settle permanently in the UK if you have lived in the country for 5 years and meet other eligibility requirements
What you cannot do
With a Skilled Worker you can not:
- claim most benefits (public funds) or state pension
- change job or employer, unless you request to update your visa
If your application is successful you will receive a complete list of what you can and cannot do with a qualified worker visa.
You must apply for a visa at least 3 months before you start working in the UK.
This date is indicated on your sponsorship certificate.
After applying, proving your identity and providing the documents, you will receive the result of your visa within:
- 3 weeks, if you are outside the UK
- 8 week, if you are in the UK
To apply, you will need to prove your identity and provide your documents.
You can request an additional priority service to receive a faster response.