Skilled Worker visa

Yes. Skilled Worker visa holders can typically apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous lawful residence, subject to meeting the salary, absence, and English and Life in the UK requirements in force at the time.

Partners and children under 18 can usually apply as dependants on the same visa, although dependant rights have been narrowed for some care-sector routes. Each dependant pays their own application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

Yes. Applicants must meet both a general salary threshold and the occupation-specific going rate. These thresholds change frequently — most recently in Spring 2024 and again in 2025 — so always verify the current figures on GOV.UK before applying.

You must meet whichever is higher: the general salary threshold (currently £41,700 for most applicants, raised on 22 July 2025) or the ‘going rate’ for your specific occupation code. Some shortage roles have a reduced going rate. New entrants and those switching from Student visas may qualify at a lower threshold. Always check GOV.UK for the exact current figures for your SOC code before relying on any number you find online.

Yes, but you need a new Certificate of Sponsorship from the new employer before switching, and in most cases you must apply for a new visa (or a change of conditions). You cannot start working for a new employer until the new permission is in place. The new employer must also be on the Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors.

If your sponsor loses its licence or closes, your current visa permission is typically curtailed — you will receive a notice giving you 60 days to find a new licensed sponsor and apply to change status. Act immediately: do not wait for the full 60 days. The Register of Licensed Sponsors on GOV.UK is updated in real time and is the definitive check for whether a prospective employer can issue a CoS.

The Home Office publishes the Register of Licensed Sponsors on GOV.UK — a free, publicly searchable list of every employer authorised to issue Certificates of Sponsorship. Search it by company name before applying for any role. Major job boards including LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed allow you to filter for ‘visa sponsorship’ roles, but always cross-check the employer against the official register.

Generally, no. You are tied to the employer who sponsored you for the specific role described in your CoS. You may only take on additional work if it is in the same occupation code, at the same level, and does not exceed 20 hours per week, or if it is on the Immigration Salary List (subject to strict rules). You cannot freely freelance.

No. The Skilled Worker route requires sponsorship, so you must first secure a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor and receive a Certificate of Sponsorship before you can apply. You cannot apply speculatively or arrive to look for sponsored work on this route. Check GOV.UK for the current rules.

For new applications since 22 July 2025 the role must be an eligible occupation at RQF Level 6 (degree level) or above. Sub-degree roles at RQF Level 3 to 5 are only sponsorable where the occupation appears on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, or under transitional arrangements for people already in the route before that date. Occupation skill level is a common reason applications are blocked, so confirm your occupation code on GOV.UK.

For applications made on or after 8 January 2026 you must show English at CEFR Level B2 or above across reading, writing, listening and speaking. The requirement was B1 before that date, and B1 still applies if you already held the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it. You can prove this with an approved Secure English Language Test, a qualifying UK degree, or a recognised nationality exemption. Verify the accepted evidence on GOV.UK.