Why UK Skilled Worker Visa?

• Earn an average salary of up to £20,000 to £27,000
• Work for 40 hours a week
• Over 1 million job vacancies for skilled workers
• Enjoy holiday entitlement for 30-45 days a year
• 4 million Residence visas issued in 2022

UK Skilled Worker Visa

The UK Skilled Worker Visa is allotted to candidates who wish to reside and work an eligible job in the country. Candidates with an employment offer from a registered UK-based employer can apply for the UK Skilled Worker Visa.

The UK Skilled Worker Visa is a replacement for the Tier 2 (General) work visa and is currently one of the most preferred work visas in the UK.

Benefits of UK Skilled Worker Visa

The UK is one of the most popular work destinations in the world owing to the immense opportunities and quality of life.

Some of the benefits of UK Immigration with a Skilled worker visa are listed below –

• Candidates with a UK Skilled worker visa can pursue the study course of their choice.
• The candidate can take up paid additional work or unpaid voluntary work based on their interests.
• The candidate can work for up to 20 hours a week upon eligibility, provided –

– The job is listed as a shortage occupation

– The job has the same occupation code as your primary job.

• The candidate can bring the dependents (spouse and children) upon eligibility.
• The candidate is free to travel abroad and return to the country.
• The candidate can apply for Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) upon eligibility and living in the UK for five years.

Jobs in UK Shortage Occupation List

The in-demand jobs in the UK which are lacking skilled labor are listed in the UK Shortage Occupation list. UK skilled worker visa is the prime pathway for candidates to enter the country with a job contract from the SOL.

The table given below has the shortage occupations in the UK.

Occupation code	Job types included on the shortage occupations list
1181	Health services and public health managers and directors – all jobs
1242	Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs
2111	Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry
2112	Biological scientists and biochemists – all jobs
2113	Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the construction-related ground engineering industry: engineering geologist, hydro geologist, geophysicist
2113	Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the oil and gas industry: geophysicist, geoscientist, geologist, geochemist technical services manager in the decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry senior resource geologist and staff geologist in the mining sector
2114	Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists
2121	Civil engineers – all jobs
2122	Mechanical engineers – all jobs
2123	Electrical engineers – all jobs
2124	Electronics engineers – all jobs
2126	Design and development engineers – all jobs
2127	Production and process engineers – all jobs
2129	Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs
2135	IT business analysts, architects and systems designers – all jobs
2136	Programmers and software development professionals – all jobs
2137	Web design and development professionals – all jobs
2139	Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified – only cyber security specialists
2216	Veterinarians – all jobs
2425	Actuaries, economists and statisticians – only bio-informaticians and informaticians
2431	Architects – all jobs
2461	Quality control and planning engineers – all jobs
3111	Laboratory technicians – all jobs
3411	Artists – all jobs
3414	Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales).
3415	Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras. The orchestra must a full member of the Association of British Orchestras.
3416	Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs
3421	Graphic designers – all jobs
5215	Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through illegal working.
6145	Care workers and home carers – private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants
6146	Senior care workers – all jobs

The Education and Healthcare sector have a separate list of occupations that are mentioned in the table given below –

Healthcare and Education occupations: Shortage occupation list
Occupation code	Job types included
2211	Medical practitioners – all jobs
2212	Psychologists – all jobs
2217	Medical radiographers – all jobs
2222	Occupational therapists – all jobs
2223	Speech and language therapists – all jobs
2231	Nurses – all jobs
2314	Secondary education teaching professionals [only teachers in maths, physics, science (where an element of physics will be taught), computer science and Mandarin]
2315	Primary and nursery education teaching professionals – only Gaelic medium teachers
2442	Social workers – all jobs
3213	Paramedics – all jobs

 

In-demand jobs in the UK

The UK has some of the most marketable jobs in the world with high-earning wages.

The top 9 most in-demand jobs in the UK are as follows –

• IT and Software
• Engineering
• Accounting and Finance
• Human Resources Management
• Hospitality
• Sales & Marketing
• Healthcare
• Teaching
• Nursing

The top in-demand jobs in the UK in 2023 are offering plenty of openings for skilled workers from around the world.

Apply to work in the UK and kick-start your European dream!

UK Skilled worker visa eligibility

The basic eligibility criteria for a UK Skilled worker visa are as follows –

• The candidate should fulfil the language proficiency requirements with at least B1 in all four scoring sections.
• The candidate should score at least 70 points in a points-based system.
• The candidate must have a verified job offer from a UK-based employer.

The job eligibility criteria for a UK skilled worker visa are as follows –

• The candidate should have an employment offer from a registered UK employer.
• The candidate should have a CoS from the employer with information about the job offered.
• The candidate should work a job that is listed on the SOL.
• The employer should pay the candidate a minimum salary. The minimum wage differs with the type of job that is offered.

The UK announced new requirements for the UK Skilled worker visa. The revised salary thresholds are as follows:

• Skilled worker visa: The minimum salary requirements to apply for UK Skilled Worker is now increased to £38,700 per year.
• Health & Care workers: £29,000 is the minimum salary  that is to be paid for health and Care workers. 
• Global Business Mobility: The minimum salary for Senior or specialist workers is £48,500 per annum. 

 

*Check your eligibility for free with the Y-Axis UK Skilled Immigration points calculator

Requirements for UK skilled worker visa

The requirements for the UK Skilled worker Visa are given below –

• The (Certificate of Sponsorship) CoS along with the reference ID.
• Proof of English language proficiency
• Evidence stating your job role and annual wage details.
• The occupation code of the job offered to you.
• Employer details, including the license number of the sponsor.

Some of the other primary requirements for the UK skilled worker visa are as follows –

• Evidence of sufficient funds of a minimum of £1,270 to sustain yourself in the country. (The funds must remain in your account for 28 consecutive days of applying for the visa)
• Proof of Dependents (If they are applying or accompanying you)
• Proof of medical wellness.
• ATAS Certificate for jobs that involve classified research at the level of Ph.D. or higher (if applicable)
• The Ph.D. certificate of the UK or the reference number of Ecctis (if the qualification is not from the UK). The candidate must apply via Ecctis.

An empty page in the passport for –

• Candidates applying outside Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, EU, or Liechtenstein.
• Candidates from Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, or the EU who possess chip-less biometric passports.

A certificate of a criminal clearance record if applying from outside the country with a job in any of the sectors mentioned below –

• Therapy (Psychologists, Speech and language therapists, Counsellors)
• Education (Teachers, Education advisers, and school inspectors, Child-minders, Teaching assistants)
• Healthcare (Nurses, Doctors, Paramedics, Managers, Pharmacists, Dentists and Dental nurses, Ophthalmic opticians)
• Social services (Social workers, Managers, Probation officers, Welfare and Housing officers)

*Note: Candidates with requirements that are not in English or Welsh would require providing a certified translation for the same.

How to apply for UK skilled visa?

You can follow the simple steps given below to apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa from outside the UK –

Step 1: Receive a CoS from a registered employer and check the checklist for the Skilled Worker visa.

Step 2: Submit the application along with the requirements.

Step 3: Pay the application fee along with the healthcare surcharges.

Step 4: Schedule an appointment at the nearest local embassy.

Step 5: Attend the visa interview and await your visa status. 

UK Skilled Worker Visa processing time

The UK Skilled worker Visa processing time generally takes around 3-8 weeks, based on the mode of application.

• The UK Skilled worker visa processing time outside the country is three weeks.
• The UK Skilled worker visa processing time from inside the UK is eight weeks.

Cost of UK skilled worker visa

The cost of the UK skilled worker visa is £625.

A detailed breakdown of the costs of application fee and healthcare surcharges are mentioned below –

If you are applying from outside the country –

• £625 per individual to stay for a period of 3 years. £1235 per applicant to stay for over three years.
• £624 per individual for healthcare surcharge.

If you are applying from within the country (Switch, extend, or update the visa) –

• £719 per individual to stay up to 3 additional years.
• £1235 per individual to stay for over three years.

If the job offered to you is listed on the SOL (Shortage occupation list) –

• £479 per individual to stay for a period of 3 years
• £943 per individual to stay for over three years

How can Y-Axis help you?

Y-Axis, One of the top immigration consultancies in UAE, provides unbiased immigration services for every client based on their interests and requirements.

Our impeccable services include:

• Free eligibility check through UK Immigration Points Calculator
• Get advanced English language coaching from experts.
• Free career counseling by booking your slot today.
• Complete guidance to migrate to the UK.