Work / Employment in United Kingdom: Requirements and Fees

Skilled Worker visa

Requires a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship. From 22 July 2025, the sponsored job must be skilled to RQF Level 6 (graduate level) or above — approximately 180 medium-skilled occupations (RQF 3–5) were removed from eligibility. Exceptions apply for: (1) roles on the Immigration Salary List; (2) roles on the Temporary Shortage List (occupations at RQF 3–5 critical to the Modern Industrial Strategy, time-limited to end of 2026 except adult social care); (3) workers already sponsored in the Skilled Worker route before 22 July 2025 (transitional protection to renew, change employment, or take supplementary employment in the same SOC code). The worker does not need to hold a graduate qualification personally — it is the job itself that must be at RQF Level 6.

Processing time: 3 weeks (outside UK) / 8 weeks (inside UK) after biometrics and documents
Validity: Up to 5 years per grant; renewable
Language requirement: English at the required CEFR level
Permanent residence: ILR after 5 years
Citizenship: Naturalisation 12 months after ILR (subject to residence rules)

Requirements

Job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Role at the required skill level and an eligible occupation code
Salary at general minimum £41,700/year or the going rate (whichever is higher); lower thresholds apply to some categories
English language proficiency to the required level
Maintenance funds of £1,270 held 28 consecutive days unless waived

Required Documents

Certificate of Sponsorship reference number required
Valid passport or travel ID required
Proof of English language ability required
Job title, salary, occupation code, sponsor name and licence number required
Bank statements showing maintenance funds (unless sponsor certifies maintenance)
TB test certificate (for listed countries)
Criminal record certificate (education, healthcare or social services roles)
ATAS certificate (sensitive PhD research)
Ecctis/qualification evidence and certified translations where applicable

Official fees

Application fee (outside UK, up to 3 yrs) 819 GBP
Application fee (outside UK, over 3 yrs) 1,618 GBP
Immigration Health Surcharge (per year) 1,035 GBP

Process Steps

1

Employer assigns CoS

A licensed sponsor assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship.
2

Apply online

Apply online up to 3 months before the job start date.
3

Pay fees

Pay the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
4

Prove identity

Verify identity via the app or at a visa application centre (biometrics).
5

Upload documents

Upload supporting documents.
6

Decision

Await the decision.

Official Sources

Skilled Worker visa Official
Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs Official
Skilled Worker visa: documents you must provide Official

Health and Care Worker visa

A reduced-fee, IHS-exempt sponsored work route for medical professionals and care workers with an approved health/care sponsor.

Processing time: Usually 3 weeks; faster-decision service available for an extra fee
Validity: Up to 5 years per grant; renewable
Language requirement: English at the required CEFR level
Permanent residence: ILR after 5 years
Citizenship: Naturalisation 12 months after ILR (subject to residence rules)

Requirements

Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved health or care sponsor
Eligible health or social care occupation
Salary meeting the role's national pay scale or threshold
Professional registration where relevant
English language proficiency

Required Documents

Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved health/care sponsor required
Valid passport or travel ID required
Proof of English language ability required
Professional registration evidence where relevant
TB test certificate (for listed countries)

Official fees

Application fee (up to 3 yrs, approx.) 304 GBP
Application fee (over 3 yrs, approx.) 590 GBP
Immigration Health Surcharge 0 GBP

Process Steps

1

Employer assigns CoS

An approved health/care sponsor assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship.
2

Apply online

Apply online up to 3 months before the start date.
3

Pay reduced fee

Pay the reduced application fee; IHS is exempt.
4

Biometrics and documents

Provide biometrics and upload documents.
5

Decision

Await the decision; a faster-decision service is available for an extra fee.

Official Sources

Health and Care Worker visa Official

Scale-up Worker visa

A sponsored route to work for a fast-growing UK business; after 6 months sponsored you may work unsponsored. Leads to settlement after 5 years.

Processing time: 3 weeks (outside UK) / 8 weeks (inside UK)
Validity: 2 years initially, extendable
Language requirement: English at the required CEFR level
Permanent residence: ILR after 5 years
Citizenship: Naturalisation 12 months after ILR (subject to residence rules)

Requirements

Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved scale-up sponsor for a role of at least 6 months
Salary of at least £39,100/year or the going rate (whichever is higher)
English language proficiency
Maintenance funds of £1,270 unless waived

Required Documents

Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved scale-up sponsor required
Valid passport or travel ID required
Proof of English language ability required
Salary and occupation evidence required
Financial evidence if applicable

Official fees

Application fee 937 GBP
Immigration Health Surcharge (per year) 1,035 GBP

Process Steps

1

Sponsor assigns CoS

An approved scale-up sponsor assigns a CoS for a role of at least 6 months.
2

Apply online

Apply online up to 3 months before the start date.
3

Pay fees

Pay the fee and the IHS.
4

Biometrics and documents

Provide biometrics and documents.
5

Decision

Await the decision; after 6 months sponsored you may work unsponsored.

Official Sources

Scale-up Worker visa Official
Scale-up Worker visa: your job Official

Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

For senior managers or specialist employees transferred to a UK branch of an overseas business. Does not lead directly to settlement.

Processing time: 3 weeks (outside UK) / 8 weeks (inside UK)
Validity: Max 5 years (9 in any 10-year period if paid £73,900+)
Language requirement: No English language requirement for this route
Permanent residence: No direct settlement route; must switch to a qualifying route
Citizenship: Not applicable directly; requires switching to a settlement route first

Requirements

Certificate of Sponsorship from the linked UK business
Salary of at least £52,500/year or the going rate (whichever is higher)
12 months' prior employment with the linked overseas business (unless earning £73,900+)
Maintenance funds of £1,270 unless waived

Required Documents

Certificate of Sponsorship required
Valid passport or travel ID required
Evidence of overseas employment and the linked-business relationship required
Salary evidence required
Maintenance evidence if applicable

Official fees

Application fee (outside UK, up to 3 yrs) 819 GBP
Application fee (outside UK, over 3 yrs) 1,618 GBP
Immigration Health Surcharge (per year) 1,035 GBP

Process Steps

1

Sponsor assigns CoS

The linked UK business assigns a CoS.
2

Apply online

Apply online up to 3 months before the start date.
3

Pay fees

Pay the fee and the IHS.
4

Biometrics and documents

Provide biometrics and documents.
5

Decision

Await the decision.

Official Sources

Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) Official
Senior or Specialist Worker visa: how much it costs Official

Graduate visa

A post-study work route for graduates of UK courses to stay and work or look for work. Non-extendable; no direct settlement.

Processing time: Usually 8 weeks
Validity: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD or doctoral graduates: 3 years (unchanged). The visa cannot be extended.
Language requirement: Not separately tested (English proven on the prior Student visa)
Permanent residence: No direct settlement route; must switch to a qualifying route
Citizenship: Not applicable directly; requires switching to a settlement route first

Requirements

Currently hold a Student visa
Successfully completed an eligible UK course
Education provider has notified the Home Office of course completion
Apply from inside the UK before the Student visa expires

Required Documents

Valid passport or travel ID required
Current Student visa / BRP / eVisa required
Provider confirmation of course completion (provider notifies the Home Office) required

Official fees

Application fee 937 GBP
Immigration Health Surcharge (per year) 1,035 GBP

Process Steps

1

Complete course

Complete an eligible UK course.
2

Provider reports completion

Your provider notifies the Home Office of course completion.
3

Apply online

Apply online from inside the UK before your Student visa expires.
4

Pay fees

Pay the fee and the IHS.
5

Biometrics

Provide biometrics if required.
6

Decision

Await the decision; you may stay while it is pending.

Official Sources

Graduate visa Official