Work in the UK

The main way to work in the UK is the Skilled Worker visa, which replaced the old Tier 2 (General) route. You need a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a Home Office-licensed sponsor, a role at degree level (RQF 6) for most new applicants since 22 July 2025, a salary of at least £41,700 or the going rate for the job (whichever is higher, unless a discount applies), and English at level B2 for new applicants from 8 January 2026. Visa fees from 8 April 2026 are £819 for up to three years or £1,618 for longer, applied from outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year. GIEC Global UK works as UK work visa consultants for skilled professionals and graduates, and this guide explains each route honestly.

Who this page is for

This guide is for people outside the UK who want to work here, and for people already in the UK on another visa, such as Student or Graduate visa holders, who want to switch into work. If you only want to visit for business meetings, see our visit the UK guide instead, because many short business activities are allowed without a work visa.

UK work visa routes compared

Route	Job offer needed?	Best for
Skilled Worker	Yes, from a licensed sponsor	Most professionals in graduate-level roles
Health and Care Worker	Yes, from an eligible health or care sponsor	Doctors, nurses and other eligible health roles (overseas recruitment of care workers closed on 22 July 2025)
Global Talent	No	Leaders or emerging leaders in science, research, engineering, digital technology, arts and culture
High Potential Individual	No	Recent graduates of eligible top-ranked overseas universities
Scale-up	Yes, from a qualifying fast-growing company	Skilled roles in high-growth businesses
Global Business Mobility	Yes, from an overseas employer’s UK branch	Intra-company transfers and specialist assignments
Graduate	No	International students who completed a UK degree
Youth Mobility Scheme	No	Young people from participating countries (ages and places vary)
Innovator Founder	No (you run your own business)	Founders with an endorsed innovative business idea

Exceptional talent may suit the Global Talent visa, which does not need a sponsor and can lead to faster settlement.

Skilled Worker visa requirements in detail

1. A genuine job offer from a licensed sponsor

Your employer must hold a sponsor licence and assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship. The CoS lists your job, occupation code, salary and start date. The employer pays the CoS fee (£525) and the Immigration Skills Charge, which the law does not allow them to pass on to you.

2. The right skill level

Since 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker applicants generally need a job at RQF level 6 or above. Some lower-skilled roles remain possible for a limited period through the Temporary Shortage List, and people already on the route before that date have transitional protection.

3. Salary

The general threshold is £41,700 a year, and you must also meet the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds can apply to “new entrants” (for example under 26, recent graduates, or those switching from a Student or Graduate visa), to PhD holders in relevant roles, and to jobs on the Immigration Salary List.

4. English at B2

New applicants from 8 January 2026 must show English at CEFR B2 (upper intermediate) in reading, writing, speaking and listening, through an approved Secure English Language Test, a degree taught in English, or nationality of a majority English-speaking country. If you need a test, see our IELTS for UKVI coaching or PTE training.

5. Funds and other documents

Unless your sponsor certifies maintenance on your CoS, you must show £1,270 held for 28 days. You may also need a tuberculosis test (depending on where you live), a criminal record certificate for certain health, education and care jobs, and an ATAS certificate for some research roles.

What does a UK work visa cost?

Cost	Who pays	Amount (from April 2026)
Visa fee, up to 3 years (outside UK)	Applicant	£819
Visa fee, over 3 years (outside UK)	Applicant	£1,618
Immigration Salary List roles	Applicant	£628 / £1,235
Immigration Health Surcharge	Applicant	£1,035 per year
Certificate of Sponsorship	Employer	£525
Immigration Skills Charge	Employer	£364 (small) or £1,000 (medium/large) per year

Dependants pay the same visa fee and surcharge. Check GOV.UK for the current figures before applying.

How to apply for a Skilled Worker visa: step by step

1. Find an eligible job with a licensed sponsor. Check the public register of licensed sponsors.
2. Confirm the role meets the rules: occupation code, skill level, salary and going rate.
3. Receive your CoS from the employer.
4. Prepare your documents: passport, English evidence, funds (if needed), TB test and criminal record certificate if required.
5. Apply online up to three months before your start date and pay the fee and surcharge.
6. Prove your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre.
7. Get your decision, usually within three weeks from outside the UK or eight weeks from inside.
8. Start work and keep your eVisa details up to date in your UKVI account.

How to find a sponsored job in the UK

The hardest part of the Skilled Worker route is usually the job, not the visa form. These steps help:

• Target licensed sponsors. Download the register of licensed sponsors from GOV.UK and filter by sector and location. Large employers in technology, engineering, finance, healthcare and universities sponsor regularly.
• Check the numbers first. Look up the occupation code that matches the job and its going rate. If the advertised salary is below the threshold, sponsorship is unlikely.
• Tailor your CV to UK style. Two pages, achievements first, no photo or date of birth.
• Use professional networks. LinkedIn, professional bodies and alumni groups often lead to roles before they are advertised.
• Be upfront about sponsorship. Ask early whether the employer can sponsor, so neither side wastes time.

Sectors where sponsorship is common

Most sponsored roles today are graduate-level jobs in software engineering, data and cyber security, engineering (civil, electrical and mechanical), finance and accounting, academia and research, and medicine and allied health professions. IT professionals and IT consultants are among the largest groups of Skilled Worker applicants, and many contractors ask whether they can be sponsored through a consultancy. The answer is yes if the consultancy is a licensed sponsor, the role is genuine and meets the rules, and you are employed by the sponsor rather than self-employed. Supplying sponsored workers to a third party that is effectively their real employer is restricted, so check the arrangement carefully with your UK work visa consultants before you accept.

Switching from a Student or Graduate visa

Many international students move into work after graduating. If you studied in the UK, you may benefit from new entrant salary rates, and you can usually switch to Skilled Worker from inside the UK. The Graduate route is currently two years (three for PhD graduates), and the government has announced it will be shortened to 18 months for applications from January 2027, so planning your next step early matters. Our study in the UK page explains the student side.

Settlement and the “earned settlement” proposals

Skilled Workers have traditionally been able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after five years. The government has proposed moving to an “earned settlement” model with a longer standard qualifying period and reductions for contributions such as higher earnings or skills. Check GOV.UK for how these changes apply before you plan your timeline. Our migrate to the UK page tracks long-term routes.

Common reasons UK work visas are refused or delayed

• The job does not meet the skill level or the going rate for the occupation code.
• The occupation code chosen does not match the actual duties.
• English evidence is missing or from a non-approved test.
• Missing TB or criminal record certificates where required.
• Concerns that the job is not genuine, for example a role created only to sponsor someone.

A warning about job and sponsorship scams

We see many people who have paid agents thousands of pounds for a “guaranteed” job or CoS, especially in care and hospitality. Employers must not charge you for a CoS or pass on the Immigration Skills Charge, and nobody can sell a genuine sponsored job. Signs of a scam include requests for large upfront payments, jobs offered without interviews, and payslips or offers that do not match the employer’s real business. Report suspected fraud to the Home Office or Action Fraud, and never hand over money for a job offer.

Choosing UK work visa consultants: what to check

Giving UK immigration advice is regulated. Advisers must be authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or be regulated solicitors or barristers. Before you instruct any UK work permit visa consultants or Tier 2 visa consultants in the UK, ask:

• Are you regulated, and at what level? You can check the IAA’s adviser register.
• Will you check that my job, occupation code and salary meet the rules before I apply?
• Do you also charge for “job placement”? (A regulated adviser should not sell jobs.)
• Are your fees fixed and in writing?

How GIEC Global UK helps

As UK work visa consultants, we focus on getting the details right. We help you assess which route fits your profile, check the job, occupation code and salary against the rules, prepare English, TB and criminal record evidence, review your application before submission and plan for dependants. We also advise graduates switching from Student or Graduate visas. We do not sell jobs or sponsorship, and we cannot guarantee a Home Office decision. Contact us for an assessment.

Your rights and duties once you arrive

A Skilled Worker visa is tied to your sponsor and job. You can do some limited additional work (for example up to 20 hours a week in another eligible role, or voluntary work), and you can study, but you cannot claim most public funds. If you change employer, you usually need a new CoS and a new application before you start the new job. Your employer must report certain changes to the Home Office, such as a significant salary cut or long unpaid absence. If your job ends, your permission may be shortened, so get advice quickly about finding another sponsor or switching route. Keeping copies of payslips, your contract and your CoS helps with future extensions and settlement.

Bringing your family

Skilled Workers can usually bring a partner and children under 18 as dependants. Dependants pay the same visa fee and health surcharge, can work and study in the UK, and follow the main applicant’s route to settlement. Budget for school places and childcare early, especially in London and the South East. Children of Skilled Workers can attend state schools free of charge, but places are allocated by local councils and popular schools fill quickly, so apply as soon as you have an address.

Comparing other countries

If the UK’s salary and skill thresholds do not fit your profile, compare options in other countries: work in Ireland, work in Canada, work in Australia and work in New Zealand, or browse all work abroad guides.

Sources and review

Reviewed on 31 October 2026 against GOV.UK’s Skilled Worker visa guidance, the Immigration Rules changes of 22 July 2025 and 8 January 2026, the Home Office immigration fees from 8 April 2026, and the Immigration Advice Authority’s guidance. Rules change frequently, so check GOV.UK before applying. This page is general information, not immigration advice for your situation.