If you are applying for a work visa to the UK, it means that you already have an invitation from your employer. It is impossible to apply for this visa to merely look for a job in the country. The main document you need to apply for a work visa is a sponsorship certificate. A sponsorship certificate can be called an employee’s permit to work with a licensed employer. Different basic documents are required for different types of work visas. So to apply for a Skilled Worker (Tier2) visa, you will need to pass an English language test or pass an assessment of your diploma as confirmation of education in English. If your profession is related to communicating with people, you will need to provide a certificate of no criminal record.

Application criteria

To apply for a Skilled Worker Visa: 

• The job offer must be from a British employer approved by the Home Office. There are already many employers on the list. It is quite easy to get a license
• You must have a “sponsorship certificate” from your employer with information about the vacancy that you were offered in the UK.
• Your job must be on the list of eligible occupations, for example, Marketing Director, Sales Director, Human Resources Manager, Technical Director (computer services), Microbiologist, Scientist, Mechanical Engineer (professional), Food Technologist, Business Analyst (computing), Games Programmer or IT Consultant.
• Your salary must meet the minimum level (the amount depends on the type of work you are doing).
• To move to the UK on a work visa, you need to be fluent in English. You must speak, read, write and understand. Usually, when applying, you can confirm your knowledge by passing the Secure English Language Test (SELT: IELTS, LanguageCert International ESOL SELT, PTE, Skills for English) from the official providers: IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert, Pearson, PSI Services (UK) Ltd.

Peculiarities of work visas

The peculiarity of work visas is that for each profession, its minimum wage is taken into account. If the profession is on the list of those in demand, then the employer can offer to pay 80 per cent of this salary.

You can still apply for a Skilled Worker Visa if your job meets the criteria, but your salary is less than £ 25,600 or meets the normal rate. You must, however, be paid at least £ 10.10 per hour. You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the regular rate for your job if your salary is at least £ 20,480 per year and you meet one of the following criteria:

• Your job is in-demand
• You are under 26 years old, you are studying or recently graduated, or are in vocational training
• You have a PhD in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) that is relevant to your job (if you have a relevant PhD, in any other subject, your salary should be at least 23,040 pounds)
• You have a doctoral position in science or higher education

It is easier to move and find work. Employers can help obtain a visa for highly qualified workers. The country especially needs IT specialists, nurses, welders, graphic designers and engineers. A detailed list of in-demand professions can be found at gov—the UK.

Bringing family with you

When moving on a work visa, you can bring your family with you (partner and children) as “dependents”. The duration of the visa for dependent family members corresponds to the duration of the work visa.

A dependent partner or child is:

• Your husband or wife, common-law partner or unmarried partner
• Your child is under 18 years of age, including if born in the UK during your stay 
• Your child is over 18 years of age and is currently in the UK as your dependent.

You will be required to provide proof of your relationship when applying. For a partner:

• You are in a civil partnership or marriage recognised in the UK.
• You have been living together for at least two years when you apply, are not in any other relationship and are not close relatives.

You must have a certain amount of money for the partner and children for room and board while in the UK.

• £285 for your partner
• £315 per child
• £200 per additional child

Read more about moving to the UK with a partner and children

The recent visa changes

From 1 January 2021, it has become easier to travel to the UK on a work visa. Many of the criteria for hiring workers have been simplified in favour of the immigrant. For example, higher education is not considered compulsory, the minimum wage has decreased, and the list of eligible professions has increased significantly.

With a skilled worker visa, you cannot apply for most benefits or a government pension, change jobs or change employers unless you apply for a visa renewal. You will be able to work in a suitable job, study, take on additional work under certain circumstances, volunteer, travel abroad and return to the UK.

Residence can be obtained in the same way as with other visas. It is necessary to live in the country for about five years, showing work activity and benefits for the country. You also cannot be absent from the country for more than 180 days a year and 450 days in five years. After obtaining residency, you must wait one year before applying for citizenship. To obtain citizenship, you must prove your knowledge of the English language (the cost of the test is about 200 pounds) and take a test of knowledge of social history (60 pounds). It will cost £1,350 to apply for a passport.

When you apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, you must have enough money to pay the visa fee — £610 to £1,408 depending on your circumstances, medical fee, usually £624 per year, no less than £1,270 (if you are not exempt from paying taxes) for living costs. If your job is on a shortage list, the application fee may be lower.

The decision on the visa will be made within 3-8 weeks. It is possible to pay to accelerate the visa approval process.