Skilled Worker requires an eligible sponsored job, valid CoS and applicable salary, skills and English evidence. Salary and transition rules depend on the occupation and immigration history. Family eligibility is conditional, especially for care and medium-skilled occupations. Settlement requires a separate assessment; a sponsored job or five years alone does not guarantee it.
GOV.UK: from outside the UK GBP 819 per person for up to 3 years or GBP 1,618 for more than 3 years; inside the UK GBP 943 or GBP 1,865. Immigration Salary List jobs GBP 628 (up to 3 years) or GBP 1,235. The healthcare surcharge is usually GBP 1,035 per year. You usually need GBP 1,270 available.≈ $1,040
GOV.UK: you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you are outside the UK and 8 weeks if you are inside the UK.
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Source-backed requirements
Eligibility
(1)English language
DocumentMandatoryNew applications and switches from other routes generally require CEFR B2 in all four skills. Holders before 8 January 2026 extending/updating may use the B1 transition without fresh proof. Check permitted prior proof or transfer between the two work routes, qualifications/Ecctis, nationality, regulated-profession evidence or approved SELT; a new test is not universal.
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Qualification
(3)Certificate of Sponsorship
MandatoryUse an approved sponsor and an eligible actual occupation with the required pay and skill conditions. The CoS is an electronic record with a valid reference; a job offer or invented paper certificate is not sufficient. Medium-skilled access and care-worker options have specific date, list and location rules.
Verified officialSalary threshold
MandatoryThe usual Skilled Worker salary is at least £41,700 a year or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. Healthcare/education pay scales, eligible lower-pay cases and transitional/extension/update rules differ. Check the actual occupation, CoS date and pay option; £38,700 is not the universal current rule.
Verified officialFinancial requirement
ConditionalUsually provide £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, with day 28 within 31 days of application. Permission to stay after at least 12 months of lawful UK permission can satisfy the requirement without funds evidence; an A-rated sponsor’s actual CoS maintenance certification is another route. Assess each dependant separately; a budget is not bank evidence.
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Preparation
(1)Criminal record certificate
DocumentConditionalFor entry clearance in occupations listed in SW16.1, provide certificates for countries with at least 12 months’ total presence in the preceding 10 years while aged 18 or over. SOC6132 is included for CoS assigned on or after 8 October 2024. A satisfactory explanation may excuse certificates not reasonably practicable to obtain. Entry-clearance partners follow SW34.1–34.2; dependent children are excluded.
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Application
(1)Dependant eligibility
ConditionalFamily admission is conditional. Care-worker rules use continuity before 11 March 2024; medium-skilled rules use continuity before 22 July 2025, with specific child and location exceptions. Check actual occupation, visa/employment history, relationship and whether applying inside or outside the UK; neither family admission nor an exception is automatic.
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Immigration Documents & Forms
Source citations
Skilled Worker — partner/children restrictions
UK Home Office
Care-worker dependant restrictions with pre11March2024continuous-employment and actualchildexceptions; medium-skilled restrictions with pre22July2025continuity and distinct in/outsideUK exceptions, inclinsideUKprisonofficerextension/switch. Notfamilyyesforall.
Skilled Worker — job eligibility and usual salary
UK Home Office
Currenthigher-skilled/medium-skilled eligibility branches, usually41700orhighergoingrate, actuallowerthreshold/pay-scale/transitionalconditions andelectronicCoS. Notblanket38700/anyskilledtitle.
Skilled Worker — English evidence and transition
UK Home Office
B2currentnew/other-route-switch requirement; holdersbefore8January2026extension/updateB1andnoreproof; permittedpreviousproof/crossHealthCare,qualification/Ecctis,SELT,nationalityandregulatoracceptedexemptions. NotblanketB1orfreshtest.
Skilled Worker — conditional maintenance evidence
Home Office — UK Visas and Immigration
Skilled Worker maintenance is actual funds held for required period, with qualifying existing-visa residence or sponsor certification exceptions; dependants have separate amounts.
Skilled Worker sponsor guidance — overseas criminal record certificates (SK10)
UK Home Office
Selected SK10.1–SK10.3 sections: entry-clearance workers in listed occupations need country certificates for at least12months cumulative presence during preceding10years while18+. SOC6132 included for CoS assigned on/after8Oct2024. Satisfactory impracticability explanation may be accepted. Partners covered, dependent children not. Cross-checked AppendixSkilledWorker SW16.1–2 and SW34.1–2.
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