To remain in the UK as a skilled worker beyond your visa’s validity period, you will need to apply for new lawful status before your current visa expires to avoid overstaying.
In most cases, the options are to apply for a Skilled Worker visa extension or to apply for ILR, depending on your circumstances.
In this guide, we explain the Skilled Worker visa extension requirements and the process to follow to make a Skilled Worker visa extension application. We also consider the settlement route, and when this may become available to you as a skilled worker.
Section A: How Long Are Skilled Worker Visas Valid For?
A Skilled Worker visa is granted for the length of the job you have been sponsored to do, up to a maximum of five years at a time. Most sponsors choose to issue a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) that covers the full expected contract (for example three years), and the Home Office then adds up to 14 days beyond the stated end date. When that permission nears expiry you can apply for another grant of up to five further years, with no overall time‑limit as long as you still qualify or until you obtain settlement after five continuous years.
The CoS itself is a separate document with two timeframes:
- Validity for assignment: once the sponsor creates a CoS it must be used in a visa application within three months; if it lapses, a new CoS (and fee) is required.
- Sponsorship period: the same CoS states the job’s start and end dates; this period defines how long the visa can be issued, up to five years.
In short, the CoS dictates the job length (and therefore the visa length), but the visa grant is what controls your permission to stay. A worker may hold multiple consecutive visas on new CoS documents, whereas each individual CoS is single‑use and expires three months after it is generated if no application is made.
Section B: Skilled Worker Visa Extension Requirements
Workers who are already in the UK under the Skilled Worker route may be eligible to apply for a visa extension, provided they continue to meet the requirements set out in the Immigration Rules in force at the time the application is made. As with the initial visa application, therefore, the applicant will need to show when they apply for the renewal that they continue to meet the eligibility requirements under the Skilled Worker route.
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa extension, the individual must still be employed in the same job role as when they were last granted permission. The job must also fall under the same Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code used in their previous application. In addition, they must remain with the same sponsoring employer who assigned their most recent Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), and that employer must still be licensed by the Home Office to sponsor Skilled Worker visa holders at the time of the new application.
Skilled Worker visa extension applications submitted on or after 22 July 2025 are subject to increased salary thresholds introduced in the July 2025 Statement of Changes. The applicant must earn the higher of the:
- relevant general threshold per the salary‑points options
- required percentage of the occupation’s going rate
The headline graduate‑level threshold, Option A, is £41,700 a year. Options B, C, D and E allow lower floors of £37,500 or £33,400 where the job and applicant meet the relevant PhD, Immigration Salary List (ISL at RQF 6 +) or new entrant conditions. Options A–E are also subject to a £17.13‑per‑hour test, calculated on no more than 48 paid hours a week.
For workers in Health and Care ASHE-salary roles (e.g., nurses, therapists, care workers) who held Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker permission in the same SOC code on or before 4 April 2024, transitional salary thresholds apply for extensions until 4 April 2030 (or 22 July 2028, for care workers in SOC codes 6135/6136). These are:
- £31,300 (Option F, 100% of lower going rate, no hourly floor)
- £28,200 (Option G, 90 % of the lower going rate, non‑STEM PhD)
- £25,000 (Options H/I/J, 80 % STEM PhD, 100 % for sub‑degree ISL roles, or 70 % for new entrants; no hourly floor)
These thresholds apply only for extensions, job changes or supplementary employment in the same SOC code, not for new hires post-22 July 2025.
As such, if the current visa is in an RQF 6+ role, the extension requires a salary of at least £41,700 or the standard going rate, whichever is higher, plus the £17.13 hourly floor, unless the applicant qualifies as a new entrant (£33,400, 70% of going rate) or for a PhD discount. If in an RQF 3–5 role sponsored before 4 April 2024, they can extend using transitional thresholds (£31,300, £28,200, or £25,000) until 2030 (or 2028 for care workers), provided they remain in the same SOC code.
Note that care workers (SOC 6135/6136) must have been employed by the sponsor for three months before the CoS is issued for extensions until 22 July 2028.
Read more about skilled worker salary thresholds here >>
In terms of financial maintenance, an individual who has been lawfully living and working in the UK for 12 months or longer at the date of their extension application will meet the maintenance requirement automatically. In these cases, they do not need to provide evidence of holding at least £1,270 in savings, as would be required for new arrivals.
Employers and applicants are advised to check the latest version of Appendix Skilled Worker and the relevant salary options to ensure that the role continues to meet the requirements for sponsorship and that the proposed salary meets the thresholds applicable at the time of the application. This is especially important where the role is on the ISL or TSL, as these are interim lists.
Section C: How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa Extension
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa renewal, the worker will need to submit an online application from within the UK, together with their supporting documentation.
Applicants must have a new CoS to be able to renew their visa. As part of the application process they’ll also need to prove their identity, although how they do this will all depend on the type of passport they hold and where they’re from. The applicant will be instructed as to what they need to do when they apply for their Skilled Worker visa renewal. They may need to provide their fingerprints and photograph at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) location. Alternatively, rather than attending a UKVCAS appointment, they may be able to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document.
Having made an application, the applicant must not travel outside of either the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they’ve received their UKVI decision. If they do travel outside these areas, their renewal application will be withdrawn.
1. When to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa Extension
A Skilled Worker visa will allow a migrant to work in the UK in an eligible job with a licensed sponsor up to a maximum of 5 years before they need to extend it. However, regardless of how long the migrant worker’s initial grant of leave was for, they must apply to renew their Skilled Worker visa, or Tier 2 (General) visa, prior to expiry of their existing leave.
If the application is submitted in-time, the applicant will usually be able to continue working for you pending a decision from UKVI, although it’s always best to apply well in advance. However, the application has to be made within 3 months of the CoS being issued or before the existing visa expires, whichever is sooner.
If the migrant worker has changed their job or started working for you as a new employer since their last grant of leave, they’ll need to apply to update their visa instead of applying for an extension. However, if they’ve worked for you throughout the duration of that leave, they’ll only need to update their visa if their job changes into a different occupation code or they leave a job that’s on the shortage occupation list for a job that’s not on the list. They’ll not need to apply again if they stay in the same job, but that job is taken off the shortage occupation list.
2. Skilled Worker visa renewal cost
The cost of applying for a Skilled Worker visa renewal will depend on the applicant’s circumstances and how long they will be working in the UK.
| Applications Made in the UK | Skilled Worker Visa Application Fee from 1 July 2025 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £885 |
| Skilled Worker, where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £1,751 |
| Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £590 |
| Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £1,160 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £304 |
| Skilled Worker – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years -main applicant and dependants | £590 |
| Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List- Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for three years or less – main applicant and dependants | £304 |
| Skilled Worker – a job on the Immigration Salary List – Health and Care Visa – where a certificate of sponsorship has been issued for over three years – main applicant and dependants | £590 |
The standard application fees to extend your Skilled Worker visa from within the UK range from £885 per person for CoS assigned up to 3 years to £1751 for a CoS of over 3 years.
A lower application fee will be payable if the applicant’s job is on the Immigration Salary List, set at £590 for a CoS of up to 3 years and £1,160 for a CoS of more than 3 years.
In addition to the visa application fee, the worker will also have to pay the Immigration Healthcare surcharge for each year of stay, unless exempt (such as under the Health and Care Worker route).
An additional fee of £19.20 may also apply for the applicant to submit their biometric information.
The application fee, healthcare surcharge and any biometric fee are the applicant’s responsibility, although as their UK sponsor, unless an exception applies, an Immigration Skills Charge is payable each time you assign a CoS to an individual on the Skilled Worker route.
3. Are there limits to the number of Skilled Worker visa extensions?
Skilled Worker visa holders can apply to extend their leave to remain as many times as they like. The 6-year maximum length of stay under the previous Tier 2 (General) route has been removed.
Provided the migrant worker continues to meet the relevant eligibility requirements, and doesn’t fall for refusal under the suitability requirements, for example, they’ve not breached the terms of their existing grant of leave or overstayed, they can apply to extend indefinitely.
However, most Skilled Worker visa holders opt to apply for UK settlement after 5 years in the UK rather than make successive extension applications. Your preference will depend on your circumstances; take advice if you are unsure which route is best for your needs.
4. Skilled Worker visa renewal processing time
Having submitted an application for a Skilled Worker visa renewal, a decision will usually be received from UKVI within 8 weeks. In some cases this could take longer, for example, if the applicant is asked to attend an interview. It may be possible to get a faster decision on a renewal application, using a priority service, although there will be an additional fee for this.
Section D: Skilled Worker Dependant Visa Renewals
The partner or children of a skilled migrant worker will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as the applicant or at any time before their current visa expires. This includes children who have turned 18 during their stay.
Dependants will need to apply online using their partner or parent’s Skilled Worker visa extension application number. This is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or Unique Application Number (UAN), and can be found on any emails and letters received from UKVI.
As part of their application, the migrant worker’s partner and/or children will need to prove their identity by attending a UKVCAS appointment or scanning their identity document using the online ID check app. They’ll be told what they need to do once they apply. As with the primary applicant, the partner or children of the migrant worker must not travel outside of the UK until they get a decision from UKVI, usually in around 8 weeks.
Section E: Skilled Worker Visa Extension or ILR?
Skilled Worker visa holders can choose to extend their visa or apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) based on their circumstances. ILR affords the permanent right to live and work in the UK, without any time restrictions.
In practice, ILR is usually preferred after 5 years by those who meet the settlement requirements, including a 5-year continuous residence requirement, knowledge of Life in the UK (KOLL) requirement and certain sponsorship and salary rules. This 5-year period doesn’t necessarily need to be made up solely of time spent under the Skilled Worker route, although the worker’s most recent permission must be as either a Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) migrant.
SWV holders who have not yet completed 5 years in the Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) route, or who do not meet ILR requirements, can extend their visa to continue working in the UK.
To be eligible for ILR, you must have 5 years of continuous residence in the Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) route, continuous employment in an eligible role, English language proficiency (B2 level), a passed Life in the UK test, and absences not exceeding 180 days per year.
ILR requires the experienced-worker salary test, with no tradeable-points discounts, e.g., new entrant, PhD, ISL), available.
You apply online via GOV.UK, submitting proof of 5 years’ residence, employment, salary (e.g., payslips), English proficiency (B2 level), Life in the UK test and absence records.
The ILR application fee is £3,029, with no IHS. Processing typically takes up to 6 months, or faster with priority services if available.
When deciding whether to extend their Skilled Worker visa or apply for ILR, visa holders should consider a number of factors.
If you have less than 5 years in the Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) route, you must extend your visa to continue working legally, as ILR requires 5 years of continuous residence (Section 8.1). For example, a care worker with a 3-year visa from 2022 needs a 2-year extension to reach 5 years.
New entrants (e.g., under 26, Student/Graduate visa switchers) are limited to 4 years under Option E (Table 1) or J (Table 2), so they typically extend to complete this period before needing higher thresholds for further extensions or ILR.
Extension may be preferred if your salary is below ILR thresholds (e.g., £41,700 for Table 1, £31,300 for Table 2, £25,000/£12.82 for care workers). Workers with pre-April 2024 CoS benefit from lower transitional thresholds (£29,000 or £23,200 for ISL) until April 4, 2030, making extension easier while seeking a salary uplift.
ILR is feasible if your salary meets the experienced-worker test (e.g., £25,000 for care workers under Health and Care Worker visa, often aligned with NHS Band 3 rates) and you’ve completed 5 years (SK4.37).
If you plan to stay in the UK long-term, ILR offers permanent residence, eliminating future visa costs and restrictions. It’s attractive for workers in stable, high-demand roles with salaries meeting ILR thresholds.
If your stay is temporary or you’re early in your career (e.g., new entrants), extending allows flexibility without committing to ILR requirements like the Life in the UK test.
Extensions require a new CoS, which depends on your sponsor’s willingness to continue employment and meet salary thresholds. Some employers may not support salary uplifts needed for ILR.
Section F: Need Assistance?
DavidsonMorris are specialists in UK business immigration, with substantial experience and recognised expertise in advising employers and workers on all aspects of the Skilled Worker visa. For specialist immigration advice on Skilled Worker extensions and ILR applications, contact us.
Section G: Skilled Worker Visa Extension FAQs
Can you extend a Tier 2 (General) visa?
Tier 2 (General) visa extensions are processed under the Skilled Worker category. This means that the application will be subject to the eligibility requirements under this route, including being employed in a qualifying role for a sponsoring employer at a certain salary level.
Can I renew my Skilled Worker visa more than once?
There is no limit on the number of extensions, provided you still meet the route’s rules and your sponsor issues a fresh Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for each period.
How early can my employer assign the new CoS?
A CoS can be issued up to three months before your current permission expires. You should submit the online application before the visa end‑date; your status remains lawful while a timely, in‑country application is pending.
Must my salary rise when I extend?
Your salary at the time of your ILR application has to satisfy the relevant applicable threshold and going rate percentage in force on the date you apply, even if those figures are higher than at your last grant of leave. Part‑time hours do not reduce the cash threshold.
What happens if I change employer?
A simple extension is not enough. You must make a change of employment application with a new CoS and wait for approval before starting the new job, even within the same group of companies.
Are dependants affected when I extend?
Your partner and children may extend alongside you. Each must meet the maintenance requirement unless the sponsor certifies funds, and they pay the same application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as you.
Is a new English‑language test required?
If you met the English requirement in a previous Skilled Worker or Tier 2 grant, you do not need to prove it again for an extension.
How does an extension differ from applying for settlement (ILR)?
An extension keeps you tied to a sponsor and liable for visa fees and the IHS; ILR ends sponsor dependence and IHS costs but demands five continuous years’ residence and the experienced‑worker salary threshold, with no tradeable‑points discounts.
Section I: Glossary
| Term | Definition (UK usage) |
|---|---|
| Appendix Skilled Occupations | Part of the UK Immigration Rules that lists every SOC 2020 code eligible for sponsorship, split into tables by skill level and pay scale. |
| ASHE data | The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, used by the Home Office to set occupation‑specific “going rates”. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | An electronic record issued by a licensed sponsor; it underpins a Skilled Worker, GBM or Scale‑up visa application and expires if unused after 3 months. |
| Cash threshold | The headline annual salary figure (e.g. £41,700) that must be met in full, regardless of contracted hours or pro‑rated going rate calculations. |
| Going rate | The occupation‑specific median salary published in Appendix Skilled Occupations; sponsors must pay at least the required percentage of this figure. |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | A mandatory payment (£1,035 per year) giving visa‑holders access to NHS care; waived for Health and Care Worker visas. |
| Immigration Salary List (ISL) | A list of shortage roles that benefit from reduced Skilled Worker fees and lower cash thresholds until 31 December 2026. |
| Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) | A levy paid by sponsors when issuing a CoS: currently £364 per sponsored year for small/charitable sponsors and £1,000 for larger sponsors. |
| New entrant | An applicant under 26, switching from Student/Graduate permission, or in professional training/post‑doctoral research, eligible for a four‑year salary discount. |
| Option A–K grid | The salary‑points table in Appendix Skilled Worker that sets cash floors and going rate percentages for each category of applicant. |
| Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) | The UK scale that ranks job skill levels. From 22 July 2025 most new Skilled Worker roles must be at RQF 6 (graduate level) or higher. |
| SOC 2020 code | A four‑digit occupational classification used to identify the correct going rate and skill level for sponsorship purposes. |
| Sponsor licence | Permission granted by the Home Office allowing a UK employer to issue CoS for overseas workers. |
| Temporary Shortage List (TSL) | A time‑limited list of RQF 3–5 roles that remain sponsorable until 31 December 2026, subject to stricter salary and family rules. |
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
