Skilled Worker Visa Points Guide 2025

The Skilled Worker visa is the primary immigration route for overseas nationals to come to the UK to undertake skilled work. While the route offers UK employers access to the global pool of talent, strict eligibility criteria apply. This includes the requirement for the applicant to attain a certain number of Skilled Worker visa points to be eligible for skilled worker sponsorship.

In this guide, we explain what is required to obtain the necessary visa points as a skilled worker, as well as the additional ‘non-points’ requirements which also have to be met by applicants.

 

Section A: What are Skilled Worker visa points?

 

Under the UK’s points-based system, with the exception of Irish citizens, any overseas national subject to UK immigration control and coming to the UK for the purposes of work must meet a number of different requirements for which they will score points. Visas will then be awarded to applicants who gain enough points under the applicable immigration route.

In the context of the Skilled Worker route, this is a sponsored immigration route on which the applicant must first have the offer of a job from a UK licensed sponsor that meets the minimum skill and salary requirements. The visa applicant must score mandatory points for their sponsorship, job offer and English language skills. They also need to score tradeable points for their salary and other attributes. In some cases, typically when it comes to entry clearance applications, applicants must also satisfy certain non-points requirements regarding available funds, as well as tuberculosis testing and criminal record checks.

The points requirement for visa applicants on the Skilled Worker route are set out under Appendix Skilled Worker of the UK’s Immigration Rules. This also sets out the various other criteria required to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, including the non-points requirements. An applicant must score a total of 70 points and meet any other applicable criteria.

Those applying in specific healthcare roles should look at the Health and Care Worker visa, which is a dedicated subcategory of the Skilled Worker route, with specific rules on eligibility points and requirements.

 

Section B: Mandatory Skilled Worker visa points

 

When it comes to the mandatory requirements, an applicant must score a total of 50 points. Below we look at how these mandatory Skilled Worker visa points are broken down:

 

1. Sponsorship (20 points)

 

An applicant on the Skilled Worker route must earn 20 mandatory points for ‘sponsorship’. This means that the employer must be licensed by the UK Home Office to able to sponsor this category of workers, and to be able to assign their proposed new recruit a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to enable that worker to apply for their visa.

For an CoS to be valid, it must meet the following requirements:

 

• confirm the applicant’s name, that they are being sponsored as a Skilled Worker, details of the job and salary that the sponsor is offering them, as well as PAYE details if their Income Tax and National Insurance contributions will be paid to HMRC via PAYE
• if the application is for entry clearance, the CoS must have been allocated by the Home Office to that sponsor for the specific job and salary details shown
• the CoS must include a start date, as stated by the sponsor, which can be no more than 3 months after the date of application
• the CoS must not have been used in a previous application, except any application that was either rejected as invalid, made void or withdrawn
• the CoS must not have been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office
• the CoS must confirm whether or not the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requirement in Appendix ATAS applies.

 

In addition to these CoS validity requirements, the Home Office caseworker making the decision on the Skilled Worker visa application must also be satisfied of the following:

 

• that the job role on offer is genuine, is not a sham and has not been created mainly so that the applicant can apply for entry clearance or permission to stay in the UK
• the role does not amount to the hire of the visa applicant to a third party, or contract work for a third party, who is not their licensed sponsor
• the role meets the relevant requirements under the UK’s National Minimum Wage and Working Time Regulations.

 

Finally, the applicant’s sponsor must have paid in full any required Immigration Skills Charge. This is payable when a new recruit is applying on the Skilled Worker route from outside the UK for 6 months or more, or from inside the UK for any length of time.

 

2. Skilled job offer (20 points)

 

An applicant on the Skilled Worker route must earn 20 mandatory points for a ‘job at an appropriate skill level’. This means that the job role for which the applicant is being sponsored must fall within an eligible occupation code listed under either Appendix Skilled Occupations or Appendix Immigration Salary List of the Immigration Rules.

In most cases, this means that the job role on offer must be skilled to at least Level 6 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) – broadly equivalent to bachelor’s degree standard – except where the job appears on the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) or Immigration Salary List (ISL). This does not mean that the proposed new recruit must have a degree, or even equivalent qualifications – it means the role and the work they will be doing must be at that level.

When assigning the CoS, the applicant’s sponsor must choose an occupation code that reflects the true nature of the role and its salary, where the Home Office caseworker deciding the application must be satisfied that the sponsor has not chosen a less appropriate occupation code for any one of the following reasons:

 

• the most appropriate code is not eligible under the Skilled Worker route
• the most appropriate code has a higher ‘going rate’ than the proposed salary
• the most appropriate code is not eligible for the reduced rate being claimed, such as not featuring on the Immigration Salary List (ISL)

 

The caseworker will consider whether the sponsor has shown a genuine need for the job role described, as well as whether the visa applicant has the appropriate qualifications, skills and experience needed for that role. Any history of immigration compliance with the sponsor, including paying its migrant workforce appropriately, will also be considered.

If the ATAS requirement in Appendix ATAS applies, the applicant must provide a valid ATAS certificate. This is a security clearance certificate issued under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS), allowing overseas nationals to undertake academic research in sensitive subject areas, including maths, medicine, engineering, technology or the sciences. This scheme is designed to help prevent the transfer of knowledge or skills which could be used in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

The ATAS requirement may be applicable where the job includes an element of PhD-level research in an ATAS-relevant subject and the sponsor is also a licensed student sponsor, such as a university. The link to apply through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can be found at GOV.UK, together with useful information about the scheme.

 

3. English language skills (10 points)

 

An applicant on the Skilled Worker route must earn 10 mandatory points for ‘English language skills’. This means that the applicant must be able to demonstrate the necessary English language ability of at least Level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages in all four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening, as set out under Appendix English Language of the Rules.

There are various ways in which the English language requirement can be met. If the applicant is from a majority English-speaking country, such as America or Australia, they will automatically meet this requirement. Equally, if they were awarded an English language or English literature GCSE or A-level, or the Scottish equivalent, following education undertaken in a UK-based school which began while they were aged under 18, they will meet the English language requirement. An applicant will also meet the requirement if they are being sponsored to work as either a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or vet, and have passed a language assessment that is accepted by the relevant regulated professional body as a requirement for that individual’s registration.

In cases where the English language requirement cannot otherwise be met, the applicant will need to take a secure English language test (SELT) to the required level with an approved provider in the 2 years prior to the date of their visa application. On successfully taking this test, the applicant will be given a valid digital reference number to use in their application.

 

 

Section C: Tradeable Skilled Worker visa points

 

In addition to the 50 mandatory points that must be awarded on the Skilled Worker route — for sponsorship, a skilled job offer and meeting the English language requirement — the job role must also meet the applicable minimum salary threshold to score the remaining 20 points. This will be the higher of either the general salary threshold, which for most applicants is the higher of either £41,700 or the specific ‘going rate’ for the occupation code in question, and more than £17.13 per hour based on a 48 hr week maximum, as we detail in our Skilled Worker minimum salary guide here.

However, applicants for the Skilled Worker route may be able to trade characteristics, such as their educational qualifications, against a lower salary threshold to secure the required number of points. This means that if the job on offer pays less than the general minimum salary requirement, an applicant may still be able to earn 20 tradeable points if they have:

 

• a job offer featured on the Immigration Salary List
• a PhD that is relevant to their proposed job role
• a PhD in a STEM subject that is relevant to their job role
• a job offer for a specific health or education role
• met the criteria as a ‘new entrant’.

 

If an applicant scores fewer than 20 tradeable points and no discount or reduced threshold applies in their circumstances, the application will be refused.

 

Option	Applicable to	Skilled Worker Salary Requirements from 22 July 2025	Points
A	Standard threshold	Higher of: £41,700/year; 100% SOC 2020 going rate. Hourly: £17.13 (max 48 hrs/wk).	20
B	Relevant PhD (non-STEM)	Higher of: £37,500/year; 90% going rate. Hourly: £17.13.	20
C	STEM PhD	Higher of: £33,400/year; 80% going rate. Hourly: £17.13.	20
D	ISL job	Higher of: £33,400/year; going rate. Hourly: £17.13.	20
E	New entrant	Higher of: £33,400/year; 70% going rate. Hourly: £17.13.	20
F	Health & Care – standard	Higher of: £31,300/year; lower going rate.	20
G	Health & Care – PhD (non-STEM)	Higher of: £28,200/year; 90% lower going rate.	20
H	Health & Care – STEM PhD	Higher of: £25,000/year; 80% lower going rate.	20
I	Health & Care – ISL	Higher of: £25,000/year; lower going rate.	20
J	Health & Care – new entrant	Higher of: £25,000/year; 70% lower going rate.	20
K	Listed health/education	£25,000/year; going rate or national payscale.	20

 

All the tradeable points options require the salary is assessed according to the relevant criteria. This is a complex area, and the rules are applied strictly. For example, only the first 48 hours per week can be counted towards salary calculations, and overtime must be ignored when assessing thresholds.

Salary miscalculations or relying on incorrect rates are common grounds for visa refusals. Take advice on your specific circumstances to ensure you are basing the visa application on the correct calculations and rates.

 

 

Section D: Additional Skilled Worker visa requirements

 

In addition to the mandatory and tradeable points requirements, an applicant on the Skilled Worker route must satisfy a number of non-points requirements to be eligible for a visa, including a financial requirement, as well as tuberculosis and criminal record certificate requirements, where applicable. If an applicant fails to meet any one of these additional non-points requirements, if necessary, their visa application will be refused.

 

1. Financial requirement

 

If an applicant is applying for entry clearance or leave to remain and has been in the UK for less than 12 months when they apply for a Skilled Worker visa, they must have held funds of at least £1,270 for 28 days as set out under Appendix Finance. Alternatively, the applicant’s sponsor must certify that they will maintain and accommodate their new recruit up to the end of their first month of employment to an amount equivalent to this sum.

 

2. TB certificate requirement

 

If an applicant is applying for entry clearance from overseas and is from a listed country, they must provide a valid medical certificate as set out under Appendix T: tuberculosis screening, confirming that they have been screened for active pulmonary tuberculosis.

 

3. Criminal record certificate requirement

 

If the applicant is applying for entry clearance on the Skilled Worker route from overseas and is being sponsored in a certain occupation code, such as a health or education role, they may need to produce a criminal record certificate. A certificate will be needed from the appropriate authority in any country where the applicant has been present for at least 12 months over the age of 18, either continuously or in total, in the 10 years prior to applying.

 

Section E: Need assistance?

 

DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists. Our team provide expert guidance and advice on the UK Skilled Worker visa to employers and workers, on areas such as points-based eligibility. If you have a query about the Skilled Worker visa points rules, contact us.

 

Section F: Skilled Worker visa points FAQs

 

What is the points-based system for the Skilled Worker visa?

The UK’s Skilled Worker visa operates under a points-based immigration system, where applicants must score at least 70 points to qualify. This includes 50 mandatory points for a job offer from an approved sponsor, skill level and English language proficiency, plus 20 tradeable points from factors such as salary, educational qualifications or shortage occupations.

 

How many points are required for a Skilled Worker visa?

A total of 70 points is needed. From 22 July 2025, mandatory requirements account for 50 points: 20 for a sponsor-approved job offer, 20 for the role being at RQF Level 6 or above (with transitional arrangements for lower levels) and 10 for English language skills at CEFR B1 level. The remaining 20 points come from tradeable options like salary thresholds or PhD qualifications.

 

What are the mandatory points for the Skilled Worker visa?

Mandatory points total 50 and include: a confirmed job offer from a licensed UK sponsor (20 points), the role meeting the required skill level of RQF 6 or higher for new applications (20 points, with transitional rules for extensions), and proof of English proficiency (10 points). These must be met without exception.

 

How are points awarded for salary in the Skilled Worker visa?

Salary contributes up to 20 tradeable points. From 22 July 2025, the general threshold is £41,700 annually or the going rate for the occupation (whichever is higher), plus a minimum hourly rate of £17.13 over a 48-hour week. Lower salaries may qualify under tradeable options, such as £33,400 for roles on the Immigration Salary List or £29,190 for new entrants.

 

Can I get points for a PhD under the Skilled Worker visa?

A relevant PhD awards 10 tradeable points (Option B: 90% of the going rate, minimum £37,530), while a STEM PhD in a shortage occupation provides 20 points (Option C: 80% of the going rate, minimum £33,400). The qualification must be directly linked to the job role.

 

What points are available for shortage occupations on the Skilled Worker visa?

Roles on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) qualify for 20 tradeable points under Option D, allowing sponsorship at £33,400 or the full going rate (whichever is higher). This replaces the former Shortage Occupation List and helps address UK labour shortages.

 

How does the skill level affect points for the Skilled Worker visa?

The role must be at RQF Level 6 (graduate level) or above for 20 mandatory points in new applications from 22 July 2025. Transitional arrangements allow extensions for roles sponsored before this date at RQF 3-5, but no new lower-skilled roles qualify.

 

Do English language skills earn points on the Skilled Worker visa?

Meeting CEFR Level B1 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening awards 10 mandatory points. This can be proven via a Secure English Language Test (SELT), a UK qualification, or a degree taught in English.

 

What happens if I don’t meet the 70 points for the Skilled Worker visa?

If you fall short of 70 points, your visa application will be refused. Common issues include insufficient salary or mismatched skill levels. Applicants should check eligibility using the Home Office’s points calculator and consider tradeable options to boost scores.

 

Can dependants affect points on the Skilled Worker visa?

The points rules only apply to the main applicant. Dependants apply for their own visa and are assessed separately for points as part of this.

 

How have Skilled Worker visa points changed in 2025?

From 22 July 2025, salary thresholds increased based on 2024 wage data, with a new general minimum of £41,700 and an hourly floor of £17.13. The skill level rose to RQF 6+, removing new medium-skilled roles, though transitional rules apply for extensions.

 

What is the role of the sponsor in the Skilled Worker visa points system?

The sponsor provides the CoS, confirming the job offer (20 points) and skill level. They must hold a valid licence and pay the Immigration Skills Charge, ensuring the role meets eligibility criteria.

 

Section G: Glossary

 

Term	Definition
Points-Based System	The UK’s immigration framework for the Skilled Worker visa, requiring applicants to accumulate a minimum of 70 points based on criteria such as job offer, skill level, and salary.
Skilled Worker Visa	A UK visa route enabling employers to sponsor overseas workers for eligible skilled roles, subject to meeting points requirements and other eligibility criteria.
Mandatory Points	The non-negotiable 50 points required for a Skilled Worker visa, awarded for a sponsor-approved job offer, appropriate skill level, and English language proficiency.
Tradeable Points	The flexible 20 points in the Skilled Worker visa system, which can be earned through options like salary thresholds, PhD qualifications, or roles on the Immigration Salary List.
RQF Level 6	The minimum skill level equivalent to a graduate degree, required for new Skilled Worker visa applications from 22 July 2025, with transitional arrangements for lower levels.
CEFR B1	The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level B1, the required standard for English proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening for Skilled Worker visa applicants.
Going Rate	The minimum salary rate for a specific occupation, as listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations, which must be met or exceeded (or a percentage thereof under tradeable options) for Skilled Worker visa eligibility.
Immigration Salary List (ISL)	A list of occupations facing labour shortages in the UK, allowing sponsorship at reduced salary thresholds and awarding 20 tradeable points for Skilled Worker visa applications.
PhD	A doctoral degree qualification that can award 10 or 20 tradeable points in the Skilled Worker visa points system, depending on relevance to the role and whether it is in a STEM field.
STEM	Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; PhDs in these fields qualify for additional tradeable points under Option C of the Skilled Worker visa salary options.
New Entrant	An applicant at the start of their career, eligible for a reduced salary threshold (70% of the going rate, minimum £29,190 from 22 July 2025) and 20 tradeable points under Option E.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)	An electronic document issued by a licensed UK sponsor to confirm a job offer, essential for a Skilled Worker visa application and contributing to mandatory points.
Home Office	The UK government department responsible for immigration, including processing Skilled Worker visa applications and maintaining the points-based system rules.