Student to Skilled Worker Visa: Employer Guide 2026
Section A: International Graduate Recruitment UK employers are permitted to employ student visa holders within certain restrictions and where the individual’s visa conditions allow. For example, where the visa holder is still studying, they may carry out paid employment up to 20 hours per week during term time if studying at degree level […]
Switching from Graduate Visa to Skilled Worker Visa UK
Section A: Switching from the Graduate Visa to Skilled Worker Visa The Graduate route was introduced in July 2021 to allow international students who have completed a qualifying UK degree to remain and work for a fixed period after their studies. It is an unsponsored route, meaning employers do not need a sponsor […]
Skilled Worker Visa Extension Guide 2026
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 […]
Skilled Worker Change of Employment Rules 2026
A Skilled Worker change of employment is one of the most common and most misunderstood compliance risks under the UK sponsorship system. Many sponsored workers assume that moving roles within the same organisation, accepting a promotion or transferring to a related company within a group does not require Home Office approval. In practice, the Immigration […]
Skilled Worker Visa 2026: Requirements, Salary & Eligibility
Section A: What is the Skilled Worker Visa? The Skilled Worker visa, which replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa, is the main work visa for overseas nationals. It allows employers to sponsor non-UK nationals to work in the UK in eligible, skilled roles. The visa is open to individuals who attain 70 points […]
Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary 2026
Section A: What is the Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary? The Skilled Worker visa does not impose one flat “minimum salary”. Instead, the Immigration Rules set multiple salary-points options with different cash thresholds and different going-rate percentages, and the correct option depends on the role, the worker’s circumstances and whether any transitional provisions […]
Skilled Worker Visa Fees & Sponsor Costs 2026
Section A: Skilled Worker Visa Fees in 2026 The Home Office Skilled Worker visa application fee varies, depending on whether the application is made from outside the UK (entry clearance) or from inside the UK (permission to stay). The fee also changes depending on whether the Certificate of Sponsorship has been assigned for […]
New Entrant Skilled Worker Visa Criteria 2026
Section A: What is a Skilled Worker New Entrant? The Skilled Worker route includes a specific concession for individuals at an early stage of their career, described in the Immigration Rules as “new entrants”. New entrant status affects how salary thresholds are applied, but it does not relax the underlying requirements around job […]
UK Skilled Worker English Requirement 2026: Tests, Levels & Exemptions
Section A: What is the Skilled Worker English Language Requirement? If you’re applying for the UK Skilled Worker visa, you are required to meet an English language requirement as part of the Immigration Rules. Under the Immigration Rules in force from 8 January 2026, the Skilled Worker English language requirement is set at […]
Appendix Skilled Occupations: Guide 2026
Section A: What is Appendix Skilled Occupations? Appendix Skilled Occupations is an important reference point for occupation codes and going rates used across sponsored work routes, including Skilled Worker visa, Global Business Mobility and Scale Up routes. Each listed occupation is assigned a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, a going rate and skill […]