Quick answer
A Skilled Worker visa lets you work in the UK for an employer the Home Office has licensed as a sponsor. You need a job offer, a certificate of sponsorship, an eligible job paid at least the minimum salary for it, and English at the required level. We act for the worker, and for the employer that sponsors them.
On this page
Who can apply
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
- work for a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office (a licensed sponsor)
- have a certificate of sponsorship from that employer, with details of the role
- do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations
- be paid at least the minimum salary for that job
- be able to speak, read, write and understand English, usually with proof
The salary you need depends on the type of work and when you got your certificate of sponsorship. The figures change, so check the job and salary rules on GOV.UK or ask us.
Applying, extending and switching
- From outside the UK: you can apply once your employer has assigned your certificate of sponsorship.
- Extending: each grant lasts up to 5 years, and you can extend while you still meet the requirements.
- A new job or employer: you need a new application, with a new certificate of sponsorship.
- Switching: most people already in the UK can switch from another visa. Visitors, short-term students and a few other groups cannot, and apply from abroad instead (the switching rules on GOV.UK).
- Your family: your partner and children may be able to come as your dependants.
Time on a Skilled Worker visa can count towards indefinite leave to remain (settlement). The qualifying period is under review by the government, so we check it against your dates. Read more about indefinite leave to remain.
For employers
Your business needs a sponsor licence from the Home Office before it can sponsor a Skilled Worker. We prepare sponsor licence applications, assign certificates of sponsorship with you and advise on your duties as a sponsor. See sponsor licences.
The Home Office explains who can sponsor workers on GOV.UK.
What we do for you
- Check the details on your certificate of sponsorship against the job you will do
- Check the occupation code, and that your salary meets the minimum for that code
- Confirm how you will meet the English requirement, or that you are exempt
- Prepare the applications of your partner and children if they are coming with you
- Complete and submit your application with a covering letter, and go through the decision with you
What it costs
| Skilled Worker application | £1,500 – £2,500 excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Sponsorship support | £600 – £900 excluding VAT |
| Sponsor licence application | £1,500 – £3,000 excluding VAT |
Typical ranges for our legal fees only. Home Office, tribunal, healthcare-surcharge, biometric, interpreter, translation, expert and barrister charges are separate. Where VAT applies it is charged at 20%; whether it applies depends on your residence and immigration status.
Certificate of Sponsorship support and sponsor licence applications are work we do for employers.
What our fee includes
- An initial meeting, advice on the right route and a document checklist
- Reviewing your documents and evidence
- Preparing the application and the written arguments that support it
- Submitting the application
- Advising on the decision and next steps
Not included: extra work caused by incomplete information, further-evidence requests or interviews; appeals, reviews or fresh applications unless specifically included.
You get a written quote for your case before you instruct us. Every published fee range, and what it covers, is on our fees page.
Set by the government, paid on top of our fee: Home Office application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge. We tell you each of these costs in writing, and nothing is paid without your OK.
How long it takes
Getting your application ready typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from the day we have your documents. After that, the timing is the Home Office's.
- Certificate of sponsorship
Your employer assigns you a certificate of sponsorship. We check that its details match the job, the occupation code and your salary.
- Your documents
We send you a list of what your application needs, including your English evidence, and check each document.
- Your application
We complete the online application, and those of any family members coming with you, and submit them once you have checked them.
- Your identity
You confirm your identity, usually at an appointment where your fingerprints and photo are taken.
- The decision
The Home Office decides. We go through the decision with you, including your start date and the conditions of your visa.
Home Office decision times
| Applying from outside the UK | Usually 3 weeks |
|---|---|
| Applying inside the UK | Usually 8 weeks |
The Home Office's own standard, checked on GOV.UK on 8 October 2026.
Typical Home Office processing time (Home Office estimate, not guaranteed): it depends on the route, where you apply from and whether you pay for a faster decision. The current figures are on GOV.UK: applying from outside the UK and applying inside the UK.
Who handles your case
Immigration work is carried out by our team of solicitors, legal advisers and paralegals, supervised by Partner Oliverta Mediu.
Where we act
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Leicester office 3rd Floor, St George's House, 6 St George's Way, Leicester LE1 1QZ 0116 393 0334
Immigration in Leicester
What clients say
Firm-wide reviews across all our services.
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Regulated by the SRA SRA No. 605949, view our record
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CQS accredited Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme
Questions people ask
Can I apply for a Skilled Worker visa without a job offer?
No. You need a job offer from an employer the Home Office has licensed as a sponsor, and a certificate of sponsorship from that employer, before you can apply.
How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?
Our legal fee for a Skilled Worker application is typically £1,500 – £2,500 excluding VAT. The Home Office application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge are paid to the government, not to us. GOV.UK has a visa fee checker and explains how the surcharge is worked out.
Can I switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK?
Usually, if your current visa allows it and you apply before it runs out. You cannot switch if you are in the UK as a visitor, a short-term student, a seasonal worker, a domestic worker in a private household, the parent of a Child Student, on immigration bail, or with permission given outside the Immigration Rules. In those cases you apply from abroad. GOV.UK has the full switching rules.
What happens if I change job or employer?
You need to make a new application. Your new employer must hold a sponsor licence and assign you a new certificate of sponsorship. Talk to us before you accept the new job, so the application is ready when you need it.
How long can I stay on a Skilled Worker visa?
Each grant can be for up to 5 years. You can then extend, provided you still meet the requirements.
Can my partner and children come with me?
Your partner and children under 18 may be able to apply as your dependants. Each of them makes their own application, and we can prepare them at the same time as yours.
We want to hire someone from overseas. Where do we start?
With a sponsor licence: without one, your business cannot assign a certificate of sponsorship. Our fee for a sponsor licence application is typically £1,500 – £3,000, and for certificate of sponsorship support £600 – £900, both excluding VAT. The Home Office charges for sponsorship are separate.
What happens if the application is refused?
A Skilled Worker refusal usually has no right of appeal. If you think the Home Office got the decision wrong, you can usually ask for an administrative review: within 14 days of the decision if you are in the UK, or 28 days if you are outside it. Sometimes a new application is the better step. Our refusals and appeals page explains each option, and for employers our guide covers what to do if an employee's visa is refused.
Helpful guides
Offered a job in the UK, or hiring from overseas? Talk to our immigration team.
Request a call backThis page is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Immigration rules and Home Office fees change often: check GOV.UK or ask us before you apply.