Check your salary, job code, English evidence and Certificate of Sponsorship before you pay the Home Office fee.
Start the eligibility checkContact usThe government has announced a new Earned Settlement system. Under the proposals the default wait for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would be 10 years, with shorter or longer pathways depending on your route, earnings, record and use of public funds. Skilled Worker would remain a route that counts towards settlement. No start date has been published, and the current rules apply until the new rules are in force. Contact us to look at your position.
ILR and settlement helpCheck your positionWhat the Skilled Worker visa is
The Skilled Worker visa lets you live and work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer that holds a sponsor licence. It replaced the old Tier 2 route. It can lead to settlement (ILR) and allows you to bring your partner and children as dependants.
This page covers the application most workers need first, the extension that follows, and the common changes that happen in between.
The main requirements
A job offer from a licensed sponsor. Your employer must hold a sponsor licence and give you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the role.
An eligible occupation and skill level. The job must be on the list of eligible occupations, at the required skill level. Since July 2025 that level is generally degree level (RQF level 6), with limited transitional arrangements and a separate list for roles in shortage.
A minimum salary. The salary must meet both the general threshold and the going rate for the job code. The general threshold rose to £41,700 in July 2025, with lower rates for certain new entrants and some health and education roles.
English language. Level B2 of the CEFR is now required for new applicants (it was B1 before July 2025). Extensions generally keep the lower level for existing workers; check which applies to you.
Maintenance funds. Unless your sponsor certifies maintenance, you must show you have £1,270 in savings held for 28 days. Your employer can certify instead.
Criminal record certificate for some jobs and countries.
If any one of these fails, the whole application fails. The most common errors are a job code that does not match the duties, a salary calculated incorrectly, and out-of-date English evidence.
Skilled Worker visa extension
People search for this as a skilled worker visa extension, and it is the largest group of enquiries we receive. You can usually apply to extend up to three months before your current permission ends. You need a new CoS from your sponsor, you must still meet the salary and skill requirements at the date of the application, and you must have kept the conditions of your visa.
Check these points before extending:
Is your current salary still above the threshold that applies now, not the one that applied when you first came?
Has your job code been moved or removed from the eligible list?
Are your English and maintenance evidence still valid?
Has your sponsor's licence been suspended or changed?
Have you been absent from the UK for long periods, which matters later for settlement?
Changing employer or job
You must not start work for a new employer on a Skilled Worker visa before your new application is approved. You need a new CoS and a fresh application. If you change role with the same employer, a new application may be needed if the job code or salary changes significantly, or if the change affects your eligibility. We can tell you which applies.
If you are made redundant or your sponsor loses its licence, the Home Office will normally cut short your permission, giving you a limited period (often 60 days) to find a new sponsor, switch route or leave. Acting early gives you more options.
Dependants
Your partner and children can apply to join or stay with you. Many searches are for the skilled worker dependent visa extension, which follows the main applicant's timetable. Dependants pay their own application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Your partner can usually work. Care-worker rules differ: since March 2024, most care workers cannot bring dependants. Check your sponsor's role before planning.
Fees and costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa, up to 3 years | £819 |
| Skilled Worker visa, more than 3 years | £1,618 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 per adult per year |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | Paid by the employer |
These are Home Office fees. Our own fee is separate:
| Service | Our fee |
|---|---|
| Initial advice | £60 to £125 |
| Document check | £200 to £700 |
| Work application support | £500 to £1,100 |
We agree the scope and price in writing before work begins.
How we help
We help workers and their families, and we explain the process in plain language.
We assess whether you meet the salary, skill and English requirements before you pay a fee.
We check the Certificate of Sponsorship details against your contract and duties.
We prepare and review your evidence, including dependants' documents.
We complete the application with you and explain biometrics and next steps.
We review the outcome and plan the next stage, such as an extension or settlement.
Employers who need support with sponsorship and compliance can contact us to discuss. Corporate work is priced by enquiry.
Two minutes online.
We look at your job, salary and timeline.
We check your evidence and list gaps.
We prepare and submit, and explain biometrics.
We help with the result and what comes next.
Applying from outside the UK
Most overseas applicants are in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, USA, or Europe with a job offer from a UK sponsor. We advise and represent clients wherever they live, by video and email. Before applying, check three things: that the sponsor really holds a licence (it is on the public register of licensed sponsors), that the Certificate of Sponsorship matches your role and pay, and that you are not being asked to pay for a job offer. The Home Office does not allow sponsors to charge you for a CoS in most cases; if you are asked to, tell us before paying.
Settlement after the Skilled Worker route
Under the current rules, Skilled Worker time counts towards ILR after five years, if you are still in the sponsored job and paid at or above the required level. The government has announced proposals that would change this. Skilled Worker would remain a route that counts towards settlement, but the default wait would be 10 years. A shorter wait could apply:
3 years if you earn £125,141 or more in 3 of the last 4 years, or are in the Highest Talent Group;
5 years if you earn £50,271 or more in 3 of the last 5 years, or work in an eligible public service occupation for 5 years;
10 years if you earn £12,571 or more in 5 of the 7 years before you apply.
Care workers who arrived or switched route before the May 2025 White Paper, and who meet the £25,000 salary, sponsorship and employment requirements, are proposed to keep the five-year route. Workers below RQF level 6 would be on the 10-year pathway. The proposed rules are not yet in the Immigration Rules, and no start date has been published. Keep your payslips, P60s and employer letters from now on, whichever rules apply. See our ILR application service.
One dated change: from 1 February 2027, a care worker who loses their job because their employer's sponsor licence is removed would have 120 days to secure a new job offer and a further 60 days to resolve their status.
What we do not do
We do not find jobs or sponsors for you. We do not guarantee an outcome. If your application is refused, we will explain your options, including administrative review where the refusal is for a caseworking error.
How do I extend a Skilled Worker visa?
Apply online with a new Certificate of Sponsorship, up to three months before your current permission ends, and show you still meet the requirements.
How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?
£819 for up to three years or £1,618 for more than three, plus the health surcharge of £1,035 a year.
What salary do I need?
You need to meet both the general threshold and the going rate for your job code. The general threshold is £41,700, with exceptions.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, as dependants, except on some routes such as care worker. They pay their own fees.
Can I change employer?
Yes, with a new CoS and a new application, before you start the new job.
What if I lose my job?
Your permission may be shortened to about 60 days. Get advice quickly.
Do I need a solicitor?
Not necessarily. Read solicitor or IAA adviser.
Will I have to wait 10 years for ILR on a Skilled Worker visa?
Not necessarily. The government's proposals make 10 years the default, with 3 and 5 year pathways depending on earnings and occupation. No start date has been published, and the current rules apply until then. Contact us to review where you would fall.
Does a Skilled Worker visa count towards ILR?
Yes. Skilled Worker time counts towards ILR now, and the proposals keep it as a route that counts towards settlement.
This page is general information, not advice on your case. Rules and fees change; always check GOV.UK.
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Bill Zahr
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Bill Zahr (LLB Hons) leads Noble Rose Immigration Service with a methodical, "law-first" approach. Guided by the ethos ‘Navigare per Legem’, Bill combines rigorous legal expertise with genuine empathy to navigate complex UK immigration cases. Formerly of a top-tier UK firm, he ensures every client receives transparent, elite, and personalised care.
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Renzel Carlos (LLB Hons, First Class) is the primary liaison at Noble Rose Immigration Service. Currently undertaking the Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programme, she combines a meticulous legal foundation with deep frontline experience. Renzel is dedicated to guiding clients through the emotional complexities of immigration with high-level professionalism, precision, and compassionate care.
