UK Skilled Worker Visa 2026: Points System, Salary Threshold & Sponsors

English language: what Home Office accepts in 2026

• IELTS for UKVI: minimum 4.0 overall (no element below 4.0).
• LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B1.
• Skills for English B1 (Pearson).
• Degree taught in English and verified by Ecctis as equivalent to UK bachelor’s.
• Nationals of majority-English-speaking countries (USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, etc.) are exempt.

Who can apply: nationality, age and background rules

• Any nationality except British and Irish citizens (they do not need a visa).
• Minimum age: 18 on the date of application.
• Clean criminal record: any unspent convictions must be declared; serious offences normally lead to refusal.
• Tuberculosis certificate: required only if you currently live in one of the countries listed in Appendix T of the Immigration Rules.

Document checklist (have every item ready before you start the online form)

Mandatory evidence

1. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number – your sponsor generates this on the Sponsor Management System (SMS). You must apply within 3 months of the CoS being assigned.
2. Current passport (valid for at least 1 blank page and 6 months beyond travel date).
3. Police clearance certificate from every country where you have lived 12 months or more in the last 10 years (only required for specific jobs in education, health or social care).
4. English-language result or degree-equivalence letter from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC).
5. Bank statements showing at least £1 270 in savings held for 28 consecutive days within the 31 days before application (not required if your sponsor ticks “maintenance certified” on the CoS).
6. TB test certificate (if applicable country).
7. Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or previous UK visa vignette (if applying from inside the UK).

If dependants are joining

• Marriage or civil-partnership certificate (partner) or birth certificate (children).
• Evidence of £285 for partner + £315 for first child + £200 for each additional child, held for 28 days (unless sponsor certifies maintenance).

If claiming points for PhD

• Original PhD certificate + Ecctis academic qualification statement + Ecctis English proficiency statement (if degree not taught in English).

Certified translations

Any document not in English or Welsh must be translated by a certified translator; include both the original and the translation.

Step-by-step application process

Stage 1 – before you apply

1. Secure the job offer from a licensed sponsor.
2. Ask the HR team to assign you a CoS. Check the occupation code, salary and SOC version (must be 2020). Ask them to certify maintenance if possible.
3. Collect documents and scan them in colour (PDF, max 5 MB each).

Stage 2 – online application

1. Create a UKVI account on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk.
2. Select “Skilled Worker” and answer the eligibility questions.
3. Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) upfront: £1 035 per adult per year (children same price). The system calculates the exact amount based on visa length.
4. Pay the application fee (see fee table below).
5. Download your personalised document checklist (PDF).

Stage 3 – biometrics

• Outside the UK: book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) run by TLScontact or VFS Global. Keep the appointment confirmation email.
• Inside the UK: use the UK Immigration: ID Check app if eligible; otherwise book a UKVCAS service point.

Stage 4 – submit documents

Upload every document listed on your checklist within 5 days of biometric appointment. Missing documents trigger a 10-working-day request for evidence and can add 3–4 weeks to processing.

Stage 5 – decision & passport return

• Standard processing: you receive an email when the decision is made. VAC will courier your passport with the 90-day entry vignette.
• Travel to the UK before the vignette expires, collect your BRP from the named Post Office within 10 days of arrival or by the date stated on your decision letter.

2026 fees and charges (UKVI rates published 30 March 2025)

Example: 3-year visa, standard occupation, applying from India
Application fee £719 + IHS £3 105 = £3 824 payable online by Visa or MasterCard.

Processing timeline in 2026

• Standard (outside UK): 3 weeks after biometrics (95 % of cases).
• Standard (inside UK): 8 weeks after biometric upload.
• Priority (outside): 5 working days (add £500).
• Super-priority (inside): next working day (add £1 000).

Delays occur if: tuberculosis test is unclear, police certificate missing, CoS data does not match SOC description, or salary figure is below the correct threshold for the tradeable option claimed.

Top 6 refusal reasons and how to avoid them

1. Salary too low: check the going-rate table for your SOC code (Appendix Skilled Occupations). The £38 700 general threshold is irrelevant if the occupation-specific going-rate is higher.
2. CoS assigned too early: you cannot apply more than 3 months before the CoS start date; otherwise the CoS becomes invalid.
3. English language not SELT: only tests taken at a Home Office-approved centre within 2 years are accepted. TOEFL iBT and Cambridge General are still not acceptable.
4. Maintenance shortfall: £1 270 must be in a personal bank account (not a business or joint account with a friend) for 28 days. Print statements within 31 days of application date.
5. Wrong SOC code: HR sometimes picks a code that does not match the job description. Compare the SOC 2020 descriptions on the ONS website; ask for a revised CoS if needed.
6. Criminal disclosure omissions: spent convictions under UK law do not need to be declared, but unspent ones do. If unsure, obtain a basic DBS check before you apply.

Insider tips from 300+ successful applicants

• Ask for the “maintenance certified” box to be ticked: saves you £1 270 × number of dependants in frozen funds.
• Upload colour scans only; greyscale bank statements are often rejected as “unclear”.
• Book biometrics in your home country if possible; third-country VACs sometimes delay transferring passports.
• Keep the entry vignette page clean; any ink stamp on it can confuse the e-gates at UK airports.
• Start your job exactly on the CoS start date; joining earlier breaches visa conditions and can prejudice future ILR applications.

Frequently asked questions (2026 rules)

1. My salary is £32 000, but the going-rate for my SOC is £40 000. Can I still qualify?

No. You must be paid at least the going-rate for your occupation code unless you bring 20 tradeable points through a PhD or shortage occupation. The £38 700 general threshold never overrides the occupation-specific rate.

2. I am on a Graduate visa; do I need to leave the UK to apply?

No. You can switch to Skilled Worker from inside the UK as long as you have a valid CoS and meet the points. Apply before your Graduate visa expires to stay lawfully.

3. How long can I stay outside the UK without losing my visa?

Single absences of up to 180 days are normally disregarded for ILR. If you need to relocate abroad for longer, apply for a “multi-entry” vignette replacement or consider a new Skilled Worker application on return.

4. Does maternity leave break continuous residence?

No. Statutory maternity, paternity or shared parental leave is treated as authorised absence provided you remain employed and paid by your sponsor.

5. Can my partner work on a dependant visa?

Yes. Dependants may work in any job, including self-employment, except as professional sportspersons or coaches.

6. When can I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

After 5 years of continuous residence under Skilled Worker, provided you still have a valid sponsor, earn at least the going-rate applicable at ILR stage, pass the Life in the UK test and have no excessive absences.

7. Is the