What is a Skilled Worker Route?
The skilled worker is a sponsored immigration route, where an individual is required to have a job offer from a UK licensed sponsor.
There is a required skill set, and a minimum salary amount for this visa route, which is why it is important for both UK sponsors, i.e., the company, and the foreign migrant to understand all of the visa requirements of the Skilled Worker route.
The skilled worker visa has strict eligibility criteria, so it is best to seek advice from an immigration lawyer to ensure the application is processed successfully.
What are the Skilled Worker Visa UK Rules and Requirements?
The employees applying for UK entry clearance or permission to remain as Skilled Worker visa applicants need to apply online.
For a valid application or permission to stay as a Skilled Worker, the Appendix Skilled Worker Visa applicant must meet all entry requirements, including being at least 18 years old.
The application fee for the skilled worker visa varies depending on the duration of the visa but is usually from £479 to £1235. Other than this, if you get a skilled worker visa, then you may have to pay the healthcare surcharge to make sure that you can access the NHS in the UK. The annual charge is usually £1035.
The Skilled Worker Visa applicant must provide their passport, which shows their identity and nationality, and must have a Certificate of Sponsorship issued to them by a UK company or a UK employee.
In addition, the Skilled Worker applicant must not any of the following visas when applying:
- Short-term Student
- Parent of a child student
- Seasonal worker
- Visitor visa
- Domestic worker in a private setting
- Outside of any immigration rules
What are the points needed for the Skilled Worker Visa Route?
Skilled worker visa applicants need to meet further eligibility to score a certain number of mandatory points because Skilled worker visas will only be granted to those who reach a minimum of 70 relevant points threshold, which is made up of 50 compulsory points and 20 tradeable points for meeting the eligibility.
Points for skilled worker visa are as follows:
- 20 mandatory points for a job
- 20 mandatory points for sponsorship
- 10 mandatory points for proving the English language ability
- 20 tradable points
Eligibility for Skilled Worker Visa
Skilled worker visa financial requirement
An applicant applying for ILR or entry clearance must have funds of at least £1,270 for 28 days.
Moreover, the sponsors, i.e. the company or a UK employee, must clarify that they will maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of their first month of employment to an amount equal to the total sum.
Criminal records requirement
If the applicant is from overseas and is being sponsored under a specific occupation, then a criminal record certificate is needed from the relevant authority of the country that they have been living in for 12 more months over the age of 18 before applying for the Skilled Worker Visa.
ATAS Requirement
If there is a crucial requirement for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate under the Appendix ATAS, then the applicant needs to provide a valid ATAS certificate. This is only needed when the job includes an element of PhD-level research.
Tuberculosis certificate
The applicant must provide a medical certificate, if from overseas or the listed country, this confirms that they have been screened, and no active pulmonary tuberculosis is found.
How can Farani Taylor Solicitors help You?
You can save money and time by contacting our expert immigration lawyers. They can ensure that the applicant’s visa application for the Skilled Worker Visa meets all the requirements and maximizes the chances of success.
You can contact us by calling us on this number or requesting a call back by simply filling in the form below.