Who this mega-guide is for

This is the parent (pillar) guide for the topic “Skilled Worker visa UK.” It’s written for international applicants, recent graduates (and their parents), HR teams and founders who need a current, practical and legally focused explainer of the Skilled Worker visa UK in 2025—covering the headline salary threshold, the requirements, fees, the Skilled Worker visa UK job list 2025, how extensions work, what changed in 2025, and how the Skilled Worker visa UK dependant visa 2025 rules operate.

Short on time? The standard Skilled Worker salary threshold is £41,700 per year or the job’s going rate, whichever is higher (with defined exceptions). From 22 July 2025, new grants generally require roles at RQF Level 6 (graduate level), with transitional protections for people already in the route before that date.

As a UK-based firm, Worldwide Immigration Ltd uses deep legal experience to help you select the right route, prepare immaculate applications and remain compliant throughout sponsorship and employment.

1) The Skilled Worker visa UK—what it is (and isn’t)

The Skilled Worker visa UK allows a non-UK national to work for a licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation at the required skill and salary level. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) category.

At a glance:

  • Sponsored route: you must have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a Home Office-licensed employer.
  • Skill level: from 22 July 2025, new grants generally require RQF Level 6 roles (graduate level) unless a specific exception applies.
  • Salary: you must meet the standard Skilled Worker rate (£41,700) or the role’s going rate—whichever is higher—subject to limited exceptions.
  • English: you must meet English at B1 (CEFR) across reading, writing, speaking and listening.
  • Route to settlement: after 5 years on qualifying routes (with other requirements), you may be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
  • Dependants: permitted for standard Skilled Workers; note special restrictions if sponsored under specific Temporary Shortage List conditions (see section 10).

Students & parents: if you (or your child) are on a Student/Graduate visa and receive a qualifying job offer from a licensed sponsor, switching to the Skilled Worker visa UK is often the path to long-term work and, potentially, settlement.

2) Skilled Worker visa UK salary threshold 2025 (and how to meet it)

The standard threshold

The Skilled Worker visa UK salary threshold 2025 is £41,700 per year or the job’s going rate, whichever is higher. The “going rate” is set for each occupation code (SOC) and is usually based on a 37.5-hour week, pro-rated for different hours.

Where to find going rates

The Home Office maintains a table of going rates for eligible occupation codes. Sponsors and applicants must choose the correct SOC 2020 code and confirm the salary meets or exceeds the appropriate going rate (and the £41,700 baseline, if higher).

When you can be paid less than the standard rate

There are limited, defined exceptions (e.g., new entrants, certain PhD roles, or roles covered by national pay scales such as health/education). For example, new entrants may be paid a lower percentage of the going rate if minimum floors and all other criteria are met.

Tip: It’s not just about the headline salary. Ensure the contracted weekly hours, allowances, bonus structure, and location uplifts all comply with Skilled Worker rules—only eligible guaranteed earnings count for salary calculations.

3) Skilled Worker visa UK requirements 2025—checklist

The skilled worker visa uk requirements 2025 can be grouped into job, sponsor, and applicant requirements.

Job requirements

  • Eligible SOC code at RQF Level 6 (for new grants from 22 July 2025, subject to exceptions).
  • Salary at or above £41,700 or the going rate, whichever is higher (unless an exception applies).
  • Genuine vacancy—the role must be real and needed by the business.

Sponsor requirements

  • Employer holds a valid Sponsor Licence (Worker routes).
  • Employer assigns a CoS with accurate SOC code, salary, hours and work location(s).
  • Sponsor complies with reporting, record-keeping, and right-to-work obligations.

Applicant requirements

  • English at B1 (various ways to prove this).
  • Maintenance funds (unless certified by the sponsor).
  • TB certificate and/or criminal record certificate where required by the role and country of residence.
  • Genuineness and immigration history checks.
     

4) Skilled Worker visa UK changes 2025—what’s new (and why it matters)

The government’s 2025 reforms aim to build a skills-led system with higher pay and skill bars and tighter access to sponsorship. Key Skilled Worker visa UK chages 2025 include:

  • Raising the skill threshold to RQF Level 6 for new grants from 22 July 2025, with transitional protections for existing Skilled Workers.
  • Raising the standard salary threshold (now £41,700).
  • Removing over 100 lower-skilled occupations from eligibility and ending overseas recruitment in adult social care (with limited in-country switch scenarios under other routes).
  • Introducing the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) model and transitional arrangements for those already sponsored before 22 July 2025.

These changes significantly narrow access to the Skilled Worker route and raise salary/skill bars, reshaping employer recruitment planning in 2025.

5) Skilled Worker visa UK Minimum Salary 2025—how it interacts with the going rate

The Skilled Worker visa UK Minimum Salary 2025 is effectively the higher of:

  1. the standard Skilled Worker minimum (currently £41,700), and
  2. the going rate for the specific occupation.

That means many technical, medical, legal and financial roles will hinge on the going rate rather than the general threshold. Always check the current going rate and the exact SOC code.

New entrants and exceptions: Certain categories (e.g., new entrants) may use discounted percentages of the going rate, but they still must meet minimum floors and all other Skilled Worker criteria. Don’t assume any lower salary works—verify the specific rules.

6) Skilled Worker visa UK job list 2025—who’s still eligible?

The qualifying skilled worker visa uk job list 2025 is defined by Appendix Skilled Occupations and the new skill threshold (RQF Level 6 for new grants from 22 July 2025). Examples likely to remain eligible include:

  • Technology & engineering: software developers, data scientists, network engineers, engineering professionals (civil, mechanical, electrical).
  • Finance & professional: chartered accountants, actuaries, economists, management consultants, lawyers (where sponsorship is permitted).
  • Science & health: research scientists, pharmacists, some lab-based roles (subject to going rates and separate professional rules), certain education roles aligned to national pay scales.
  • Creative & specialist: architects, product designers, certain media/creative technologists (where SOC and going rates fit).

Because the 2025 reforms removed 100+ lower-skilled occupations, always verify the SOC 2020 code and skill level in Appendix Skilled Occupations and the going rates table before issuing/accepting a job offer.

7) skilled worker visa uk fees 2025—what you’ll pay (and how to budget)

The skilled worker visa uk fees 2025 typically include:

  • Application fee (varies by whether you apply in or out of country, visa length, and category).
  • Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)—per year, per person (including dependants).
  • Biometrics fee (where applicable).
  • Priority services (optional), if you need faster decisions.

Budget tip for families: If you plan to bring dependants, calculate IHS for each person across the full visa length up front. It’s often the largest single cost after salary compliance.

8) skilled worker visa uk Application 2025—step-by-step

  1. Confirm eligibility
    • Choose the correct SOC 2020 code at RQF 6 (or permitted exception).
    • Verify salary against £41,700 and the going rate.
  2. Sponsor actions
    • Ensure the employer’s Sponsor Licence is active and compliant.
    • Issue a CoS with precise role title, SOC code, salary, hours, and work locations (including hybrid/remote patterns if used in practice).
  3. Gather documents
    • Passport, CoS number, proof of English, maintenance (unless certified), TB certificate and criminal record where required.
  4. Apply online
    • Complete the Skilled Worker form, pay application fee and IHS, and book biometrics (or use the app where eligible).
  5. Decision & BRP/eVisa
    • Straightforward applications are usually decided within published service standards, with expedited options available at extra cost in some regions.
  6. Arrival & onboarding
    • Right-to-work checks at the employer, compliance with reporting if circumstances change, and—if applicable—setting up your UKVI account for eVisa.
       

9) Skilled Worker visa UK extension 2025—who can extend under transitional rules?

The Skilled Worker visa UK extension 2025 rules distinguish between:

  • Pre-22 July 2025 holders: If you already held Skilled Worker permission before 22 July 2025 and have continuous permission since, transitional provisions may allow you to extend, change employer or settle under rules that recognise your previous eligibility path (including some roles previously eligible at RQF 3–5), provided the detailed conditions are met.
  • New entrants from 22 July 2025 onwards: You’ll normally need an RQF 6 role (or specific exception) and you must meet the £41,700/going rate test and any rules introduced from 2025.

Practical tip: When planning a Skilled Worker visa UK extension 2025, check your SOC code, whether your current role still qualifies, and whether your salary meets today’s threshold (going rates can be updated). Don’t let your leave lapse.

10) Skilled Worker visa UK dependant visa 2025—who can come with you?

For standard Skilled Worker grants, partners and children under 18 can normally accompany you or join you later, provided they meet relationship and financial requirements and pay IHS. Their permission usually ends when yours ends.

Important: Under the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) framework, some sponsored roles may not allow dependants—particularly where a lower skill level is temporarily permitted. Always check your specific route and CoS conditions.

Schooling & healthcare: Children can access UK schooling; all family members should be covered by the IHS, and you should register with a GP after arrival.

11) Students & parents: switching from Student/Graduate to Skilled Worker in 2025

If you (or your child) has studied in the UK, the Skilled Worker route may be the logical next step:

  • Timing: Apply after you’ve secured an eligible job offer and CoS from a licensed sponsor.
  • Salary & skill: Ensure the role satisfies RQF 6 and the £41,700/going rate test (unless a specific exception applies, such as new entrant).
  • Family planning: If bringing dependants, check whether your sponsorship conditions permit dependants (TSL-linked roles may not).

Parent perspective: Encourage your graduate to start job searching early, prepare a skills-aligned CV, and focus on employers with active Sponsor Licences in relevant sectors (tech, engineering, finance, life sciences). Sponsors familiar with graduate hiring usually move faster on CoS issuance and compliance.

12) Sponsor Licence essentials for employers (and pitfalls to avoid)

Core duties

  • Keep accurate records (contracts, salaries, working hours, locations).
  • Report changes (job title, salary, location, start date, work pattern) within required timeframes.
  • Assign genuine vacancies on the correct SOC code at the right salary.
  • Conduct compliant Right-to-Work checks (and repeat them when needed).

Common pitfalls

  • Wrong SOC code or under-salary offers.
  • Hybrid/remote patterns not reflected in CoS or HR files.
  • Delayed reporting when circumstances change.
  • Allowances and bonuses incorrectly counted towards the salary test.

2025 planning

  • Map your roles against RQF 6 eligibility and going rates.
  • Adjust salary bands so offers don’t get refused at decision stage.
  • Audit sponsorship files now; don’t wait for a Home Office visit.
     

13) Evidence & documents: your application pack

  • Passport + previous visas/immigration history.
  • CoS number and sponsor details.
  • Proof of English (approved test, majority-English degree + UK ENIC, or nationality that deems you exempt).
  • TB test (if required).
  • Criminal record certificate (if the role requires it).
  • Maintenance funds (unless certified by sponsor).
  • Marriage/birth certificates for dependants.
  • Professional registration (where regulated—e.g., healthcare, teaching).
     

14) Refusals & how to avoid them

  • Salary shortfall: offering £41,700 when the going rate is higher, or mis-calculating pro-rata hours.
  • Wrong SOC code: mismatched job description and duties.
  • Insufficient English: wrong test provider/level or expired credentials.
  • Genuineness concerns: lack of credible documents, vague job descriptions, or roles that don’t match the sponsor’s business model.
  • Dependants on a restricted route: overlooking TSL limits.

Remedies: If refused, options may include administrative review where there’s a case-working error, or a fresh application fixing the issues. Seek legal advice quickly to protect timelines.

15) Skilled Worker visa UK extension 2025 vs. switching or settling

  • Extending: If you qualify under transitional rules (pre-22 July 2025 entrants) or you’re in an RQF 6 role that still qualifies, an extension may be viable—ensure salary meets today’s rules and your CoS is accurate.
  • Switching: If your role no longer qualifies, you might switch to a different eligible role (and SOC code) or explore other routes (e.g., Global Talent, Scale-up, Innovator Founder, Global Business Mobility).
  • Settling (ILR): After 5 years on qualifying routes, check absence limits, salary, English/B1 and Life in the UK test, and whether your dependants meet their own requirements.
     

16) Skilled Worker visa UK—2025 policy context (why everything changed)

The 2025 direction is to build a higher-skill, higher-wage immigration model with fewer low-skilled roles eligible for sponsorship, stronger compliance, and a tighter alignment between immigration and domestic skills policy. The headline impact for Skilled Worker applicants and sponsors is higher skill and salary thresholds, fewer eligible occupation codes, and a more pronounced emphasis on genuine vacancies and sponsorship integrity.

What it means for you

  • Applicants: plan early and target RQF 6 roles with salaries that clearly exceed both £41,700 and the going rate.
  • Employers: align job design and remuneration with the 2025 Skilled Worker rules, and consider the Temporary Shortage List only as a last resort—note that some of those roles do not permit dependants and are time-limited.
     

17) FAQs (quick answers)

Q: What is the Skilled Worker visa UK Minimum Salary 2025?
A: The higher of £41,700 or the going rate for your SOC code (exceptions apply).

Q: Can I extend in 2025 if my role used to be RQF 3–5?
A: Potentially—transitional provisions exist for those who held permission before 22 July 2025 and kept continuous permission. Check the current rules and seek advice.

Q: Where do I find the Skilled Worker visa UK job list 2025?
A: Refer to Appendix Skilled Occupations and the going rates table for eligible SOC codes.

Q: How much are the skilled worker visa uk fees 2025?
A: Fees vary (length, in/out of country, category) and are periodically updated—budget for IHS for each year and each family member.

Q: Can I bring my family? (skilled worker visa uk dependant visa 2025)
A: Usually yes for standard Skilled Workers—but some TSL-linked roles do not allow dependants. Check your CoS and route specifics.

18) Your action plan (applicant & parent edition)

  1. Map the role to an RQF 6 SOC and confirm the going rate.
  2. Benchmark salary at or above £41,700 and the going rate—whichever is higher.
  3. Prepare evidence early—English, funds (if not certified), TB/criminal record where needed.
  4. Coordinate timing—especially if moving from Student/Graduate to Skilled Worker.
  5. Budget for fees + IHS for you and any dependants; check priority options where time-critical.
  6. Use a licensed sponsor with clean compliance history.
  7. Get expert help for complex cases, switching, or Skilled Worker visa UK extension 2025 under transitional provisions.
     

19) How Worldwide Immigration Ltd helps you win

We combine specialist legal expertise with hands-on experience across tech, finance, life sciences and advanced manufacturing:

  • Route selection & eligibility for the Skilled Worker visa UK.
  • Sponsor Licence applications, HR compliance setups and audits.
  • CoS drafting, SOC coding, salary benchmarking against going rates.
  • Application preparation—error-free forms, document packs, and escalation/enquiry handling.
  • Extensions, switching & settlement—including transitional scenarios for 2025.
  • Family strategy—dependants, schooling, IHS budgeting and timelines.

Contact Worldwide Immigration Ltd
Arena Business Centre, Abbey House, 282 Farnborough Road, Farnborough, GU14 7NA
Call: 020 3488 2308 • WhatsApp: +44 7360 271841 • Email: inquiry@worldwideimmigration.co.uk
Web: worldwideimmigration.co.uk