A skilled worker visa is a type of work visa given by the Home Office UKVI to a skilled worker from another country. This worker is sponsored by a UK employer who has a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. The purpose is for the skilled worker to come to or stay in the UK and do a specific skilled job for the sponsoring employer.
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, the prospective employer must have a Skilled Worker sponsor licence and assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to the skilled worker. If the employer doesn’t have a sponsor licence, our team of Immigration experts can assist in obtaining one quickly.
The Skilled Worker route allows employers to hire people for specific skilled jobs in the UK. A Skilled Worker needs a job offer in an eligible skilled occupation from a Home Office-approved sponsor.
This visa operates on a Point Based System (PBS), where points are awarded for the CoS, job skill level, English language proficiency, appropriate salary, PhD level qualifications, job in a shortage occupation, and being a new entrant. A total of 70 points are needed to apply, with 50 from mandatory non-tradable points and the remaining 20 from tradable points.
The Skilled Worker visa can lead to settlement, and after spending 5 years in the UK on this visa, a person can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a Skilled Worker. Dependent partners and children can also apply to stay in the UK with the Skilled Worker.
. You can choose to submit your application to UKVI using either the Priority Service or Super Priority Service for a quicker decision on your application.
2. Health and Care Worker Visa
A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK and work in eligible roles with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care. To apply for this visa, you need to follow the rules set out in Appendix Skilled Workers. Here are the key requirements:
You should be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care professional.
Your job should be in an eligible health or social care role.
You must work for a UK employer approved by the Home Office.
Your employer should provide a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ detailing your role in the UK.
You need to be paid a minimum salary, which depends on the type of work you do.
The Health and Care Worker visa operates on a Point-Based System (PBS), and points are awarded based on various factors, including the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), job skill level, English language proficiency, salary, PhD level qualifications, job in a shortage occupation, and being a new entrant. You need a total of 70 points to be eligible: 50 from mandatory non-tradable points and the remaining 20 from tradable points.
This visa can lead to settlement, and after spending 5 years in the UK on a Health and Care Worker visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a Health and Care Worker. Your dependent partner and children can also apply to stay in the UK with you on this route.
. You can choose to submit your application to UKVI using either the Priority Service or Super Priority Service for a quicker decision on your application.
3. Innovator Founder Visa
If you want to start and manage a unique business in the UK, you can apply for an Innovator Founder visa. Your business idea should be something distinct and not already available in the market. To qualify, your business or idea must be endorsed by an approved body, known as an endorsing body. Once your business or idea gets the endorsement from a UKVI-approved endorsing body, you can then apply for the Innovator Founder visa, if you meet the eligibility requirements. This visa was previously known as the Innovator visa and has been renamed as the Innovator Founder visa.
. You can choose to submit your application to UKVI using either the Priority Service or Super Priority Service for a quicker decision on your application.
4. T2 Minister of Religion Visa
The T2 Minister of Religion visa is for someone who plays a significant leadership role in a faith-based organization or a religious order in the UK. If you’ve been offered a job within a faith community, like being a minister of religion, missionary, or a member of a religious order, you can apply for the T2 Minister of Religion visa in the UK. To apply, you need to follow the requirements outlined in Appendix T2 Minister of Religion to the Immigration Rules. You can choose to submit your application to UKVI using either the Priority Service or Super Priority Service for a quicker decision on your application.
5. UK Ancestry Visa
The UK Ancestry visa is for people from Commonwealth countries aged 17 or older who want to live and work in the UK. To be eligible, you need to have a grandparent who was born in the UK or Islands. Your spouse or partner, as well as your children, can also apply to stay in the UK with you under this visa. When applying for a UK Ancestry visa, you must follow the requirements outlined in the Immigration Rules Appendix UK Ancestry. It’s important to note that you can’t switch to the UK Ancestry visa from within the UK, and your initial application should be made from outside the UK. The UK Ancestry visa is a path to settlement, and you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain 28 days before completing 5 years under this visa in the UK.
