UK SKILLED WORKER VISA
The UK Skilled Worker visa was introduced to bring in highly skilled overseas workers into the UK labor market and subsequently take up permanent residence in the UK.
With this visa, skilled workers from other countries can be selected based on the shortage occupation list and they will be eligible to get an offer letter without the labor market test and stay in the UK for up to 5 years.
BENEFITS OF THE VISA:
- Visa holders can bring dependents on the visa
- Spouse is allowed to work on the visa
- No cap on the number of people who can move to the UK on the visa
- Minimum salary requirement has been reduced to £25600 from threshold of £30000
- Fast Track Visas will be provided for healthcare professionals like doctors and nurses
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT:
- You must have a score of 70 points to qualify in the defined parameters like specific skills, qualifications, salaries and professions.
- You need to have a Minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 2 years of skilled work experience from the eligible occupations list
- You must have a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor
- The job offer must be at the required skill level – RQF 3 or above (A Level and equivalent)
- You must meet the English Language requirement at B1 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- You should also meet the general salary threshold of £25,600 or the specific salary requirement for the occupation or the ‘going rate’.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
The following documents will be required at the time of applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa:
- The applicant’s Certificate of Sponsorship [CoS] reference number
- Proof of knowledge of the English language
- A valid passport [or other documents that establishes the applicant’s nationality and identity]
- Job title
- Annual salary
- Occupation code of the job
- Name of the employer
- The sponsor licence number of the employer
JOBS ON THE UK SHORTAGE OCCUPATION LIST [SOL]
If a candidate has their job on the SOL, they can be paid 80% of the “going rate” for their job in order to qualify for the UK Skilled Worker visa.
Occupation code | Job types included |
2111 | Chemical scientists [only jobs in the nuclear industry] |
2112 | Biological scientists and biochemists – all jobs |
2113 | Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the construction-related ground engineering industry:
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2113 | Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the oil and gas industry:
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2114 | Social and humanities scientists [only archaeologists] |
2121 | Civil engineers – all jobs |
2122 | Mechanical engineers – all jobs |
2123 | Electrical engineers – all jobs |
2124 | Electronics engineers – all jobs |
2126 | Design and development engineers – all jobs |
2127 | Production and process engineers – all jobs |
2129 | Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs |
2135 | IT business analysts, architects and systems designers – all jobs |
2136 | Programmers and software development professionals – all jobs |
2137 | Web design and development professionals – all jobs |
2139 | Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified [only cyber security specialists] |
2216 | Veterinarians – all jobs |
2425 | Actuaries, economists and statisticians [only bio-informaticians and informaticians] |
2431 | Architects – all jobs |
2461 | Quality control and planning engineers – all jobs |
3411 | Artists – all jobs |
3414 | Dancers and choreographers [conditions apply] |
3415 | Musicians [conditions apply] |
3416 | Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs |
3421 | Graphic designers – all jobs |
5215 | Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders |
5434 | Chefs [only skilled chefs, conditions apply] |
Healthcare and education occupations have a different shortage occupation list –
Occupation code | Job types included |
2211 | Medical practitioners – all jobs |
2212 | Psychologists – all jobs |
2217 | Medical radiographers – all jobs |
2222 | Occupational therapists – all jobs |
2223 | Speech and language therapists – all jobs |
2231 | Nurses – all jobs |
2314 | Secondary education teaching professionals [only teachers in maths, physics, science (where an element of physics will be taught), computer science and Mandarin] |
2315 | Primary and nursery education teaching professionals – only Gaelic medium teachers |
2442 | Social workers – all jobs |
3213 | Paramedics – all jobs |
VISA FEE DETAILS
- Application Fees for stay up to 3 years – 610 pounds
- Application Fees for stay more than 3 years stay-1,220 pounds
- Application Fees if your job is in Shortage Occupation List for stay up to 3 years) – 464 pounds
- Application Fees (f job in Shortage Occupation List and you wish to stay for more than three years 928 pounds
- UK NARIC Fees 49.50 pounds
Apart from the application fees you will have to pay a health surcharge of 624 pounds when you apply which will be refunded in case your application is rejected.