Do You Want to Work in England? Everything You Need to Know About the Skilled Worker Visa in 2024

You cannot apply for a Skilled Worker Visa before securing a suitable job offer. It’s essential to have a job offer from a Home Office-sponsored employer before applying for the visa. Finding a job can be challenging, but this guide will help you navigate the visa process effectively. How to get a skilled worker visa to England.

Understanding the visa process

Contents

1. What Types of UK Work Visas Are There?

2. Statistically, the Long-Term Worker Visa is Your Best Option

3. Meeting the Criteria for a Long-Term Worker Visa

4. Obtaining a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’

5. Tips for Applying for a UK Work Visa

6. How to Find Job Vacancies

1. What Types of England Work Visas Are There?

Like many countries, the UK has various work visas tailored for different jobs and professional circumstances. The work visas are divided into four main categories:

• Short-Term Work Visas

• Long-Term Work Visas

• Investor, Business Development, and Talent Visas

• Other Visas

  
  

Long-Term Work Visas

The main categories that fall within long-term work visas, previously known as Tier 2 Visas, are:

• Skilled Worker Visa

• Scale-Up Visa

• Global Business Mobility Visa

• Health and Care Worker Visa

• International Sportsperson Visa

2. The Long-Term Worker Visa

The vast majority of individuals wanting to work in the UK will find that long-term work visas are their only option. We will focus on the Skilled Worker Visa for the remainder of this guide.

3. Meeting the Criteria for a Long-Term Worker Visa

Finding a job in the UK as a foreign national can be challenging, but you can secure a great job if you meet the following criteria for a Long-Term Worker Visa:

• Your Job is Eligible: The job must fall under an eligible occupation.

• Approved Employer: You must work for a UK employer that's been approved by the Home Office.

• Salary Requirements: You must be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work you will be doing, which (with a few exceptions) must be £38,700.

• English Proficiency: You need to demonstrate your level of English.

This visa could also lead to an option for indefinite leave to remain, and you can apply for your family to join you in the UK.

It's crucial to ensure you have sufficient funds to support yourself—currently standing at £1,270—before you move. This amount must be held in your account for at least 31 days prior to your visa application. Additionally, you need to pay National Health Service charges, currently £1,035 per year, and application fees ranging from £719 to £1,639 depending on employment factors. See other Visa Categories with English Visa Life.

Learning English in the sunshine

4. Obtaining a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ for your Visa application. How to get a skilled worker visa to England

If you meet all the requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa, excellent news! Your employer will verify your eligibility and provide a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ to confirm this. This certificate is an electronic record, not a physical document, and it will include a reference number necessary for your visa application. You must apply for your visa within 3 months of receiving your certificate.

Visa approved

5. Tips for Applying for a UK Work Visa

Applying for a UK work visa can be complex, so here are some helpful tips to facilitate your application process:

·       Documentation: Ensure you have all required, up-to-date documents to support your application, including a valid passport and your Certificate of Sponsorship.

·       Details: Complete the UK work visa application fully. Missing information will delay processing.

·       Translation Costs: Documents in your native language may need to be translated into English. Factor this into your budget.

·       Time Management: The overall application process—comprising document preparation, employer communication, and visa processing—can take at least three months. Plan appropriately when discussing start dates with your employer.

6. How to Find Skilled Worker Job Vacancies

To secure a Skilled Worker Visa, you need to find a job offer from a UK employer. Here are some effective strategies:

• Utilize job boards and recruitment agencies that specialize in placing international candidates in UK roles.

• Network with professionals in your field through LinkedIn or industry events to increase your chances of finding opportunities.

• If you are searching online insert the phrase "Visa Sponsorship". As well as roles carrying Visa Sponsorship, you will also be shown adverts that state "No Visa Sponsorship".

Conclusion

It is vital to understand that you cannot apply for a Skilled Worker Visa without first being offered a job and having a Certificate of Sponsorship number. Ensure that the role you are being offered is genuine.

Read our blog on “Are You Being Offered a Genuine Skilled Worker Role, or Is It a Scam?”

At English Visa Life, we are not a recruitment agency and cannot find you a job in the UK. However, we can guide you through any questions you have about the necessary visa. Reach out to us for a 30-minute consultation call.

Consultation Call

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The information in this blog is for general information purposes only, and should not be taken as legal advice. Detailed and comprehensive research is completed but once published any commentary, quotes, societal direction and legal references may not be remain current and accurate. Subsequently, English Visa Life cannot accept responsibility for loss which may arise from information contained in this blog. For assistance in translating and certifying necessary documents, in addition to accurately reflecting your responses in English and cataloguing supporting documents please don’t hesitate to contact UK Turkey Life to assist in your application. English Visa Life is operating under a registered sole trader license, Izmir, Turkey.