UK Work Visa Guide: Skilled Worker, eVisas and Other Routes

UK Work Visa Guide

Obtaining the right type of work visa is a critical part of being able to work in the UK. Depending on your career, skills and nationality, you may be eligible for one of several work routes.

In this guide we summarise the main UK work visas and how the system works today. Most routes focus on skilled employees, people with a sponsored job offer and specific schemes for young people, graduates and talented individuals. Importantly, there is no general work visa for casual or low-skilled jobs.

Key Points at a Glance:

• Do you need a visa to work in the United Kingdom?
• How the points-based system works
• Types of UK work visas
• eVisas: how you prove your status
• Tips for applying for a UK work visa
• UK work visa FAQs

Do You Need a Visa To Work In The United Kingdom?

British and Irish citizens do not need a visa to work in the UK. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and obtained settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme can also work. Almost everyone else, including EU citizens arriving after free movement ended, needs a visa or other immigration permission that allows them to work.

You can use the official GOV.UK visa checker to see whether you need a visa for your nationality and purpose of travel.

How the Points-Based System Works

If you read older guides you may see references to "Tier 1", "Tier 2" or "Tier 5" visas. That tier system was replaced by the current points-based immigration system, which applies in the same way to EU and non-EU nationals. Most former tiers now have new names: for example, Tier 2 (General) became the Skilled Worker visa and the Tier 5 temporary routes are now called Temporary Work visas.

For the main sponsored route, the Skilled Worker visa, you need 70 points. Some points are mandatory (a job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor, a job at the required skill level and English language ability), and the rest come mainly from salary.

UK Work Visa Types

Skilled and Sponsored Work Visas

• Skilled Worker visa. For people with a job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence. Your job must be on the list of eligible occupations and you must usually be paid at least the general salary threshold (£41,700 a year at the time of writing) or the "going rate" for the job, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds apply in some cases, for example some healthcare and education roles.
• Health and Care Worker visa. A version of the Skilled Worker route for eligible doctors, nurses, health professionals and adult social care staff, with lower fees and no immigration health surcharge.
• Global Business Mobility visas. These replaced the old Intra-company Transfer visa. They include the Senior or Specialist Worker visa for employees transferred to a UK branch of their overseas employer.
• Minister of Religion visa. For people offered a job within a faith community in the UK.

Short-Term (Temporary) Work Visas

The Temporary Work routes cover shorter stays for specific purposes, including:

• Creative Worker visa for people working in the creative industries.
• Charity Worker visa for unpaid voluntary work for a charity.
• Religious Worker visa for short-term religious work.
• Government Authorised Exchange visa for work experience, training, research or fellowships under an approved scheme.
• International Agreement visa for work covered by international law, for example for a foreign government.
• Seasonal Worker visa for horticultural or poultry work for a limited period. Read our guide to seasonal work in the UK before you apply.
• Youth Mobility Scheme visa for young people from participating countries and territories. Age limits and places depend on your nationality.

Graduate, Talent and Business Visas

• Graduate visa. Lets international students who have completed an eligible UK degree stay and work for a set period after their course.
• High Potential Individual visa. For recent graduates of eligible top-ranked universities outside the UK.
• Global Talent visa. For recognised leaders or emerging leaders in fields such as academia, research, arts, culture and digital technology.
• Innovator Founder visa. For people who want to set up an innovative business in the UK, endorsed by an approved body. It replaced the old Start-up and Innovator visas.
• Scale-up visa. For people with a job offer from a fast-growing UK business.

Some older routes you may still see mentioned online, such as the Tier 1 Investor and Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visas, are closed to new applicants.

Other Routes That Allow You to Work

• UK Ancestry visa. For Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK.
• British National (Overseas) visa. For BN(O) status holders from Hong Kong and their family members.
• Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa. For domestic workers accompanying their employer on a visit to the UK.
• Frontier Worker permit. For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who live elsewhere but were already working in the UK before the end of 2020.

Family visas (for example as the partner of a British citizen) usually also allow you to work. Check the conditions of your own visa on GOV.UK.

eVisas: How You Prove Your Status

The UK has moved to digital immigration status. Instead of a physical biometric residence permit (BRP), most visa holders now have an eVisa linked to a UKVI account. To prove your right to work, you generate a share code online and give it to your employer together with your date of birth. Keep your UKVI account up to date whenever you renew your passport. Our guide to right to work checks and share codes explains the process step by step.

Tips For Applying for A UK Work Visa

Applying for a UK work visa can be hard, so here are some pointers to help you get started:

1. Make sure you have all the necessary, up-to-date documents to support your application, including a valid passport and your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK employer.
2. Fill in the application completely. Missing information will delay the decision.
3. Budget for all the costs: the application fee, the immigration health surcharge (for most routes), proof of savings and any translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh.
4. Plan your start date with your employer. You can apply up to 3 months before your job starts, and the decision can take several weeks.
5. Only use official GOV.UK pages to apply. Be wary of agents or "recruiters" who ask you to pay for a job offer or a sponsorship certificate.

UK Visa FAQs

UK Work Visa Requirements

Each visa has its own eligibility criteria, which you must review before applying. GOV.UK gives a full overview for each route. For a Skilled Worker visa, you usually need to:

• Have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office as a sponsor.
• Have a certificate of sponsorship from that employer describing the role.
• Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations.
• Be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work you will be doing.
• Prove your knowledge of English (for new applicants, at least level B2 on the CEFR scale, unless you are exempt).

What Are the Required Documents?

As part of your application you will usually need to provide:

• A valid passport or other document proving your identity and nationality
• Your certificate of sponsorship reference number
• Proof of your English language ability (unless exempt)
• Your job title, occupation code and annual salary
• Your employer's name and sponsor licence number
• Proof of personal savings, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance

How To Apply for The UK Skilled Worker Visa

The main steps are:

1. Get an eligible job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence.
2. Check that you meet the eligibility requirements.
3. Gather your supporting documents (and translations if necessary).
4. Apply online on GOV.UK, from outside the UK or, if you are switching or extending, from inside the UK.
5. Prove your identity, either by using the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app or by giving your fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre.
6. Wait for a decision. If you apply from outside the UK you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks; if you apply from inside the UK, it usually takes up to 8 weeks.

If the documents and information you give are insufficient, the process may take longer. You may also be asked to verify documents or attend an interview.

What Are the Financial Requirements for A Skilled Worker Visa?

• You must show the Home Office that you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK.
• Unless you are exempt, you will usually need at least £1,270 in personal savings, held for at least 28 days in a row before you apply.
• You do not need to show savings if you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your A-rated sponsor certifies on your certificate of sponsorship that it will cover your costs up to that amount during your first month.

Is It Hard to Get A UK Work Visa?

Some UK work visas are more difficult to obtain than others, and each route has its own conditions. In most cases you will need a job offer from a licensed sponsor that meets the skill, salary and English language requirements. These requirements have been tightened several times in recent years, so always check the current rules before you plan a move.

Key Takeaways for A UK Work Visa

Obtaining a visa might be the first step toward a completely new life or a significant advancement in your career. Immigration rules, fees and salary thresholds change regularly, so always check GOV.UK for the latest guidance and eligibility requirements. If you're ready, here is the link you will need to apply for your UK work visa.

*Please note: this guide is intended for general information only and does not replace official guidance or legal advice.

For more detailed information about your rights to working in the UK, please visit UK Visas and Immigration on GOV.UK.