UK Skilled Worker

Sterling Shore Solicitors provides specialist legal advice and representation to individuals applying for a Skilled Worker visa and to UK employers seeking to sponsor overseas workers. Our experienced immigration lawyers, solicitors and barristers will carefully assess your circumstances, employment and eligibility before advising you on the requirements that apply to your application.

The Skilled Worker route has specific requirements concerning sponsorship, the role, salary, English language and other eligibility criteria. It is therefore important to ensure that both the employer and the applicant satisfy the relevant requirements before an application is submitted.

Expert legal representation for Skilled Worker visa applications

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you will generally need to:

• have a job offer from a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence
• receive a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer
• be sponsored to work in an eligible occupation
• meet the relevant salary requirements
• demonstrate the required level of English
• satisfy the other requirements of the Immigration Rules

The requirements can vary depending on the role, your circumstances and whether you are applying from outside the UK or switching into the route from within the UK.

Our solicitors can assess your circumstances and advise you on whether you are likely to meet the requirements before your application is submitted.

Skilled Worker salary requirements

Salary is an important part of a Skilled Worker application.

In many cases, the role must meet the general salary threshold of £41,700 per year or the relevant going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.

There are also specific provisions for new entrants. Where the relevant requirements are met, a new entrant may be sponsored on a salary of at least £33,400 per year and 70% of the going rate for the occupation.

The applicable salary requirement will depend on the occupation code, the circumstances of the role and whether any specific salary provisions apply.

Our immigration specialists can review the proposed role and salary and advise you and your employer on whether the requirements are likely to be met.

Eligible occupations and sponsorship

The job you are being sponsored to do must be an eligible occupation under the Skilled Worker route.

Your employer must assign a Certificate of Sponsorship that correctly identifies the role and provides the information required by the Home Office. The occupation code selected by the sponsor should accurately reflect the duties of the role.

The Home Office uses the Standard Occupational Classification 2020 system to identify eligible occupations and the relevant going rates.

Our solicitors can review the proposed role and Certificate of Sponsorship and identify any potential issues before the visa application is submitted.

English language requirement

Applicants for a Skilled Worker visa must meet the relevant English language requirement unless an exemption applies.

For most first-time Skilled Worker applications made on or after 8 January 2026, applicants must demonstrate English language ability at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, unless they qualify for an exemption or can rely on a previously accepted English language qualification in accordance with the Immigration Rules.

Our immigration solicitors can advise you on the evidence required to demonstrate that you meet the English language requirement.

Switching into the Skilled Worker route

Depending on your current immigration status, you may be able to switch into the Skilled Worker route from within the UK.

Whether you can switch will depend on the visa you currently hold and whether you meet the requirements of the Skilled Worker route.

Our solicitors can review your existing immigration permission and advise you on whether an in-country application may be possible.

Changing employer or role

If you already hold a Skilled Worker visa and wish to change employer, you will generally need to make a new Skilled Worker application before starting work with the new sponsor.

A change of role with the same employer may also require a new application where the new role falls within a different occupation code.

It is important to understand the immigration consequences before changing employment, as starting work in breach of your visa conditions can have serious consequences.

Our immigration specialists can advise both employees and employers on the requirements that apply when changing employment or occupation.

Skilled Worker dependants

Eligible Skilled Worker visa holders may be able to bring their partner and dependent children to the UK.

Each dependant must satisfy the relevant requirements and make the appropriate application.

Our solicitors can advise you on the dependant requirements and assist with preparing applications for your family members.

Skilled Worker visa extensions

A Skilled Worker visa can be granted for the period of sponsorship stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship, up to a maximum of five years.

If you wish to continue working in the UK beyond the expiry of your current visa, you may need to apply for an extension before your existing permission expires.

Our immigration solicitors can review your circumstances and advise you on the requirements for extending your Skilled Worker visa.

Skilled Worker visa and indefinite leave to remain

The Skilled Worker route can provide a pathway to indefinite leave to remain for eligible applicants.

Applicants generally need to complete five years of continuous residence in the UK under a qualifying route and satisfy the relevant requirements, including those concerning salary, sponsorship, absences from the UK and knowledge of life in the UK.

Our solicitors can advise you on your route to settlement and assess your eligibility when you are approaching the qualifying period.

Employers without a sponsor licence

If your prospective employer does not currently hold a sponsor licence, it will need to obtain one before it can sponsor you under the Skilled Worker route.

Sterling Shore Solicitors also advises UK businesses on sponsor licence applications and ongoing sponsor duties.

We can assist employers with obtaining a sponsor licence and advise on the requirements for sponsoring overseas workers.

Skilled Worker visa refusals

If your Skilled Worker visa application has been refused, our immigration solicitors can carefully review the Home Office decision and advise you on the options available.

We will examine the reasons for refusal, your application, the Certificate of Sponsorship and the supporting evidence to determine why the application was refused and whether the decision has been made correctly.

Depending on the circumstances, it may be appropriate to make a fresh application or consider whether there are other legal options available.

Complex Skilled Worker applications

Skilled Worker applications can become more complicated where there are issues concerning salary, the occupation code, sponsorship, previous immigration history, switching routes or dependant applications.

Our solicitors, lawyers and barristers have extensive experience dealing with UK immigration matters and can provide strategic legal representation tailored to the circumstances of your case.

We will assess your employment, sponsorship arrangements and personal circumstances and advise you on the strongest way to present your application.

We understand that securing the right to work in the UK can be important for both you and your employer. Our role is to make the immigration process as straightforward as possible and ensure that your application is properly prepared and supported.

Our fees are agreed with you from the outset, giving you clarity over the cost of your legal representation. We also offer a free, no-obligation initial assessment so that you can discuss your circumstances with our immigration specialists and understand your options before deciding how to proceed.

Speak to one of our UK Immigration Specialists today.

Call us on 0203 150 2122 for your free initial assessment or complete our contact form and a member of our team will be in touch.