17 Oct How do you apply for an entry clearance as a skilled worker migrant?

A Skilled Worker visa allows you to enter or stay in the UK and be lawfully employed in an eligible job with an approved employer/sponsor.

Step 1: Make sure you meet the eligibility

According to the Appendix Skilled Worker, prospective skilled worker migrants need to meet 70 points by scoring under different categories such as skills and salary level, English language ability and having a qualifying job offer from a UK sponsor.

Mandatory points requirements:                            

1. Sponsorship (20 points)
2. Job at an appropriate skill level (20 points)
3. English language skills at level B1 (intermediate) (10 points)

Tradeable points requirements (20 points each):

1. The applicant’s salary must be equal or exceeds all of the following:

• £25,600 per year;
• £10.10 per hour; and
• the going rate for the occupation code

2. Educational qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job

• £23,040 per year;
• £10.10 per hour; and
• 90% of the going rate for the occupation code.

3. Educational qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job::

• £20,480 per year;
• £10.10 per hour; and
• 80% of the going rate for the occupation code.

4. Job in a shortage occupation:

• £20,480 per year;
• £10.10 per hour; and
• 80% of the going rate for the occupation code, for occupation codes where a going rate is specified.

5. Applicant is a new entrant to the labour market (on student visa or under the age of 26):

• £20,480 per year;
• £10.10 per hour; and
• 70% of the going rate for the occupation code.

6. Job in a listed health or education occupation:

• £20,480 per year; and
• the going rate for the occupation code.

For some job roles, non-criminal record is mandatory.

Step 2: Fill out the form online

Go to the UKVI website and fill out the online application form. The applicant needs to provide 

• Personal details (Passport, nationality, family)
• Immigration history
• Employment status (Job title, salary, name of the company)
• Meet the English language requirement
• Meet the maintenance funds requirement
• Your sponsorship certificate number, sponsor license number of your employer
• Claim yourself be a person of a good character.
• Reveal any convictions or civil penalties (where applicable)

Step 3: Submit the application form and provide supporting evidence

After the submission of the application form, you will need to book your appointment and upload  the mandatory documents to support your application:

• A current passport or any other travel document
• Expired passports or travel documents to show travel history
• Proof of their knowledge of English, where applicable
• Proof of their personal savings, where applicable
• Tuberculosis test results if they are from a listed country
• A criminal record certificate from any country they have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, where they will be working in either the education, health or social care sector in the UK

On the day of your appointment, you will need to provide your biometric information -photo and fingerprints collection.

Step 4: Visa approved — entry clearance vignette on your passport

After you are granted a Skilled Worker visa entry clearance, you will be able to travel to the UK.

Contact Our Immigration Team

For expert advice regarding any aspect of the UK visa application, please contact our immigration team on 0203 384 3075.