Work migration to the United Kingdom has grown sharply in recent years. An advanced economy, a broad labour market and a real shortage of qualified staff have made the UK one of the most sought-after destinations for skilled workers. Since the end of free movement, the immigration system has been rebuilt around attracting skilled people from outside the European Union.
If the UK is on your shortlist, this guide sets out the main UK work visa categories, how the application works and the other points every applicant needs to understand about immigration to the UK.
The main types of UK work visa
Work migration to the UK runs through several distinct visa categories. They fall into three broad groups.
1. Sponsored work visas
These routes are for people who already hold a formal job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence. The most important ones are:
- Skilled Worker visa: for people who have received a job offer in an eligible skilled occupation from a licensed UK employer.
- Health and Care Worker visa: for health professionals such as doctors, nurses and care workers with a job offer from the NHS or an organisation contracted to it.
- Scale-up Worker visa: for people with an offer from a fast-growing UK scale-up company. After the first six months of sponsored employment, the holder has far more freedom to change jobs.
- Minister of Religion visa: for people taking up a religious role within a UK faith community.
- International Sportsperson visa: for elite athletes and qualified coaches endorsed by the relevant UK sports governing body.
2. Work visas that need no sponsor
In this group the applicant does not need a job offer at all. The routes are aimed at highly talented people, recent graduates and nationals of particular countries. The main ones are:
- Graduate visa: for international students who have just completed a degree in the UK on a UK student visa and want to stay and work for 2 years if they apply on or before 31 December 2026, or 18 months if they apply on or after 1 January 2027 (3 years after a PhD).
- High Potential Individual visa: for graduates of a defined list of leading global universities, who can enter the UK labour market without a job offer.
- Global Talent visa: for people recognised as leaders or emerging leaders in science, research, the arts or digital technology.
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa: for young people aged 18 to 30 (up to 35 for some countries) from participating countries, who can live and work in the UK for up to two years.
- UK Ancestry visa: for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, giving the right to live and work in the country.
3. Temporary work visas
These visas cover short stays in specific sectors or under specific schemes. The main examples are:
- Seasonal Worker visa: for work in horticulture or poultry production, for up to 6 months.
- Charity Worker visa: for unpaid voluntary work with a registered UK charity, for up to 12 months.
- Creative Worker visa: for people working in the arts and media such as actors, musicians and film crew, for up to 12 months and extendable.
- Religious Worker visa: for people taking part in religious work such as preaching or work within a religious order, for up to two years.
- Government Authorised Exchange visa: for people coming to the UK through an approved scheme for research, cultural or training exchange.
- International Agreement visa: for employees of overseas governments or international organisations posted to the UK under international law.
For the detailed conditions of each route, the documents required and how to apply, see the official UK government website.
Why skilled workers choose the UK
Moving to the UK for work brings several concrete advantages for foreign staff. The most important are set out below.
- Salaries paid in pounds sterling
GBP is one of the world’s strongest currencies, so earnings in the UK usually compare well with the same role in the applicant’s home country. - Family can come with you
Skilled Worker visa holders can bring a partner and dependent children to the UK as dependants. - Access to the NHS
By paying the annual Immigration Health Surcharge, visa holders and their families can use the UK’s public health service. - A route towards settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR)
After a qualifying period of lawful residence and work, Skilled Worker visa holders can apply for settlement. The qualifying period is set out in the Immigration Rules and has been under review, so check the current position before you plan around it. - Real demand in shortage occupations
The UK currently has staff shortages in health and social care, IT, engineering and education. - A high standard of living
Strong public services, cultural diversity, respected universities and a professional working culture make the UK an attractive place to settle.
Read more: the cost of moving to the UK
The points system behind the UK work visa
The UK runs a points-based immigration system that governs how non-citizens (including EU nationals, other than Irish citizens) come to work, study or do business. A Skilled Worker applicant must score at least 70 points to qualify.
Mandatory points (non-tradeable) – 50 points
| Mandatory criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Job offer from a licensed sponsor | 20 |
| Job at an appropriate skill level | 20 |
| English language ability (at least level B2; B1 only for people who held the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending it) | 10 |
| Total | 50 |
Tradeable points – 20 points
| Tradeable criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Annual salary (healthcare and education roles are paid on national pay scales): | |
| Below GBP 33,400 | 0 |
| GBP 33,400-41,699 (discounted rate, defined cases only) | 10 |
| GBP 41,700 or more, or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher | 20 |
| Job on the immigration salary list or the temporary shortage list | 20 |
| PhD in a relevant subject | 10 |
| PhD in a STEM subject | 20 |
UK work visa requirements
To be granted a Skilled Worker visa, an applicant has to meet a defined set of conditions. They are as follows:
- A job offer from an approved employer holding a Home Office sponsor licence
- A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by that employer
- An eligible occupation at RQF level 6, that is graduate skill level
- A salary that meets the general threshold or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher
- English at CEFR level B2, evidenced through an approved secure English language test
- Evidence of enough money to support yourself on arrival
- A police certificate where required and, for applicants from listed countries, a clear tuberculosis test result
How to apply for a UK work visa, step by step
Getting a UK work visa means working through a defined sequence. Each stage is explained below.
Step one: secure a job offer from an approved employer
The starting point is a job offer from a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence from the Home Office.
Step two: receive your Certificate of Sponsorship
Once the offer is in place, the employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship, which records the job, the salary and the terms of employment.
Step three: check the requirements and gather documents
Confirm that you meet every condition, including:
- English language evidence: at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening, through an approved test such as IELTS for UKVI. B1 applies only to extensions or updates applied for before 8 January 2026.
- Maintenance funds for the UK work visa: proof that you can support yourself in the UK, unless your sponsor certifies that it will cover your initial costs.
- Identity documents: a valid passport and any other identity evidence.
- Police certificate: where required, plus a clear tuberculosis test result for applicants from listed countries.
Step four: submit the online application
On the official UK government website, complete the Skilled Worker visa application form and upload the supporting documents.
Step five: pay the cost of a UK work visa
- The application costs cover the following:
- Visa fee: varies with the length of the visa and the applicant’s circumstances.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): paid for access to NHS care in the UK.
- Additional costs: for example the biometric enrolment appointment.
From Aval Visa: read our full guide to the UK tourist visa.
Step six: book your biometric appointment
After submitting the application, book an appointment at a visa application centre (VFS Global) to give your fingerprints and photograph.
Step seven: wait for the decision
Standard processing times are usually:
- Applications made outside the UK: around 3 weeks.
- Applications made inside the UK: around 8 weeks.
Step eight: travel to the UK and start work
Once the visa is granted you can travel to the UK and start work on the terms attached to your visa.
In-demand jobs in the UK labour market
The table below lists occupations in high demand in the UK, with typical salaries and the qualifications or skills employers look for.
| Job title | Annual salary range (GBP) | Qualifications / skills required |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor | GBP 40,000 – 100,000+ | Medical degree, specialty training, clinical experience |
| Nurse | GBP 24,000 – 40,000 | Nursing degree, clinical training, CPR certification |
| Paramedic / emergency medical technician | GBP 24,000 – 34,000 | Paramedic qualification, emergency care training |
| Data scientist | GBP 30,000 – 80,000 | Statistics, programming languages, data analysis |
| Cyber security specialist | GBP 30,000 – 80,000 | Network security, threat analysis, ethical hacking |
| Software developer | GBP 40,000 – 100,000+ | Programming languages, systems development |
| AI and ML engineer | Varies by employer, region and seniority | AI algorithms, machine learning frameworks |
| Cloud architect | GBP 60,000 – 120,000 | Cloud certifications, infrastructure design |
| Project estimator | Varies by employer, region and seniority | Project management, cost estimation skills |
| Commercial manager | Varies by employer, region and seniority | Commercial strategy, leadership, financial literacy |
| Senior UI designer | Varies by employer, region and seniority | User interface design, UX principles, prototyping |
| Teacher | Varies by employer, region and seniority | Teaching qualification, subject expertise |
| Property lawyer | Varies by employer, region and seniority | Law degree, knowledge of property law |
| Hotel general manager | Varies by employer, region and seniority | Hospitality management, leadership skills |
| Defence industry engineer | Competitive | Engineering degree, defence sector experience |
What a UK work visa costs
The cost of a Skilled Worker visa is made up of several separate charges.
- Visa application fee: GBP 628 to GBP 1,865
Applying from outside the UK the fee is GBP 819 for up to 3 years and GBP 1,618 for more than 3 years; from inside the UK it is GBP 943 and GBP 1,865. Roles on the immigration salary list are charged GBP 628 and GBP 1,235. - Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): GBP 525
Paid by the employer and issued separately for each worker. - Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): GBP 1,035 per year
Paid annually for access to the National Health Service in the UK. - English language test: GBP 140 to GBP 210
Depends on the test (IELTS, PTE and others) and on extras such as sending results or a retake. - Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): GBP 3,226
Paid at the end of the qualifying residence period when you apply for settlement, for the main applicant and for each dependant.
How long a UK work visa lasts
A UK work visa is normally granted for a maximum of 5 years at a time. The exact length depends on the employment contract and on the dates recorded in the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Extending a UK work visa
To extend a Skilled Worker visa, an applicant generally needs:
- Continuous employment
- The same occupation code as before
- A new Certificate of Sponsorship
- A salary that still meets the threshold for the occupation
- The required level of English
- Lawful residence in the UK
Does a UK work visa lead to permanent residence?
A Skilled Worker visa can lead to settlement, which the UK calls Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Historically the standard qualifying period has been 5 years of continuous lawful residence and sponsored work.
The government’s 2025 immigration white paper set out plans to move to an “earned settlement” model with a longer standard qualifying period of around 10 years, with reductions for people who make a stronger contribution. Those plans are subject to consultation and to changes in the Immigration Rules, so the period that applies to you depends on the rules in force when you apply.
If you are planning a long stay in the UK, build your plan around the rules as they stand on the day you apply. Check the current position through official UK government sources.
Start your UK career with Aval Visa
Moving to the UK for work is a serious opportunity, and it is easier with people who handle these applications every day. Our team at Aval Visa works with applicants from the first assessment through document preparation and the visa application, and stays with them after arrival in the UK.
If you are looking for stable work, a good income and a high standard of living, talk to our advisers about whether a UK work route fits your profile. We can assess your qualifications, your occupation code and your salary against the current requirements before you commit time or money to an application.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a decision take?
Applications made from outside the UK are usually decided within about 3 weeks. - Can I take a second job at the same time?
Yes. Skilled Worker visa holders can normally do up to 20 hours a week of supplementary work in an eligible occupation, alongside the sponsored job. - Can my family come with me?
Yes. A partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants, and dependants are generally allowed to work and study.
