Work Visa to UK, Cost, Requirements, How to Apply

London is a city where all forms of international trade happen seamlessly since the advent of recent civilization, this position has made the UK a much sought-after country for visitors, and international traders. With this arrangement, the UK has become a place where foreigners visit and reside and earn their living. A skilled Worker visa allows non-Uk indigent to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.

Eligibility

You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for the visa.
You must work for a UK employer that the Home Office has approved.
You must have a certificate of sponsorship given by your employer.
You must have a job listed in the eligible occupations.
You must receive the minimum salary for the job you will do.
Your English level must be at least B1

How long you– can stay

Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employers.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After five (5) years, the applicant may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

How to Apply

To meet the eligibility criteria above applicant will have to do the application online

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

outside the UK and are coming to the UK
inside the UK and wishes to extend their current Visa
inside the UK and wishes to switch from a different visa

Also, applicant inside the UK who wishes to change their present job or employer could apply for visa update.

Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

How Much It Costs

When you apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:

pay the application fee – the standard fee ranges from £719 to £1,639 depending on your circumstances
pay the healthcare surcharge – this is usually £1,035 per year
support yourself when you arrive in the UK – you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

You’ll pay a lower application fee if your job is on the immigration salary list.

You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply.

For example, you’re applying to come to the UK from Argentina for 2 years on a Skilled Worker visa.

Your job is not on the immigration salary list so your visa will cost £719, plus £1,035 for each year of your stay for the healthcare surcharge. This means you’ll pay a total of £2,789 when you apply for your visa.

You’ll also need to prove you have £1,270 available to support yourself in the UK if your employer cannot cover these costs.

Application fees

If you’re applying from outside the UK, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:

up to 3 years – £719 per person
more than 3 years – £1,420 per person

If you’re applying from inside the UK to extend, switch or update your visa, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:

up to 3 years – £827 per person
more than 3 years – £1,636 per person

If your job is on the immigration salary list

You and your family will pay a lower application fee if your job is on the immigration salary list

The fee for each person applying is:

£551 if you’re staying for up to 3 years
£1,084 if you’re staying for more than 3 years

The fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay – this is usually £1,035.

Funds to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show evidence of the said amount when applying unless either:

you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to

complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

If you work in the public healthcare Sector

If you’re a doctor or nurse, or you work in health or adult social care, check if you’re eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. It’s cheaper to apply for and you do not need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.

What you can and cannot do

With a Skilled Worker visa, you can:

work in an eligible job
study
bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
take on additional work in certain circumstances
do voluntary work
travel abroad and return to the UK
apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

You cannot: