November 7th, 2024 at 10:49 am

UK Skilled Worker Visa 2024: Tier 2 Visa Eligibility & Application Process

The UK Skilled Worker Visa is officially known as a Tier 2 general work visa. The most common type of visa, it permits foreign nationals to live and work in the United Kingdom. Over the past year, there has been a 59% increase in the number of substantial candidates who were granted a skilled worker visa, totaling about 69,423.

With this visa, you can work for an authorized company. A skilled worker visa can be obtained by a foreign employee with the help of an authorized employer.

As of the end, some 63,400 companies and organizations had signed up to be authorized sponsors for research and employment. You can stay in the UK for up to five years with this visa. You might be qualified to submit a petition for a five-year residency permit in the UK. The government of the United Kingdom has changed the rules about obtaining visas. Every relevant topic will be covered in this post.

Visa Details

• Country: UK
• Visa Type: Skilled Work Visa
• Stay Duration: 5 Years, renewable

Understanding the UK Points-based System

Candidates must earn 70 points—which are based on their credentials, English language skills, job offer, and pay—to be eligible for a skilled worker visa.

• Offer of employment from a recognized company: 20 points
• Work at a suitable level of expertise: 20 points
• Possesses the necessary proficiency in English: 10 Points
• £20,480 to £23,039 in salary: 0 points
• £23,040 to £25,599 in salary: 10 points
• 20 points for a salary of £25,600 or more
• 20 points for a job in a shortage occupation
• Education: A PhD in a field relevant to the position is worth 10 points.
• Education: 20 points for a doctorate in a STEM field relevant to the position.

Skilled Worker Visa Cost

If you are applying for the UK Skilled Worker Visa from outside the UK, the whole cost is as follows:

• £719 per person for up to three years
• Over three years: £1,423 per individual

Shortage of Occupation

The application cost will be waived if your position is classified as a short-term employment opportunity. This list shows what people want to do for a living.

• £479 for stays of up to three years.
• £943 if you plan to stay longer than three years.

Qualified Professions

Each eligible position in the following enumeration has a four-digit code. You will receive an offer letter with a four-digit identification number from the person who made the employment offer in the UK.

Ask the company about your work code if you have already been offered a position.
You can use this ONS tool to help you find work if you don’t know your code.

Approved UK Employers (Licensed Sponsors List)

Since they cover the cost of your transportation to and lodging in the United Kingdom, sponsors are people who have been given authorization to hire you. View the list of certified UK companies. There are now more companies on the list than there were in the last update.

How can you increase your chances?

It is advised that you look into the following to increase your chances of landing a job with a UK-approved company:

• First, look at the list of positions that are in short supply (above).
• Choosing a role that fits your area of expertise is a good idea.
• Next, find out if the job is on the list of occupations eligible for the UK Skilled Worker Visa.
• Now that you have these two things, you should look for an Approved Employer or business that provides jobs in the neighborhood.

Eligibility

• It is necessary to have a job offer from a UK-approved employer.
• Have your company provide you with a “certificate of sponsorship” detailing the job offer you received in the UK. A CoS can only be issued by licensed sponsors to people who want to work in one of the eligible professions.
• To be paid at least a certain amount.
• You must work for a UK-based company that has received Home Office approval.
• Admission requires a minimum of 70 points.

Benefits of UK Skilled Worker Visa

• Work in Britain: The main benefit is the ability to work legally for the sponsoring employer in the United Kingdom.
• Employer Endorsement: To obtain a visa, a UK employer with a current sponsor license must make a job offer.
• Extended Stay: Generally speaking, a skilled worker visa allows an extended stay in the UK for up to five years, or the length of time indicated in the job offer plus one month.
• Spouses, civil partners, and children under the age of eighteen may travel with the visa holder and are permitted to work or study as members of the family inclusion program.
• Getting in and out of the UK: In general, people with skilled worker visas are allowed to come and go from the UK throughout their visit.
• The Path to Settlement: A skilled worker visa holder may be eligible to apply for settlement (indefinite permission to remain) if they meet additional eligibility requirements and continue to reside in the UK for a predetermined period.
• Workplace Flexibility: Through the sponsorship system, skilled worker visa holders are allowed to change companies without having to reapply for a new visa.
• Getting Public Service Access: Visa holders have the same access to public services, like as healthcare, through the National Health Service (NHS), as do UK citizens.
• Get practical work experience in the UK: Voters can enhance their professional skills and career path by gaining practical work experience in the UK.
• Absent a quota restriction: The Skilled Worker Visa has no annual cap on the total number of visas that can be granted, unlike some previous visa categories.

How long can someone with a skilled work visa stay in the UK?

Your visa may be valid for a maximum of five years from the date of issuance.

How to Apply for the UK Skilled Work Visa?

You must use this link to submit an online application. This procedure takes three weeks if you are not in the United Kingdom.

More Info

Processing Time

Following the completion of an online application and the acquisition of your fingerprints, you need to do the following:

• If you’re not in the UK, three weeks
• If you’re in the UK, eight weeks

Conclusion

Foreign workers can use their skills and start a career in the UK with the UK Skilled Worker Visa. With its points-based system, expanded visa availability, and other advantages, this visa can help you launch a prosperous career.

This tutorial explains how to apply, what you need to qualify for, and how to improve your chances of getting a job offer and getting a skilled worker visa.