UK Skilled Worker visa: salary and sponsorship basics

The UK Skilled Worker visa is a sponsored work route. In plain terms: a Home Office-licensed employer offers you an eligible job, assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), and you apply to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if you meet the points and other rules. Salary thresholds and occupation lists change. Verify every number on GOV.UK’s Skilled Worker pages before you plan finances or resign from a job. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

What do you need before anything else?

You need:

1. A job offer from a sponsor on the register of licensed sponsors
2. An eligible occupation (the job’s code must be allowed under current rules)
3. A Certificate of Sponsorship assigned for your employment
4. Enough points under the Skilled Worker points system (sponsorship, skill level, and salary are the core pieces most applicants focus on)
5. English language evidence at the level GOV.UK requires for your case
6. Maintenance funds unless an exemption applies (for example when your sponsor certifies maintenance)
7. A tuberculosis test from an approved clinic if you are applying from a country where one is required

Without sponsorship, comparing yourself to salary tables alone will not create a visa pathway on this route. Sponsorship requirements are national, but the surrounding paperwork is not; see what changes for applicants from Pakistan. A tuberculosis test is required before you apply from certain countries, and the approved clinic list is short: Kenyan applicants have one clinic in the whole country. Uganda has a single approved clinic; see applying from Uganda. South Africa is not on the UK's majority-English list; see applying from South Africa.

How do salary rules work at a high level?

Skilled Worker salary rules usually combine:

• A general minimum that applies to your application type, and
• A going rate for your occupation code (often based on a 37.5-hour week equivalent in Home Office tables)

You typically need to meet whichever combination the rules require for your situation. Some applicants may rely on tradeable points options (for example PhD-related or shortage-related options when those options exist and you qualify). Only the current GOV.UK guidance decides what is available.

Healthcare jobs use NHS pay bands instead of a single going-rate figure for most roles. Teaching uses national pay scales in the same way. For construction trades, six construction trades are on the Immigration Salary List, which can unlock a lower salary when you qualify.

Hourly rates, allowances, and whether overtime counts are defined by Home Office rules, not by what your offer letter casually includes. Read the salary and going-rate guidance carefully.

What should you check on the Certificate of Sponsorship?

Ask your employer (or HR) to confirm that the CoS will show:

• The correct occupation code
• Gross salary that matches what you will use in the visa application
• Working hours consistent with how salary is assessed
• Start date and work location details that match your plans

Inconsistencies between the CoS, contract, and visa form are a frequent source of delay.

How does sponsorship affect switching or extending later?

Your permission is tied to your sponsor and role. Changing employer usually means a new application with a new CoS. Losing the job can affect your permission. GOV.UK explains reporting duties and how long you may have to find a new sponsor. Plan career moves with immigration timing in mind, not only notice periods.

What is a practical preparation checklist?

• Confirm the employer appears on the licensed sponsor register for workers
• Match the job description to an eligible occupation code
• Compare offered pay to current GOV.UK thresholds and going rates
• Gather English language evidence early
• Budget for visa fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and any dependent applications
• Keep job offer documents consistent with the CoS

If your role is borderline on skill level or pay, verify with official guidance or a qualified immigration adviser before you pay application fees.