Learn more about the skilled worker visa
The UK Skilled Worker visa is one of the main immigration routes for people who wish to live and work in the United Kingdom. It allows overseas nationals, including South Africans, to take up employment with a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office to sponsor foreign workers. This visa replaced the former Tier 2 (General) Work Visa and is available for a wide range of professional, technical and skilled occupations.
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must first receive a genuine job offer from a UK employer that holds a valid Sponsor Licence. The employer must issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which is an electronic document containing details about your role. You cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa without a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
The job you have been offered must appear on the UK Government’s list of eligible occupations. In addition, your salary must meet the minimum requirements for your occupation. In many cases, applicants must earn at least £41,700 per year or the “going rate” for their occupation, whichever is higher. However, different salary rules apply to some healthcare and education roles, and certain applicants may qualify under reduced salary thresholds if they meet specific eligibility criteria, such as being a new entrant to the labour market or working in qualifying occupations. Salary requirements can change, so it is essential to check the latest guidance before applying.
Applicants must also demonstrate their knowledge of English by speaking, reading, writing and understanding the language to the required standard. This is usually done by passing an approved English language test or by meeting one of the other accepted methods of proving English proficiency, such as holding an eligible degree taught in English.
When applying from South Africa, most applications are completed online before attending a Visa Application Centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph (known as biometrics). You will also need a valid passport and any supporting documents required for your application. Depending on your circumstances, these may include proof of your qualifications, evidence of your English language ability, tuberculosis (TB) test results if required, and financial evidence if your employer is not certifying your maintenance.
Most applicants are also required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their application. This allows access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) during your stay. Visa application fees vary depending on the length of your visa, your occupation and whether your role qualifies for reduced fees, such as under the Health and Care Worker route.
One of the major advantages of the Skilled Worker visa is its flexibility. You can usually bring your eligible partner and dependent children with you, provided they meet the relevant immigration requirements. Dependants are generally permitted to work or study in the UK while they are there.
A Skilled Worker visa is granted for a specified period, often linked to the length of your employment contract, and can usually be extended if you continue to meet the requirements. If you change employers or move into a different eligible role, you will normally need to apply to update your visa before starting your new job.
The Skilled Worker visa can also provide a pathway to permanent residence. In many cases, after five years of continuous lawful residence on an eligible route, you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), provided you continue to meet the immigration requirements in force at the time of your application. Once you have obtained ILR and meet the relevant residence requirements, you may later be eligible to apply for British citizenship.
Before applying, carefully research your prospective employer to ensure they are a legitimate licensed sponsor and always rely on official UK Government information rather than advice from social media or unofficial websites. Immigration rules, salary thresholds and eligibility requirements are reviewed regularly and can change. Preparing your documents carefully and ensuring your application is complete will help reduce delays and improve your chances of a successful outcome.
For many South Africans, the Skilled Worker visa offers an excellent opportunity to build a career and a new life in the United Kingdom. With the right job offer, careful planning and a good understanding of the application process, it remains one of the most popular and reliable routes to living and working in the UK. Immigration requirements can change, so always check the latest UK Government guidance before submitting your application.
Check the Skilled Workers visa list to see if your occupation is listed.
- You need to have a job offer from an approved employer
- The employer needs to be on the Government’s register of licensed sponsors.
- The employer will check that you meet the eligibility requirements.
- They’ll give you a “certificate of sponsorship” to prove this
When people have posted on our Facebook group asking for advice on this we have seen many comments where people have been recommending various care companies which don’t currently offer sponsorship. While these may be useful to people already living in the U.K. it’s not beneficial for those needing a Skilled Workers visa to work in the U.K., and may give people false hope.
When looking for companies that provide sponsorship, there aren’t many offering sponsorship for the new care workers occupation code. This maybe because it takes a company up to 8 weeks to become an approved sponsor and the new occupation code is still new.
The Government site does provide a register of worker and temporary worker licensed sponsors
There is a website that could be useful in helping people searching for companies that offer sponsorship. A number of people have realised that the Government list is not very easy to use and they have put together some useful information and tools to help you search for a sponsor.
After having a brief look at some of the links on the site, which does offer easier searching for sponsorship jobs, it seems there isn’t much with regards to the new carer occupation code.
However still a useful site for other occupations.
It may be worth taking a look at this site.
- Overview
- requirements
- When you can be paid less
- If you work in healthcare or education
- Knowledge of English
- How much does it cost?
- Documents you will need when you apply
- If you apply from outside the United Kingdom
- Your partner and children
- Extend your visa
- Update your visa if you change job or employer
- Switch to this visa
- Taking on additional work
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The website is promoted and showcased on various groups , aimed at South Africans either living in South Africa or in the United Kingdom.
At the moment we have the following options available:
- Advertisers
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- Advertising on a specific page of the website
