UK Skilled Worker visa — what’s your next step?
Answer five plain-English questions about your situation. We’ll route you to the right next step — whether that’s urgent legal review (sponsor licence revoked, 60-day grace period, overstayer), a routine switching / extension case, an ILR application, or simply finding a sponsor first. No call follows automatically— we only contact you if you specifically ask us to email the result.
Why this wizard exists
Five questions. Honest routing — including “you don’t need a solicitor yet.”
Most Skilled Worker enquiries we receive by phone aren’t instructable legal work. They’re people looking for a sponsor — which a solicitor can’t help with, because that’s recruitment, not legal work. We built this wizard to triage in 60 seconds and tell each visitor what they actually need: gov.uk + LinkedIn if they’re still job-hunting, urgent legal review if their licence has been revoked or they’re on the 60-day clock, a routine application if they’ve got an offer, or an ILR / family-route consultation if they’re past those.
The questions were written by Imran Shah (Immigration & Litigation Solicitor, SRA #509359, admitted 2012) and reviewed against the current Immigration Rules (Appendix Skilled Worker, Appendix Continuous Residence, Appendix English Language, Appendix Finance, Paragraph 39E).
It is free, anonymous until you ask us to follow up by email, and there is no automatic call. For the job-search deflection outcome we specifically don’t default to a follow-up call — we send you the result and the useful gov.uk + LinkedIn links, and let you come back when you have a real offer.
What this wizard isn’t
- It’s not legal advice. A solicitor reviewing the full evidence will give you a proper assessment.
- It doesn’t check Certificate of Sponsorship validity, SOC code salary thresholds or RQF level — those are technical checks we do on the consultation.
- It doesn’t introduce you to sponsoring employers — that’s recruitment work, not legal work, and we’ll tell you so honestly if that’s what you need.
Understanding the Skilled Worker visa
How the Skilled Worker route works
The Skilled Worker visa is the UK’s main work route. It is a sponsored, points-based route: you need a job offer from a licensed sponsor, the role and salary must qualify, and you must meet the English requirement. Done correctly it can lead to settlement, and a partner and children can usually come too.
Eligibility at a glance
- A job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
- The role at the required skill level (RQF3 or above) for an eligible occupation code.
- Salary at or above both the route’s general threshold and the going rate for the occupation code — the actual figures are set by the Home Office, so check the current thresholds and going-rate tables on gov.uk.
- English language at level B1 across the four skills.
The points-based system
The route works on points: you must score the required total from a combination of a job offer from an approved sponsor, the job being at an appropriate skill level, the right salary, and English at the required level. Some elements are mandatory; others can be traded against each other in defined ways.
Switching in-country
Many people already in the UK on an eligible route can switch into the Skilled Worker route without leaving the country, provided they meet the requirements. Visitors generally cannot. Whether you can switch depends on your current status.
Dependants
A partner and children can usually apply as your dependants, subject to meeting the relevant requirements and evidence. Dependant rules have changed for some routes, so the current position should be checked for your circumstances.
The path to settlement
The Skilled Worker route can lead to indefinite leave to remainafter a qualifying period of continuous residence, subject to continuing to meet the route’s requirements and the settlement criteria at that point. The qualifying period and rules can change — confirm the current requirements on gov.uk.
Sponsor duties
Sponsorship comes with ongoing duties on the employer — record-keeping, reporting changes, and complying with the sponsor guidance. If a sponsor licence is suspended or revoked it can affect the workers it sponsors, which is one of the situations this wizard flags for urgent review.
Frequently asked questions
Skilled Worker visa — common questions
- Do I need a job offer and a sponsor for a Skilled Worker visa?
- Yes. The Skilled Worker route requires a job offer from a UK employer who holds a Home Office sponsor licence, and the employer must assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship for an eligible role. A solicitor cannot find you a sponsor — that is recruitment, not legal work — but the official register of licensed sponsors is published on GOV.UK, and once you have a real offer the application itself is instructable.
- What salary do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?
- The role must normally be paid at or above both a general salary threshold for the route and the specific 'going rate' for the occupation code, whichever is higher (with some routes and discounts applying in particular cases). These figures are set by the Home Office and change, so we do not quote them as fixed amounts — check the current thresholds and the going-rate tables for your occupation code on gov.uk, and we will confirm them against your Certificate of Sponsorship on the consultation.
- Is there an English language requirement?
- Yes. Skilled Worker applicants must usually show English at level B1 (on the CEFR scale) in speaking, listening, reading and writing, which can be met by an approved test, a qualifying degree taught in English, or by being a national of a majority-English-speaking country, among other ways. The current accepted methods are listed on gov.uk.
- Can I bring my family on a Skilled Worker visa?
- In many cases yes — a partner and children can usually apply as your dependants, subject to meeting the relevant requirements and evidence. Dependant rules have changed over time for some routes, so the current position for your situation should be checked before you plan.
- Can I switch into the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK?
- Often yes. Many people already in the UK on another eligible route can switch into the Skilled Worker route without leaving the country, provided they meet the requirements. Visitors generally cannot switch in-country. Whether switching is possible depends on your current status, so it should be confirmed before applying.
- Does the Skilled Worker visa lead to settlement (ILR)?
- Yes — the Skilled Worker route can lead to indefinite leave to remain after a qualifying period of continuous residence, provided you continue to meet the route's requirements and the settlement criteria at that point (including any English and Life in the UK Test requirements). The qualifying period and the rules can change, so confirm the current settlement requirements on gov.uk.
This page is general information about the Skilled Worker route, reviewed by Imran Shah (SRA #509359). It is not a substitute for tailored legal advice, and outcomes depend on the full evidence of your case.
Your Solicitor
Three SRA-regulated solicitors. Direct access.
Imran Shah
Immigration & Litigation Solicitor
Imran handles immigration and litigation cases that need methodical preparation and clear strategy.
SRA #509359
Humaira Anjum
Immigration & Litigation Solicitor
Humaira walks families through every stage of immigration and litigation matters with calm, careful guidance.
SRA #663190
Sannah Khatoon
Litigation & Housing Disrepair Solicitor
Sannah recovers damages and forces repairs in housing disrepair claims — usually on no win, no fee.
SRA #654258
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. UKVI fees, Skilled Worker salary thresholds and SOC-code going rates change periodically — confirm current rates at gov.uk before applying. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Abrahams Solicitors · SRA-regulated firm #809071. Last reviewed: June 2026 by Imran Shah (SRA #509359). Reviewed quarterly against Statements of Changes to the Immigration Rules.
Wizard logic last reviewed: June 2026. Page URL: https://www.abrahamssolicitors.co.uk/skilled-worker-wizard/.