United Kingdom · UK-SW · Work visa

Skilled Worker Visa

Up to 5 years before you need to extend it.

13 official facts · checked 4 Nov 2026

Cost
£819
Time
3 weeks
Stay
60 months
United Kingdom UK-SW

Skilled Worker Visa

13 verified facts

Cost
Application fee: £819 from outside the UK for 3 years or less.
Time
Usually a decision within 3 weeks after you apply, prove your identity and provide your documents.
Stay
Up to 5 years before you need to extend it.
Leads to
After 5 years you may be able to apply to settle permanently (indefinite leave to remain). Not automatic.
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The details

What the official rules say

Each line links to its official source and the date we checked it. Anything we could not check is marked.

Cost

£819

Application fee: £819 from outside the UK for 3 years or less.

Applies to Outside the UK; 3 years or less.

≈ USD 1,098 — indicative only, at the ECB reference rate of 3 Nov 2026. Not an official fee.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026 · in force from 8 Oct 2026

£1,618

Application fee: £1,618 from outside the UK for more than 3 years.

≈ USD 2,170 — indicative only, at the ECB reference rate of 3 Nov 2026. Not an official fee.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026 · in force from 8 Oct 2026

£943

Application fee: £943 from inside the UK for 3 years or less.

Applies to Inside the UK; 3 years or less.

≈ USD 1,265 — indicative only, at the ECB reference rate of 3 Nov 2026. Not an official fee.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

£1,865

Application fee: £1,865 from inside the UK for more than 3 years.

≈ USD 2,501 — indicative only, at the ECB reference rate of 3 Nov 2026. Not an official fee.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026 · in force from 8 Oct 2026

£1,035

Healthcare surcharge: usually £1,035 per year. Jobs on the Immigration Salary List pay a lower application fee.

≈ USD 1,388 — indicative only, at the ECB reference rate of 3 Nov 2026. Not an official fee.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

How long it takes

Usually a decision within 3 weeks after you apply, prove your identity and provide your documents.

The government's target, not a promise

Applies to Outside the UK.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

How long you can stay

Up to 5 years before you need to extend it.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

Can it lead to living there permanently?

After 5 years you may be able to apply to settle permanently (indefinite leave to remain). Not automatic.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

Rules

You need a job offer from an approved UK employer before you apply.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

English at CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Applies to New applicants and people switching visa (B1 if extending a visa held before 8 January 2026).

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

With IELTS for UKVI, CEFR B2 means at least 5.5 in each of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Applies to IELTS for UKVI (SELT) — one of several approved tests.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

Usually at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. Some jobs and applicants can be paid less (e.g. £33,400 for Immigration Salary List jobs).

Applies to Standard salary rate or the job's going rate, whichever is higher; lower rates apply in some cases.

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

These are the official rules we have so far. There may be more. Read the official page before you apply.

Official page

Skilled Worker visa — GOV.UK

gov.uk ↗ · checked 4 Nov 2026

What can come next
  1. This visa Skilled Worker Visa
  2. Next step Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) Usually needs 5 years
  3. Then British Citizenship Usually needs 5 years

A possible next step. Times come from each visa's official rules. See what long-term visas need.

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