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UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility Calculator
Check Your Visa Eligibility Score in 60 Seconds
Free • UK
1. Do you have a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer with a valid sponsor licence?
2. Is your annual salary at or above the relevant threshold?
3. Is your occupation on the Skilled Worker eligible occupations list (RQF Level 3+)?
4. Can you prove English at CEFR B1 (SELT, UK degree, or majority-English nationality)?
UK Skilled Worker Visa Overview
UK Skilled Worker Visa is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to UK
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Requirements
Sponsored job offer
Confirmed job offer from a UK employer holding a valid sponsor licence, evidenced by a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Eligible occupation
Job must appear on the Skilled Worker eligible occupations list at RQF Level 3 or above.
Salary threshold (2026)
General floor £38,700 per year or the going rate for the occupation (whichever is higher). Discounts apply for new entrants, PhD holders, Immigration Salary List (ISL) and health/education jobs (floor ~£30,960).
English language
Prove English to CEFR B1 (speaking, listening, reading, writing) via approved SELT, UK degree, or majority-English-speaking nationality.
Financial maintenance
£1,270 in your account for 28 consecutive days, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS.
TB test & criminal record
TB test required for many listed countries; criminal record certificate required for healthcare and education roles.
Official UK Skilled Worker Visa Guidance
UK Skilled Worker Visa FAQs
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming you can stack allowances or bonuses to hit £38,700 — only guaranteed basic salary counts.
Applying with a CoS from a sponsor that has been suspended or downgraded on the public register.
Missing the 3-month CoS validity window for the visa application.
Submitting a SELT that does not cover all four skills at B1.
Not budgeting the full upfront IHS (£1,035 × years × applicants) in addition to the visa fee.
Improve your chances
- 1
Negotiate base salary above £38,700 even if your role qualifies for a discount — it removes ambiguity and avoids RFEs.
- 2
Target sponsors on the ISL or with A-rated, Premium-listed status for faster CoS and lower fees.
- 3
Take IELTS UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI well before applying — re-tests cost time you may not have.
- 4
Apply for a 5-year visa where affordable; you become eligible for ILR after 5 years on this route.
- 5
If under 26 or within 4 years of a relevant PhD, claim the new entrant rate explicitly on the CoS.
Salary thresholds (April 2026)
| Route | Annual salary floor |
|---|---|
| General threshold | £38,700 |
| Immigration Salary List (ISL) | £30,960 |
| New entrant (<26, recent graduate, training) | £30,960 |
| PhD relevant to job | £34,830 |
| Health & care worker visa | £23,200 / £29,000 |
Application fees & Immigration Health Surcharge
| Item | Amount (GBP) |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, outside UK, up to 3 years | £769 |
| Visa fee, outside UK, over 3 years | £1,519 |
| Visa fee, ISL or shortage role | £590 / £1,160 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 per year (£776 students/dependants) |
| Sponsor CoS fee (paid by employer) | £239 |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility Calculator criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
- Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
- Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
- Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
- Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.
Helpful resources
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