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Skilled Worker Visa: how long it takes, what it costs, and whether it leads to permanent residence
This visa is commonly searched as Tier 2 (General). The authority states that it has replaced Tier 2 (General).
Work Permit
Sponsored work visa — ILR is a later application
Work visa for an eligible job with a Home Office approved sponsor. You must have a job offer. Usual salary is at least £41,700 a year or the going rate, whichever is higher. After 5 years you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
We tell you when we re-read a route you follow, in the note from that check, with the official link.
Does Skilled Worker Visa lead to permanent residence?
- Residency
Temporary on grant; permanent residence is a later application after 60 months
Overview: 'After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as indefinite leave to remain).' Settlement hub: work-visa applicants 'must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years' and lists Skilled Worker. Hedged as 'may' / 'usually', not a guarantee.
Open the authority's page for this fact
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
Do you need a job offer for Skilled Worker Visa?
- Job offer
Required
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
How much does Skilled Worker Visa cost to apply for?
- Application fee
From GBP 819
Standard application fee ranges from £819 to £1,865: £819 outside the UK for up to 3 years; £1,618 outside the UK for more than 3 years; £943 inside the UK for up to 3 years; £1,865 inside the UK for more than 3 years. Immigration salary list jobs are cheaper (£628 or £1,235). Immigration health surcharge is usually £1,035 per year and is charged separately. Do not treat 819 as the total cost.
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
How much money do you have to show for Skilled Worker Visa?
- Funds
From GBP 1,270
You must have at least £1,270 available for 28 days, unless you have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months or your employer certifies maintenance on the certificate of sponsorship.
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
How long does Skilled Worker Visa take to process?
- Processing time
No duration published; the authority points to a guidance tool
Open the authority's page for this fact
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
What does UK Visas and Immigration actually require?
Quoted from the pages named beside each rule, not paraphrased.
- Age
The applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.
Source: Home Office · verified 2026-08-15
- Language
You’ll usually need to prove English to at least CEFR B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. If you had this visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it, B1 applies and you do not need to prove English again. Exemptions apply for certain nationals and some regulated health professionals.
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
What UK Visas and Immigration does not publish
We checked for each of these and the page carried no figure. The absence is recorded with the reason, so this page states nothing the authority does not.
Processing time
UKVI publishes weeks, not months. Outside the UK the Skilled Worker row is '3 weeks'. Inside the UK the Skilled Worker row is '8 weeks'. Overview says 'usually' and that you may pay for a faster decision. No month range is stored.
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
Minimum education
Eligibility is an eligible job, an approved sponsor, a certificate of sponsorship, and the salary rules. No diploma (or other) education minimum is published. Previous stored value 'diploma' was unsourced and has been removed.
Not yet verified against an official source
How it works
- 1Hold an eligible job offer from a licensed sponsor at the published salary floor or going rate.
- 2After 5 years you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
What changed when we last checked this record
Visa is open and has replaced Tier 2 (General). Provisional: you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years. Previous stored diploma minimum, USD 2,000 fee, and 1–3 month processing were unsourced or contradicted and have been removed.
Source: UK Visas and Immigration · verified 2026-08-15
Estimate against the official table: Do I meet the UK Skilled Worker salary and job-offer rules?
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Official sources
Disclaimer: Viovena is an informational planning tool for immigration pathways and eligibility estimates. It is NOT a registered immigration agency, legal advisor, or licensed consultant. Visa decisions belong solely to government authorities — we do not guarantee approvals. All match scores and timelines are estimates for planning purposes only. Always verify requirements, fees, and processing times on official government websites before applying.