The applicant must apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa online by using the correct application form, providing supporting documents and paying the visa fee.
You can apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa about three months before your work/job starting date as the date listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
Below is the step-by-step process to apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa:
- Check if you meet the eligibility requirements
- Get a certificate of sponsorship from your employer
- Gather mandatory supporting documents
- Complete the online application form & pay the fees
- Attend your biometric appointment
- Wait for a decision
Step 1: Check if you meet the eligibility requirements
The applicant must check that they meet the eligibility requirements for the Skilled Worker visa, including having a job offer from a UK employer who is a licensed sponsor.
Step2: Get a certificate of sponsorship from your employer
The UK employer must apply for and provide a certificate of sponsorship to the applicant. This confirms that the employer has offered the applicant a genuine job.
Step 3: Gather mandatory supporting documents
The applicant must gather all the required documents, including a valid passport, proof of knowledge of English, criminal record certificate, bank statements, and other relevant documents.
Step 4: Complete the online application form & pay the fees
The applicant must apply for the Skilled Worker visa online on the UK government's website. They must fill out the application form, pay the visa & IHS fees, and book an appointment at a visa application centre to submit their biometric information. You should upload all of the necessary supporting documents in the correct format.
Step 5: Attend your biometric appointment
The applicant must book and attend their biometric appointment at the visa application centre to have their fingerprints and photograph taken.
Step 6: Wait for a decision
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will review the application and make a decision. The processing time varies depending on the location and type of service you are using.
What documents are required to apply for a Skilled Worker visa?
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK, an applicant must submit several documents, including:
- A valid passport or other travel documents
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- Evidence that you meet the financial requirement
- Evidence of your knowledge of the English language
- Proof of any dependent family members (if applicable)
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if applicable)
- Criminal record certificate
This is a general list of documents. Depending on type of application and your personal circumstances, you might also need to provide additional documents.
Please contact us for an initial assessment to determine your eligibility, and find out the required list of documents in support of your application.
How to send the supporting documents?
First, you need to scan all the supporting documents in the correct format. If you do not have a scanner then you can also take pictures of the supporting documents.
Once all the documents are ready then you can upload them. You don't need to send original documents anywhere.
Make sure that all the supporting documents:
- are in PDF, JPEG or PNG format
- have descriptive titles, with 25 or fewer characters
- are high enough quality to be read
If documents are not in English or Welsh, you must provide a certified translation.
Skilled Worker visa processing time
Once you have applied online and attended your biometrics appointment, you'll usually get a decision on your Skilled Worker visa within 3 weeks, if applying from outside the UK using standard service.
You should get a decision within 8 weeks if applying from inside the UK using standard service. However, you may be able to use priority service to get a faster decision.
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