Recruitment

Skilled Worker Visa - How to Apply

Once you have been provided with your Certificate of Sponsorship, you will be able to apply for your Skilled Worker visa online through the following website: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

You will be asked to answer a series of questions and provide your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number.

Once you have completed the questions, the online form will generate a checklist of documents to be submitted. You will also be directed to pay the visa application fees, Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and book an appointment with a local Visa Application Centre in order to submit your original documents and enrol your biometrics which will involve providing fingerprints and having a digital photograph taken.

Eligible EU nationals will be advised during the process if they are able to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to verify their identity instead of attending a Visa Application Centre.

Travel whilst a decision is pending

If you applied for the Skilled Worker visa from outside of the UK, please note that you must not travel to the UK whilst your application is processing as doing so will result in your application being treated as withdrawn.

You must also ensure that you do not enter the UK before the start date of your visa/visa vignette. If you do so, you will not have the Right to Work and will be required to leave and re-enter the Common Travel Area (CTA).

If you are extending/switching to the Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, you must ensure that you do not travel outside of the UK whilst your application is processing as doing so will result in your application being treated as withdrawn.

Processing Times and Fees

Current visa application fees and processing times can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Processing times are guidelines only and delays may occur for various reasons.  The visa application processing time starts when you either:

• attend your biometric information appointment to provide your fingerprints and a photograph at a visa application centre; or
• verify your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app

 

Please note that the above information is not intended to be an exhaustive overview of visa categories and requirements. Although we try to ensure that all information is accurate at the time of publishing, the general information on these pages may not fully apply to your specific circumstances and immigration rules and policies may change on short notice.

You should always refer to the Immigration Rules and UKVI Policy Guidance for the full requirements and conditions in the first instance before making an application.