UK Skilled Worker visa in 2026
The Skilled Worker route requires a confirmed job with a Home Office-approved sponsor, a certificate of sponsorship, an eligible occupation and the applicable salary.
For most new applications, GOV.UK states the salary must be at least £41,700 a year or the occupation's going rate, whichever is higher. Different salary rules can apply to specified healthcare, education and transitional cases. Medium-skilled occupations are not automatically sponsorable: current rules restrict new applications to specified lists and exceptions.
Health and Care Worker
Health and Care Worker is a distinct sponsored sub-route with lower fees and no immigration health surcharge for eligible applicants and dependants. From 22 July 2025, new overseas applications for care workers and senior care workers closed, with limited in-country transitional arrangements.
Settlement
Skilled Worker can lead to indefinite leave to remain after 5 years if the separate settlement requirements are met. Sponsorship and five years of residence do not by themselves guarantee settlement.
Check the live Skilled Worker rules and salary rules.
Return to the United Kingdom hub, compare Scale-up Worker, or read our methodology.
Verified against GOV.UK/Home Office sources on 19 September 2026.
Official and supporting sources
- GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visagovernment · accessed 2026-09-19
- GOV.UK — Skilled Worker job and salary rulesgovernment · accessed 2026-09-19
- GOV.UK — Health and Care Worker visagovernment · accessed 2026-09-19
- GOV.UK — Overseas health and social care recruitmentgovernment · accessed 2026-09-19