The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's main immigration route for people taking a specific job with a Home Office-licensed employer. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa in December 2020 and is the route almost all UK visa-sponsored jobs use.
Anyone offered an eligible job by a UK employer that holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence, regardless of nationality (British and Irish citizens don't need it). It's tied to a specific job with a specific sponsor — it is not a general "work in the UK" visa, and changing employer generally requires a new Certificate of Sponsorship and, in most cases, a new application.
Sponsorly's own content occasionally cites a specific current general threshold figure sourced from GOV.UK at time of writing — thresholds are revised periodically, so treat any specific number as a snapshot, not a permanent fact, and confirm on GOV.UK before relying on it.
A Skilled Worker visa is typically granted for up to 5 years at a time, tied to the sponsored role. Continuous time on the route can count towards eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement) after 5 years, subject to the standard requirements at the time of application.
Last updated 28 September 2026. Immigration rules and salary thresholds change periodically — always check GOV.UK for the current figures before relying on any number here.