UK Work Visa Requirements: What Are The Requirements to Obtain Your UK Work Visa?

Wego has outlined the requirements for most UK work visas. Keep reading to learn more!

UK work visa latest news

Increase in salary requirement

The UK government is changing some rules on who is allowed to come to the UK to live and work. Most people wanting to work in the UK will still have to apply for a visa through a points-based system (PBS). But from spring 2024, they will have to have a job offer with a higher salary in order to get a work visa.

Starting from 4th April 2024, individuals who wish to apply for a work visa in the United Kingdom will be required to have a job offer that meets the minimum salary requirement of £38,700, which is almost 50% higher than the current minimum salary of £26,200. This change will not impact individuals who are already living in the United Kingdom on a Skilled Worker’s visa. 

Starting from January 2024, the UK is set to implement a significant increase in its immigration health surcharge, following recent fee hikes on various visa categories, including work visas. The immigration health surcharge, which was introduced in 2015, applies to most visa applicants, with exceptions for visitors and those pursuing permanent residency.

The new surcharge is expected to take effect on January 16, 2024, or 21 days after the relevant legislation passes, whichever comes later. It will raise the annual surcharge from GBP 624 to GBP 1,035 per person yearly.

In addition to the immigration health surcharge increase, the UK recently raised fees for work and visit visas by 15 percent, family, settlement, and citizenship visas by 20 percent, and student visas by 35 percent. These changes reflect the evolving landscape of immigration and visa costs in the UK.

UK work visa general requirements

These are some general requirements that you usually need when applying for a work visa in the UK as a foreigner:

• your certificate of sponsorship reference number – your employer will give you this
• proof of your knowledge of English
• a valid passport or another document that shows your identity and nationality
• your job title and annual salary
• your job’s occupation code
• the name of your employer and their sponsor license number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship

If your documents are not in English; you must provide a certified translation. Moreover, you might be asked to provide additional requirements based on your situation.

• evidence of personal savings of at least GBP 1,270 to support yourself in the UK, such as bank statements, unless your certificate of sponsorship states that your employer will support you. 
• proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you
• your tuberculosis test results, if you’re from a listed country
• a criminal record certificate – if you’re working in specific jobs
• a valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher
• your unique Ecctis reference number (formerly unique UK NARIC reference number). Since your qualification is from outside the UK – you’ll need to apply through Ecctis
• a blank page in your passport for your visa

UK work visa types and requirements

Skilled worker visa

The skilled worker visa is the most famous visa for foreigners who work in the UK. It lets you work for an authorized employer in the UK. This visa replaced the Tier 2 work permit and enables you to work on UK waters too.

Requirements

This visa is suitable for you if you meet the following eligibility requirements:

• you must have knowledge of English
• you must work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
• have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
• do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do
• The specific eligibility depends on your job.

Validity

Your visa can last for up to 5 years. You should apply to extend your visa when it expires or if you switch jobs or employers.

Fees

 Skilled worker visa costs from GBP 719 (AED 3,242) to GBP 1,500 (AED 6,764). Plus, you will need to pay the healthcare surcharge of around GBP 1,035 (AED 4811.65) for each year you’re in the UK.

Graduate work visa

With a UK Graduate Work visa, you can work flexibly, switch jobs, and develop your career for two years after completing a course in the UK.

Requirements

• you’re in the UK
• your current visa is a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
• you studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa
• your education provider (such as your university or college) has told the Home Office you’ve successfully completed your course

Validity

A Graduate visa lasts for 2 years. If you have a Ph.D. or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.

Your visa will start from the day your application is approved.

Fees

When you apply for a graduate visa, it will cost you GBP 822 (AED 3,706) application fee, and you will need to pay the healthcare surcharge of around GBP 1,035 (AED 4811.63) for each year you’ll be in the UK. 

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge when you apply. If you’re eligible for a graduate visa for 2 years, it will cost you GBP 2,070 (AED 9623.26), and for 3 years, it will cost you GBP 3,105 (AED 14434.88).  

Temporary work visas

Temporary work visas allow the applicant to work in the UK for a short period, usually up to 12 months. Under this visa is the Seasonal Worker visa, Government Authorised Exchange visa, Creative Worker visa, Religious Worker visa, Charity Worker visa, and International Agreement visa.

Requirements

In general, to be eligible for a temporary work visa, you must have:

• a valid job offer from a UK-based institution that holds a Certificate of Sponsorship and it’s legally allowed to hire international workers.
• a certificate of sponsorship from your sponsors.
• at least GBP 1,270 (AED 5,806) in savings, available in your bank account for at least 28 days in a row.

Validity

The amount of time you can stay depends on the length of your visa and the start and end dates of your job.

Depending on the scheme you apply for, you’ll get a visa for a maximum of 12 months or 24 months.

Fees

To proceed with your application for this visa, it is necessary to submit a payment of GBP 298 (AED 1,343).

Furthermore, if you intend to bring your family along, an additional fee of GBP 244 (AED 1,115) per member will be required.

Overseas domestic worker visa

Suppose you are a domestic worker, such as a cleaner, chauffeur, cook or nanny, employed by the same private household for at least one year and live outside the UK. In that case, you may be eligible to apply for this type of visa through your employer.

Requirements

In order to be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

• are 19 or older
• have worked for your employer for at least 1 year
• work in the same household as your employer or one they use regularly
• plan to travel to the UK with your employer, their partner, or children
• intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in a UK household your employer will live in
• plan to leave the UK at the end of 6 months
• can support yourself in the UK without the need for public funds

Your employer must be either:

• a British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not intend to remain in the UK for more than 6 months
• a foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not intend to stay for more than 6 months

Validity

You can use this visa to visit the UK with your employer for up to 6 months. You must return home at the end of the 6 months.

You cannot extend an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

Fees

It costs GBP 637 (AEB 2,872) for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.

India Young Professionals Scheme visa

This visa allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. You must be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot ballot before you can apply for this visa.

Requirements

To be eligible for this visa, you must:

• be an Indian national or citizen between 18 and 30 years old
• be at least 18 years old on the date you plan to travel to the UK
• have a qualification at bachelor’s degree level or above (Regulated Qualifications Framework level 6, 7 or 8)
• have GBP 2,530 (AED 11,556) in savings to support yourself in the UK
• not have any children under the age of 18 who live with you or whom you’re financially responsible for

Validity

Your visa will make you eligible to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.

Fees

You also need to pay an application fee of GBP 298 (AED 1,343) and a healthcare surcharge of GBP 940 (AED AED 4,298).

International sportsperson visa

The International Sportsperson visa allows sponsored coaches or sportspeople to work in the UK to develop their sport at the highest level.

Requirements

To qualify for the International Sportsperson visa, you must meet the listed requirements:

• must be a qualified coach or elite sportsperson recognized by the governing body of your sport.
• your application must be endorsed by the governing body of your sport.
• your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level.
• must have a certificate of sponsorship.
• must provide proof that you have knowledge of the English language.
• have enough money to support yourself in the UK.
• show your travel history for the last five years.
• have a tuberculosis test if you are from a listed country.
• have an eligible occupation if you are switching from a student visa.

Fees

The fee depends on how long you want to stay.

If you’re staying up to 12 months, the fee is GBP 298 (AED 1,343) per person.

If you’re staying for longer than 12 months, the fee depends on whether you’re:

applying outside the UK – GBP 719 (AED 3,242) per person applying inside the UK to extend or switch – GBP 827 (AED 3,729) per person

High Potential Individual (HPI) visa

A High Potential Individual (HPI) visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years. To apply, you must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university in the last 5 years.

Requirements

Below are the requirements that you need to fulfill to be able to get an HPI visa:

• have a qualification equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, a UK postgraduate degree, or a UK Ph.D. or doctorate from a top international university from outside the UK
• have been awarded your qualification in the last 5 years
• prove your knowledge of English
• prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
• pay an application fee of GBP 822 (AED 3,706) and a healthcare surcharge of GBP 624 (AED 2,853) per year

You also need to apply to Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) to check your qualification is valid and at the right level.

Validity

An HPI visa usually lasts for 2 years. If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years.

Youth Mobility Scheme visa

A Youth Mobility Scheme visa allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years if you are aged 18 to 30 and have certain types of British Nationality or are from certain countries or territories listed in the eligibility requirements below.

Requirements

For this visa, you will need to fulfill these requirements:

• be aged between 18 and 30 years old
• have no children under 18 years old who live with you or who you’re financially responsible for
• not have been granted a Youth Mobility Scheme visa before
• have GBP 2,530 (AED 11,556) in savings to support yourself in the UK
• pay an application fee of GBP 298 (AED 1,343) and a healthcare surcharge of GBP 470 (AED 2,149) per year

You can apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you’re aged 18 to 30 and you’re from:

1. Monaco
2. New Zealand
3. San Marino
4. Iceland
5. If you’re from New Zealand, from 29 June 2023, you’ll be able to apply if you’re aged 18 to 35.

From 31 January 2024, you can apply if you’re from:

• Australia or Canada and aged 18 to 35
• Andorra or Uruguay and aged 18 to 30

If you are from these countries, you must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before you can apply for your visa:

1. Hong Kong
2. Japan
3. South Korea
4. Taiwan

Validity

Your visa will make you eligible to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months.

Fees

The application fee is GBP 298 (AED 1,343). in addition, you must pay the healthcare surcharge, which is usually GBP 470 (AED 2,157) per year.

Global talent visa

You can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in the fields of academia or research, arts and culture and digital technology

Requirements

To be eligible for a Global Talent visa, it is typically required that you obtain a successful endorsement as evidence of your leadership abilities or potential. However, if you have received a qualifying award, you may apply for the visa without an endorsement. Find out which awards are eligible here.

Find out what you can do with a Global Talent visa and how to apply for an endorsement if you work in one of the following fields:

• academia or research
• arts and culture
• digital technology

Validity

With this visa, you can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years.

Fees

It costs GBP 716 (AED 3,228) to apply for this visa. If you’re applying based on an endorsement, you’ll pay GBP 716 (AED 3,228) in two parts:

• GBP 524 (AED 2,363) when you apply for the endorsement
• GBP 192 (AED 865) when you apply for the visa itself

If you’re applying based on an eligible award, you’ll pay the full GBP 716 (AED 3,228) when you apply for the visa.