Skilled Worker visa guidance

Tier 2 (General) Visa/Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker route replaced Tier 2 on 1 December 2020. All details on the Skilled Worker pages of the website are relevant to current Tier 2 visa holders. 

No action for current Tier 2 visa holders needs to be taken. If we need to extend their visa or undertake a change of employment, this will be done under the Skilled Worker requirements. 

A Skilled Worker visa is granted by the Home Office when the 

• Appointment meets the Home Office sponsorship requirements (see below)
• SRUC’s Recruitment Team successfully applies for and allocates a Certificate of Sponsorship for a Skilled Worker
• The visa application is submitted by the individual which meets the Home Office eligibility requirements 

Sponsorship is provided in line with the duration of the appointment. SRUC can provide initial sponsorship for up to five years. There is no limit to the time that can be spent sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa, but individuals may be eligible to apply to stay permanently after five years residence in the UK.  

The Sponsorship process

Sponsorship can only be provided if the appointment meets the requirements for sponsorship which sets a minimum skills and salary threshold and that the appointment is a genuine vacancy.

Visa requirements can include English language ability, tuberculosis screening, maintenance and criminal record checks.

Certificate of Sponsorship / NARIC Code requirement

Prior to issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to an individual, it may be necessary for the individual to apply for and supply a NARIC code to satisfy conditions that require qualifications to be approved and confirmed as completed in the English language.

More information can be found on the NARIC website.

The CoS is an electronic document which lists the individual's personal details and information about the role. It contains a unique reference number which must be included in the Skilled Worker visa application.

Sponsorship is normally provided in line with the contract of employment period, up to an initial maximum period of five year sponsorship. There are different visa costs for an 'up to three year' visa, and an 'up to five year' visa. Visit our page about costs involved in obtaining a visa for more information.

Reporting changes to sponsored workers' personal situation

As soon as sponsorship is issued the Home Office expects changes to an individual's appointment to be reported to them. These reporting duties commence as soon as the CoS is issued and last until we cease sponsoring the individual.

Managers of sponsored staff will be provided with guidance on sponsorship reporting duties by the Recruitment Team.

Details of the fees charged by the Home Office for a Skilled Worker visa application

The sections below provide an overview of the costs associated with a Skilled Worker visa. Visit our page about costs involved in obtaining a visa for more information.

Issuing Sponsorship – paid for by SRUC

When issuing a Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) the Recruitment Team has to pay the following, which are then charged back to the employing department:

• CoS application fee
• Immigration Skills charge 

Visa Application – paid for by employee

When submitting their visa applications online (after they have been issued a CoS) applicants and their dependants have to pay the following:

• Visa fee 
• NHS surcharge 
• Biometric enrolment fee
• Any fees for priority services they decide to use

A useful toll for calculating visa fees is available on the Gov.uk website

Skilled Workers – on arrival to UK from overseas

When an out-of-country Skilled Worker visa application is granted a vignette (visa sticker) will be placed in the applicant's passport.

Those applying for a Skilled Worker visa for six months or more receive a 30 day vignette, which is used to enter the UK, and are instructed when and where to collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) after they arrive in the UK. The BRP is a plastic credit-card sized visa valid for the full length of their visa.

Those applying for a Skilled Worker visa for less than six months receive a vignette valid for the full length of their visa and are not given a BRP.

Collecting BRPs

Those who have applied for a Skilled Worker visa for six months or more must collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within ten days after arriving in the UK, or before their vignette expires, whichever is sooner. The Home Office letter which confirmed their application had been granted will list when and where they will need to collect their BRP.

Occasionally a BRP is not ready for collection on the stated date and the visa holder will need to return a day or two later to collect the BRP. If a BRP is still not available for collection the visa holder can report this to the Home Office to receive further instruction but should also inform their employing department/ faculty and the SRUC Recruitment Team.

BRPs should be carefully checked when they are picked up as any errors in details or dates will need to be corrected. If there are errors on a BRP the visa holder should inform their employing department and SRUC Recruitment Team.

More detail on these issues is found in Home Office guidance on Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs).

Presenting vignette and BRP to evidence Right to Work

Skilled Worker visa holders will need to present their vignette and BRP to their employing department to evidence their right to work in the UK before they can commence work.

If a visa holder visits their employing department/faculty to complete a right to work check but has not yet collected their BRP, they will need to collect and return with their BRP so that both their vignette and BRP can be checked.

If BRP collection is delayed they may be able to start work after a right to work check on their vignette but must then collect and present their BRP before their vignette expires to complete the check and fully establish their right to work in the UK.

The Home Office requires evidence of the date a Skilled Worker visa holder enters the UK to be kept as part of their record-keeping requirements. Usually, the vignette will be date stamped upon arrival. In the absence of an entry stamp – for example, if the Skilled Worker visa holder entered through Ireland or another part of the Common Travel Area, or through an 'eGate' – other evidence, such as the boarding card or travel itinerary will need to be presented to the employing department/faculty when the right to work check is being completed.

Police registration

Those who are required to register with the police must do so within seven days after arriving in the UK. If police registration is required this will have been stated in the Home Office letter which confirmed their application had been granted.