Overview
The UK has no general work permit. Each route is a visa with its own rules. Sponsored routes need a certificate of sponsorship from an employer licensed by the Home Office; the Young Professionals Scheme does not.
A Standard Visitor visa does not let you take a job in the UK.
The Skilled Worker visa can lead to settlement: GOV.UK states you can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years if you are eligible.
Work routes
| Route | Who it is for | Job offer or sponsor needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa | People with a job offer in an eligible occupation from an approved employer | Yes. A certificate of sponsorship is required |
| Health and Care Worker visa | Qualified doctors, nurses, health professionals and adult social care professionals | Yes. A certificate of sponsorship from an approved health or care employer |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 with an eligible qualification, selected in a ballot | No job offer needed |
GOV.UK lists other work visas, such as Global Talent and Graduate, with their own criteria. Check GOV.UK if one of those fits you better.
Eligibility
Skilled Worker visa
- A confirmed job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office.
- A certificate of sponsorship from that employer.
- A job on the list of eligible occupations. Higher-skilled occupations are eligible; medium-skilled ones only if they are on the immigration salary list or temporary shortage list.
- A salary of at least GBP 41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher.
- A lower threshold of GBP 33,400 in some cases set out by GOV.UK. Healthcare and education jobs follow national pay scales.
- The ability to speak, read, write and understand English.
- At least GBP 1,270 in savings, unless your sponsor certifies your maintenance.
Health and Care Worker visa
- A qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional.
- An eligible health or social care job with an approved UK employer.
- A certificate of sponsorship.
- A minimum salary that depends on the type of work.
India Young Professionals Scheme
- An Indian citizen aged 18 to 30.
- An eligible qualification.
- GBP 2,530 in personal savings.
- Selection in the scheme ballot, followed by an invitation to apply.
Job offer and sponsorship
For the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas you must have a confirmed job offer before you apply, and the employer must be approved by the Home Office and assign you a certificate of sponsorship.
The exception is the India Young Professionals Scheme. It does not need a job offer: you enter a ballot and, if selected, can work in most jobs for up to 24 months.
Who does what
Work visa applications fail most often when it is unclear who is responsible for which step. This is how the duties are split.
What the employer does
- Hold a sponsor licence approved by the Home Office.
- Assign your certificate of sponsorship.
- Pay a salary that meets the threshold and the going rate, and UK minimum wage rules.
- Certify your maintenance on the certificate, if it agrees to cover your first month.
What you do
- Apply online and prove your identity.
- Pay the application fee and the healthcare surcharge.
- Prove your knowledge of English.
- Show GBP 1,270 in savings held for 28 days, unless exempt.
- Apply to update your visa before changing employer.
Documents
Common documents
- Certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer
- Valid passport
- Proof of your knowledge of English
- Job title, occupation code and annual salary
- Name of your employer and its sponsor licence number
- Bank statements showing at least GBP 1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, unless your sponsor covers this
Route-specific documents
| Route or case | Additional documents |
|---|---|
| Health and Care Worker visa | Evidence of your professional qualification and registration for the role |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | Evidence of your eligible qualification; Proof of GBP 2,530 in savings; The email inviting you to apply after the ballot |
For photo sizes and background rules, see our visa photo requirements tool.
How to apply
Get a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-approved employer, or enter the Young Professionals ballot.
Receive your certificate of sponsorship and check the job, occupation code and salary on it.
Apply online on GOV.UK. You can apply up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work.
Pay the application fee and the healthcare surcharge.
Prove your identity and provide your documents, by app or at a visa application centre.
Wait for the decision, usually within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
Travel to the UK and start work on or after the start date on your certificate.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa, up to 3 years | GBP 819 from outside the UK; GBP 943 from inside | Application fee |
| Skilled Worker visa, more than 3 years | GBP 1,618 from outside the UK; GBP 1,865 from inside | Application fee |
| Skilled Worker visa, job on the immigration salary list | GBP 628 (up to 3 years); GBP 1,235 (more than 3 years) | Reduced application fee, inside or outside the UK |
| Health and Care Worker visa | GBP 324 (up to 3 years); GBP 628 (more than 3 years) | Application fee, the same inside or outside the UK |
| Immigration health surcharge | Usually GBP 1,035 a year | Access to the NHS. Health and Care Worker visa holders and their families do not pay it |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | GBP 340, plus a healthcare surcharge of GBP 1,552 | Application fee and surcharge for the 24-month stay |
Partners and children pay the same application fee as you for the same length of visa. You must also show GBP 1,270 in savings, or GBP 2,530 for the Young Professionals Scheme.
Processing time
| Stage or route | Official timeframe |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker, applying from outside the UK | Usually within 3 weeks |
| Skilled Worker, applying from inside the UK or updating your visa | Usually within 8 weeks |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | Usually within 3 weeks |
These are GOV.UK’s usual decision times once you have proved your identity and provided your documents. A faster decision may be available for an extra fee.
Validity and renewal
| Route | Validity | Renewal and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa | Up to 5 years | Can be extended as many times as you like; settlement possible after 5 years |
| Health and Care Worker visa | Up to 5 years | Can be extended; no healthcare surcharge |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | Up to 24 months | Cannot be extended; you must enter the UK within 6 months of approval |
Family and job changes
Dependants
On the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas, your partner and children may be able to apply to join you as dependants. They pay the same application fee and must show they can support themselves.
On the India Young Professionals Scheme, dependants cannot be included and must apply separately in their own right.
Changing employers
You must apply to update your Skilled Worker visa if you change employer, move to a job in a different occupation code, or leave a job on the immigration salary list for one that is not.
You can apply up to 3 months before the new job starts, but you should not start it until your new permission is confirmed. You can keep working in your current job while you wait.
Common mistakes
- Accepting an offer from an employer that is not approved by the Home Office.
- A salary below GBP 41,700 or below the going rate for the occupation code.
- Savings not held for the full 28 days.
- Starting a new job before your updated visa is confirmed.
- Forgetting to budget for the healthcare surcharge for every year of the visa.
- Assuming a visitor visa lets you work.
How we can help
My Visa Assistance provides visa information, document checklists and application support. For a work visa or permit, that means:
- An assessment call to identify which route fits your job offer and profile.
- A personalised document checklist for that route.
- Help completing the application forms and booking appointments.
- A review of your file before you submit it.
What we do not do: we are not a recruitment agency or a registered recruiting agent, we do not arrange jobs or employer sponsorship, and we cannot guarantee approval. Decisions are made only by the government authorities.
Send us an enquiry or call +91 85518 05523. If you are travelling as a visitor instead, see our UK visa guide.
FAQs
Usually at least GBP 41,700 a year or the going rate for your job, whichever is higher. A lower threshold of GBP 33,400 applies in some cases, and healthcare and education roles follow national pay scales.
From outside the UK, GBP 819 for a visa of up to 3 years and GBP 1,618 for longer. You also usually pay the healthcare surcharge of GBP 1,035 a year and need GBP 1,270 in savings.
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK, and within 8 weeks if you apply from inside.
For the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas, yes: you need a confirmed job offer and a certificate of sponsorship. The India Young Professionals Scheme does not need a job offer.
It is a ballot-based visa for Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 with an eligible qualification and GBP 2,530 in savings. It costs GBP 340 plus a GBP 1,552 healthcare surcharge and allows up to 24 months in the UK.
No. Health and Care Worker visa holders, and their partners and children, do not pay the healthcare surcharge.
Yes, but you must apply to update your visa first and should not start the new job until the new permission is confirmed.
GOV.UK states that after 5 years you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you meet the requirements.
Official sources
Last verified: . The facts on this page come from these official pages. Immigration rules, fees and timeframes change, so confirm them before you apply.
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, your job
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, how much it costs
- GOV.UK: update your visa if you change job or employer
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa, how much it costs
- GOV.UK: India Young Professionals Scheme visa
What we could not verify
- The required level of English and the exact cases for the GBP 33,400 threshold were not read in detail.
- Rules restricting dependants for some care roles were not confirmed.
- Global Talent and Graduate routes are mentioned but not covered.