A working FAQ for overseas applicants approaching the UK Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes for the first time. Every answer is short on purpose — if you need the deep version of any topic, follow the link into a dedicated guide. Last updated against the April 2026 Statement of Changes.
The basics
- What is a UK visa sponsor?
- A UK visa sponsor is an employer that the Home Office has cleared to recruit overseas workers on a work visa. The sponsor holds a "sponsor licence" and uses it to issue Certificates of Sponsorship to specific people for specific jobs. Without a licensed sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship, you cannot apply for a Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visa.
- What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)?
- A Certificate of Sponsorship is not a physical certificate. It is a 14-character reference number issued from the Home Office Sponsor Management System to a named individual, for a named job, at a named salary, under a named SOC 2020 code. You quote this number on your visa application. Each CoS is valid for 3 months.
- Do I need a job offer before I apply?
- Yes. The UK has no general "looking for work" visa for skilled migrants. You need a confirmed job offer with a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before submitting a Skilled Worker or Health & Care Worker visa application.
- How long does the visa let me stay?
- Up to 5 years initially, in line with the length on the CoS. You can extend, switch to other routes if eligible, and apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years of continuous lawful residence on the route (with some exceptions for Global Talent and graduate switchers).
Salary and SOC codes
- How much do I have to be paid?
- Whichever is higher of (1) the general minimum for your route — about £41,700 for standard Skilled Worker in 2026, around £25,600 on Health & Care Worker — and (2) the going rate for your specific four-digit SOC 2020 code. Discounts may apply if you are a new entrant, a PhD holder relevant to the role, or in a shortage occupation. Full breakdown in our 2026 salary thresholds guide.
- Who chooses the SOC code?
- The sponsor. They pick the four-digit SOC 2020 code on the CoS that best matches the duties of the role. You should sanity-check it — a wrong code is one of the most common reasons applications are refused or audited.
- Can the sponsor make me reimburse the visa fees?
- The Home Office prohibits sponsors from passing the Immigration Skills Charge or the sponsor licence fee on to workers. They can ask you to pay your own visa application fee and IHS (where applicable), but cannot deduct the charges that legally belong to them.
Finding employers
- How do I find a UK employer that can sponsor me?
- Start with the official Register of Licensed Sponsors (Workers). Filter by the visa routes you need and by the rating (avoid B-rated sponsors if you can). UK Sponsor Finder lets you search the same list together with the SOC code your job maps to. From there, apply directly to roles at A-rated sponsors in your sector and ask early whether sponsorship is available for the specific role.
- Should I avoid B-rated sponsors?
- Not necessarily, but proceed carefully. A B-rating is issued when the Home Office has identified compliance issues that the sponsor must fix on an action plan. The sponsor can still issue CoSes, but the licence is at higher risk of downgrade or revocation while remedial work is in progress.
- How do I know if a sponsor is recruiting genuinely?
- Watch for: a real, publicly-advertised vacancy with normal recruitment steps; salaries clearly at or above going rates; documented onboarding and training; CQC ratings (in care); LinkedIn presence of existing staff at the company. Be wary of "agents" charging large fees, of offers that bypass interviews, and of sponsors that recruit only overseas with no domestic activity.
Application process
- What documents do I need?
- Typically: a valid passport, your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number, evidence of English-language proficiency (e.g. IELTS for UKVI, or qualification taught in English), proof of maintenance (savings of £1,270 held for 28 days, or sponsor certification), TB test results if you are from a listed country, and ATAS clearance if your role involves sensitive technology.
- How long does the visa decision take?
- Standard service is 3 weeks for applications outside the UK on Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker routes. In-country switching applications are typically 8 weeks. Priority and super-priority services are available for an extra fee in some countries.
- What happens at the biometric appointment?
- You attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in your country, give fingerprints and a photo, and submit your supporting documents. The VAC sends everything to the Home Office for decision. You get your passport back at the end of the appointment or shortly after.
Family members
- Can my partner come with me?
- Most Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker applicants can bring a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner of at least 2 years, and children under 18 as dependants. The notable exception is care workers and senior care workers (SOC 6135 and 6136) who joined new sponsors from 11 March 2024 — they can no longer bring dependants on this route.
- Can my partner work in the UK?
- Yes. Dependant partners on this route have unrestricted work rights, including self-employment. Children can attend state school and university (with home or overseas fee status depending on length of residence).
- How much do dependant visas cost?
- Each dependant pays their own application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (about £1,035 per person per year, unless on the Health & Care Worker route which is exempt). Budget several thousand pounds for a family of four for a 3-year visa.
Common refusal reasons
- Why are Skilled Worker applications refused?
- The most common reasons in 2026 are: wrong SOC 2020 code on the CoS; salary below the higher of the going rate and general minimum; missing or inadequate English-language evidence; insufficient maintenance funds; suspected non-genuine vacancy (especially in adult social care); and CoSes from sponsors whose licences have been suspended or revoked since the CoS was issued.
- Can I reapply after a refusal?
- Yes, but only if you can address the reason for refusal. There is no formal appeal right on most refused work-visa applications — your options are administrative review (limited to specific errors) or a fresh application. Take advice from an OISC-regulated immigration adviser before reapplying.
Costs
- What does it cost in total?
- For a standard 3-year Skilled Worker applicant outside the UK in 2026, budget approximately: visa fee £719 (or roughly £304 on Health & Care Worker), Immigration Health Surcharge £1,035 per year × 3 = £3,105 (waived on Health & Care Worker), priority service if used £500, IELTS for UKVI £210. Dependants pay the same fees on top. The sponsor pays the Immigration Skills Charge (£1,000 per year, £364 for small sponsors) and cannot pass it to you.
- Are visa fees refundable if my application is refused?
- The Immigration Health Surcharge is refunded if the visa application is refused or withdrawn. The visa fee itself is non-refundable. Priority service is sometimes refundable if priority was not delivered.
Where to next
- Search the Register of Licensed Sponsors to confirm a specific employer.
- 2026 salary thresholds in detail.
- How SOC 2020 codes work.
- Health & Care Worker visa if you are in nursing, medicine, or social care.
Sources
Information on this page is for general guidance only and is not legal or immigration advice. Always cross-check against GOV.UK before acting on it. See our Terms of Service.