UK Work Visa Guides
15 UK work visa and right-to-work guides — Skilled Worker, Health and Care, Graduate, Global Talent, Scale-Up, High Potential Individual, Innovator Founder, employer sponsorship, right-to-work checks, extensions, switching routes, dependants, ILR settlement, and refusal appeals. Each guide covers eligibility, application, costs, timings, and recruiter pro tips. April 2026 thresholds and rules.
How does the UK Skilled Worker Visa work in 2026?
The UK Skilled Worker Visa is the main work route for non-UK nationals. To qualify in 2026: (1) you need a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor; (2) th…
What are the UK Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds in 2026?
From April 2024 the general Skilled Worker threshold rose to £38,700 (from £26,200) — a 48% increase. For 2026, expect possible further uplifts; check gov.uk fo…
How does the UK Graduate Visa work in 2026?
The UK Graduate Visa lets international students who completed a UK degree stay in the UK for 2 years (3 for PhD) to work or look for work — with no employer sp…
How does the UK Health and Care Visa work in 2026?
The UK Health and Care Visa is a streamlined route for medical professionals working for the NHS, NHS suppliers, or registered care providers. Benefits over sta…
How does the UK Global Talent Visa work in 2026?
The Global Talent visa is for leaders or potential leaders in academia/research, arts/culture, or digital technology. It requires endorsement from a designated …
How does the UK Scale-Up Visa work in 2026?
The Scale-Up Visa is for highly skilled workers offered jobs at fast-growing UK businesses. Sponsorship required for the initial 6 months only — after that you …
How does the UK High Potential Individual Visa work in 2026?
The HPI Visa is for graduates from top-50 global universities (defined by Times Higher Education, Quacquarelli Symonds, or Academic Ranking of World Universitie…
How does the UK Innovator Founder Visa work in 2026?
The Innovator Founder Visa replaced the Innovator and Start-Up visas in April 2023. It's for entrepreneurs setting up an innovative, viable, and scalable busine…
How do UK employers sponsor visas?
UK employers wanting to sponsor non-UK workers must hold a sponsor licence from the Home Office. The licence allows the employer to issue Certificates of Sponso…
How do UK employers conduct right-to-work checks?
All UK employers must check every employee's right to work in the UK before they start work, retain evidence, and retain it for 2 years after employment ends. F…
How do I extend my UK work visa?
Most UK work visas can be extended if you continue to meet eligibility criteria. For Skilled Worker: continue at same role/sponsor, meet salary at extension, cu…
How do I switch between UK visa routes?
Switching routes (e.g., Student to Skilled Worker, Graduate to Skilled Worker, Skilled Worker to Innovator Founder) is allowed for most routes if done from insi…
How do dependents come to the UK on a spouse visa or dependent visa?
Spouses, partners, and dependent children of UK work visa holders can apply for dependent visas. From April 2024, partners of Skilled Worker visa holders need t…
How do I apply for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement)?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is permanent UK settlement — no more visa renewals, no more IHS, full right to work and live in UK. Most work routes require 5 …
What can I do if my UK visa is refused?
If your UK visa is refused, you'll receive a decision letter explaining the reason. Options: (1) Administrative Review — for application errors, takes 28 days, …
UK work visa FAQs
What's the salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa in 2026? +
General threshold £38,700/year (or £30,960 for new entrants under 26). For shortage occupations the threshold drops to £30,960. The Health and Care Worker route uses lower thresholds. Check the latest Home Office occupation rates — they've risen sharply since 2024 and continue to be reviewed.
Can my UK employer sponsor my visa? +
Only if they hold a valid sponsor licence and the role is on the eligible occupations list at or above salary threshold. Most large UK employers (£36m+ turnover) have a licence; many SMEs don't. Sponsor licence costs ~£1,476 plus per-visa fees, which is why some smaller employers prefer not to sponsor. Always check sponsorship status before applying.
How long does the UK Skilled Worker visa take to process? +
3 weeks standard for applications outside the UK; 8 weeks inside the UK. Priority service (£500-£1,000 extra) cuts to 5 working days. Super-priority (£1,000-£1,500) cuts to 1 working day. Most candidates use standard for in-country applications and priority for outside-UK.
Can I switch from Student to Skilled Worker visa in the UK? +
Yes, in-country switching is allowed. You need a job offer at threshold from a sponsor-licensed UK employer, and you must apply before your Student visa expires. Time on Student visa doesn't count toward indefinite leave to remain (ILR) — the 5-year ILR clock starts on the Skilled Worker visa.
What happens if I lose my UK sponsored job? +
You have 60 days to find a new sponsored role and get a new Certificate of Sponsorship, or you must leave the UK. Some routes (Global Talent, family visas) don't depend on sponsorship. The 60-day clock is strict — start applying immediately, don't wait for the formal end date.
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UK Work Visa Routes is one of 20 specialist clusters in the JobLabs UK careers reference. For the full set — including pensions, tax reliefs, employment rights, visa routes, and 200+ recruiter-tested guides — see the UK careers reference index.