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The UK Skilled Worker visa allows eligible overseas workers to take up employment with an employer approved by the UK Home Office.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment in Pakistan has issued guidance for citizens seeking employment in the UK through skilled worker visa.<\/p>\n Applicants must have a confirmed job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before applying.<\/p>\n The following guidance reflects UK government rules and guidance up to August 2026. Immigration rules, fees, and salary thresholds can change, so applicants should check the latest requirements before submitting an application.<\/p>\n Eligibility: <\/strong><\/p>\n Applicants generally need to have a confirmed job offer from an employer approved by the UK Home Office, a Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer, have a four-digit occupation code that is eligible for the Skilled Worker route, meet the required minimum salary and the going rate for the occupation, demonstrate the required level of English, and meet the financial, documentary, and other visa requirements.<\/p>\n Applicants normally need to submit their visa application within three months of the CoS being issued.<\/p>\n Occupation codes:<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the guidelines, having a suitable job title alone does not guarantee eligibility.<\/p>\n The actual duties of the job must be aligned to the correct occupation code. Higher-skilled occupations are generally eligible, while some medium-skilled occupations may only qualify if they are included on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List, or are covered by applicable transitional arrangements.<\/p>\n Jobs that appear similar can have different occupation codes and different eligibility requirements.<\/p>\n For example, some skilled construction occupations may qualify, while a general construction laborer role may not.<\/p>\n It was also cautioned that using an incorrect occupation code or creating a false job description can result in a visa refusal and enforcement action against the sponsor. It may also create problems for future applications.<\/p>\n Salary requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n In general, the salary must meet the higher of \u00a341,700 a year or the going rate for the relevant occupation code.<\/p>\n For example, if an applicant is offered \u00a342,000 but the going rate for the occupation is \u00a345,000, the standard salary requirement would not normally be met.<\/p>\n In certain circumstances, applicants may qualify with a salary of at least \u00a333,400 and between 70 percent and 90 percent of the applicable going rate.<\/p>\n These provisions can apply to categories including new entrants under the age of 26, certain students, recent graduates and people undertaking professional training, applicants with a relevant PhD, particularly a STEM PhD, certain postdoctoral positions, and some occupations on the Immigration Salary List.<\/p>\n Some healthcare and education occupations are subject to separate salary rules and national pay scales. Applicants should check the specific going rate for their occupation code rather than relying solely on the advertised salary.<\/p>\n English language requirement<\/strong><\/p>\n New Skilled Worker visa applicants generally need to demonstrate English at\u00a0B2 level<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Some people who held a Skilled Worker visa before 8 January 2026 may be able to rely on the previous B1 requirement when extending or updating their visa, subject to the applicable rules.<\/p>\n Visa costs and financial requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n Applicants will generally need to pay the visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and any required amount of personal maintenance funds.<\/p>\n Under current guidance, the visa fee is generally between\u00a0\u00a3819 and \u00a31,865 per person, depending on the circumstances and length of the visa. The Immigration Health Surcharge is generally\u00a0\u00a31,035 per year.<\/p>\n Applicants may also need to show at least\u00a0\u00a31,270\u00a0in personal funds to cover initial living costs.<\/p>\n The required amount normally needs to have been held for 28 consecutive days, with the 28th day falling no more than 31 days before the visa application.<\/p>\n Applicants may not need to provide separate financial evidence if their sponsor confirms on the Certificate of Sponsorship that it will cover their living costs during the first month in the UK.<\/p>\n Some occupations on the Immigration Salary List qualify for reduced visa fees.<\/p>\n Doctors, nurses and eligible health and adult social care professionals may instead qualify for the lower-cost Health and Care Worker visa, which generally does not carry the standard annual Immigration Health Surcharge.<\/p>\n Documents applicants may need<\/strong><\/p>\n Applicants will generally need to provide: The COS reference number, a valid passport, details of the job title, salary and occupation code, the employer\u2019s name and sponsor licence number, evidence of English-language ability, bank statements, a tuberculosis test certificate from an approved center in Pakistan, criminal record certificates for certain health, education, therapy and social-service occupations, ECCTIS verification where required; and Certified translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh.<\/p>\n Important restrictions for family members <\/strong><\/p>\n A spouse or partner and children may be able to apply as dependents in some circumstances.<\/p>\n Each dependent normally requires a separate application and may be subject to separate visa fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge and financial requirements.<\/p>\n There are significant restrictions on bringing dependents for people applying for certain care worker, senior care worker and medium-skilled jobs.<\/p>\n Duration of Visa:<\/strong><\/p>\n A Skilled Worker visa can be granted for up to five years. Applicants can generally extend their visa as long as they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.<\/p>\n Anyone changing their employer or certain aspects of their job may need to update their visa before making the change.<\/p>\n