Family Visas UK

Apply to Update a Skilled Worker Visa UK

: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 02 February 2026

You can apply to update your Skilled Worker visa if you change your job and your new job is with a different employer / skilled worker sponsor. According to the Home Office, UKVI Guidance on Skilled Worker visa, you will need to apply to update your Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) work visa if:

you want to change your job, and your new job is with a different employer
your job changes to a different occupation code, and you are not in a graduate training programme
you leave a job that is on the shortage occupation list for a job that is not on the list

Premium Solicitors, open 7 days a week and 365 days a year, are specialist UK immigration solicitors. The high quality of UK visa and immigration services provided by our best team of fully qualified and experienced SRA-regulated immigration solicitors is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients.

Your employer/sponsor must assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for you to apply for to update your Skilled Worker visa. If your prospective employer does not hold a sponsor licence, our specialist team of sponsor licence solicitors can provide priority service to your prospective employer with an application for a skilled worker sponsor licence to get a decision on the sponsor licence application within 10 working days.

Free Immigration Advice for Updating Skilled Worker Visa

Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can provide a free, one-off 5-minute immigration advice session regarding your application to update your skilled worker visa. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our expert immigration solicitors concerning your application to update your skilled worker visa.

Requirements for Updating a Skilled Worker Visa

An application to update a skilled worker visa is made in accordance with the requirements set out in Appendix Skilled Workers, Appendix Skilled Occupations, Appendix Temporary Shortage List and Appendix Immigration Salary List. The Skilled Worker visa is a Point Based System (PBS) visa category, and points can be awarded for the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), job skill level, English language, appropriate Salary, PhD level qualifications, a job on the Immigration Salary List, and the applicant applying as a new entrant.

A total of 70 points is required to be eligible to apply for updating the Skilled Worker visa; 50 points are mandatory non-tradeable points, and the remaining 20 are tradeable points.

To be eligible to update your Skilled Worker visa / Tier 2 General visa, you should meet the following requirements:

You must be in the UK with leave to remain as a Tier 2 General migrant or as a Skilled Worker;
You must be either:
- changing your job and your new job is with a different employer
- changing your job to a different occupation code, and you are not in a graduate training programme
- leaving a job that is on the shortage occupation list for a job that is not on the list
You must score 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points;
You must score at least 20 points from tradeable points;
If you have not lawfully lived in the UK for the last 12 months, you must meet the financial requirement by showing a balance of not less than £1270 maintained in your account for the last 28 days or your Skilled Worker sponsor has certified your maintenance in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS);
meet the suitability criteria and not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal;

You must not be:

in breach of immigration laws, except that where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
on immigration bail.

Salary Requirements For Skilled Worker Visa UK

To succeed in the Skilled Worker visa application, the applicant must score 50 points from mandatory non-tradeable points and at least 20 points from tradeable points.

Mandatory Non-Tradeable Points For Skilled Worker Visa

The applicant must score 50 mandatory non-tradeable points to succeed in an application for a Skilled Worker visa, and the remaining 20 points can be scored from tradeable points. The mandatory non-tradeable points are given in the table below:

Characterstics	Points
Sponsorship	20
Job at an appropriate skill level	20
English language	10

Tradeable Points For Skilled Worker Visa UK

The application process for skilled worker visas asks applicants and sponsors to provide all relevant information that might attract tradeable points. Applicants can score tradeable points in more than one way (although they cannot mix and match different options). To secure a successful skilled worker visa, an applicant must amass 20 tradeable points. These points can be acquired through various options, each offering its own set of criteria for point allocation. However, please note that the applicant can claim 20 points from only one of the available options.

The applicant must be awarded 20 points from one of the options in the table below, and for the purpose of meeting these points:

(a) An applicant can only be awarded points from options A to E, unless they meet the requirements in (b) or (c).

(b) An applicant can only be awarded points from options F to J if:

(i) they are being sponsored for a Health and Care ASHE salary job; or
(ii) the date of application is before 4 April 2030, they were granted permission as a Skilled Worker under the rules in place before 4 April 2024, and they have had continuous permission as a Skilled Worker since then (except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded).

(c) An applicant can only be awarded points from option K if they are being sponsored for a job in an appropriate eligible SOC 2020 occupation code listed in Table 3 or Table 3a of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

Salary Requirements Under Options A to E

The salary requirements for skilled worker visa under options A to E changed from 22 July 2025. Various options to score 20 tradeable points for meeting the salary requirement as per the new skilled worker visa rules, effective from 22 July 2025, for a skilled worker visa UK are as follows:

Meeting Salary Requirements Under Option A

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option A in accordance with the requirements of paragraph SW8.1 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

£41,700 per year; and
The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code, as set out in Table 1 or Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option B (PhD in a Subject Relevant To The Job)

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option B as per the requirements of paragraphs SW9.1 to SW9.4 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£37,500 per year; and
90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 or Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option C (PhD in a STEM Subject Relevant To The Job)

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option C according to the requirements of paragraphs SW10.1 to SW10.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£33,400 per year; and
80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 or Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option D (Job On The Immigration Salary List)

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option D in accordance with the requirements of SW11.1 to SW11.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£33,4000 per year; and
The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 or Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option E (New Entrant)

The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option E as per the requirements of SW12.1 to 12.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£33,400 per year and
70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 1 or Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Salary Requirements Under Options F to J

An applicant for a skilled worker visa can only be awarded 20 points from options F to J if:

They are being sponsored for a Health and Care ASHE salary job; or
The date of application is before 4 April 2030, they were granted permission as a Skilled Worker under the rules in place before 4 April 2024, and they have had continuous permission as a Skilled Worker since then (except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded).

The salary requirements for skilled worker visa under options F to J changed from 22 July 2025. Various options to score 20 tradeable points for meeting the salary requirement as per the new skilled worker visa rules, effective from 22 July 2025, for a skilled worker visa UK are as follows:

Meeting Salary Requirement With Option F

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 tradeable points under Option F as per the requirements of SW8.1 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

£31,300 per year; and
The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2, Table 2aa or Table 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option G (PhD in a Subject Relevant To The Job)

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 tradeable points under Option G in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs SW9.1 to 9.4 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£28,200 per year; and
90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2, Table 2aa or Table 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option H (PhD in a STEM Subject Relevant To The Job)

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 points under Option H in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs SW9.1 to 9.4 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£25,000 per year; and
80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2, Table 2aa or Table 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option I (Job On The Immigration Salary List)

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 tradeable points under Option I in accordance with the requirements of SW11.1 to SW11.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£25,000 per year; and
the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2, Table 2aa or Table 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option J (New Entrant)

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa can score 20 tradeable points under Option E as per the requirements of SW12.1 to 12.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£25,000 per year and
70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 2, Table 2aa or Table 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Option K (Job in a Listed Health or Education Occupation)

Some health and education occupation codes are listed in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The going rates for these occupations are taken from national pay scales, and no discounts to the going rates are available. If an applicant is being sponsored in an occupation code in Table 3, they can only score tradeable points based on option K.

The applicant applying for a skilled worker visa UK can score 20 tradeable points under Option K in accordance with requirements of SW13.1 to 13.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if the applicant is being sponsored for a job in a listed health or education occupation and their salary equals or exceeds both:

£25,000 per year; and
The going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code as set out in Table 3, 3a, 4 or 5 of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

Can I Use Priority/Super Priority Service?

As specialist skilled worker visa solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners TLSContact to provide Priority/Super Priority Service for updating a skilled worker visa whereby a decision on your skilled worker visa application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your application through Super Priority Service or within 5 working days if you submit your application through Priority Service.

Our skilled worker visa solicitors can prepare and submit your application to update your skilled worker visa, helping you get a decision faster through Priority or Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait for the decision on your Skilled Worker visa application for months.

How Can We Help With Updating the Skilled Worker Visa?

Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation for your application to update your Skilled Worker visa on a fixed-fee basis. Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can fully represent you in your application to update your skilled worker visa, covering all aspects of your application until the Home Office UKVI makes a decision. The immigration casework to be carried out by our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our skilled worker visa solicitors will advise you on the requirements you must meet for your application to update your skilled worker visa to be successful.

Documentary advice: Our skilled worker visa solicitors will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted with your application to update your skilled worker visa.

Assessing documents: Our skilled worker visa solicitors will review your documents to ensure that all those you provide in support of your application comply with the immigration rules.

Completing the application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the required form for your skilled worker visa update.

Priority or Super Priority Service: If required, our skilled worker visa solicitors will submit your online skilled worker visa application through priority/super priority service to obtain a faster decision on your skilled worker visa update.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After you submit your application to update your skilled worker visa online, our skilled worker visa solicitors will book your appointment with the application centre to enrol your biometrics.

Detailed cover letter: Our skilled worker visa solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the application to update the skilled worker visa, explaining all relevant legal requirements and how the applicant has satisfied them, along with the documents submitted with the application.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload all supporting documents online for your application to update your skilled worker visa.

Follow-up work: Our immigration lawyers will do all the follow-up work until the Home Office UKVI decides on your application to update your skilled worker visa.

Specialist Skilled Worker Visa Solicitors

Our skilled worker visa solicitors are specialists in updating skilled worker visas. As one of the best skilled worker visa solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients successfully update their skilled worker visas. Our highly experienced and fully qualified skilled worker visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your application to update a skilled worker visa.

The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients. Our London-based immigration solicitors are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, offering unwavering dedication and exceptional legal support for a wide range of UK visa and immigration cases. Our team of highly regarded immigration solicitors brings together more than 6 decades of collective, specialised expertise in successfully handling UK visa and immigration applications.

Meet Our Team of Skilled Worker Visa Solicitors in London

At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our skilled worker visa solicitors in London. We understand that immigration matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the application process with professionalism and care.

Our team comprises a diverse group of skilled worker visa solicitors, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.