Can I switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK?

Often yes, if you are already in the UK on an eligible visa and meet the requirements, you may be able to switch without leaving. Some routes cannot switch, so check your current visa's rules.

Does the salary threshold change?

Yes. The Home Office updates the general threshold and occupation 'going rates' periodically. Always confirm the current figure for your occupation code on gov.uk.

Can my family come with me?

Partners and children can usually apply as dependants if you meet the requirements. They have their own application and fees.

UK Skilled Worker visa basics

Plain-language guide · United Kingdom · general information

You need a licensed sponsor first

The Skilled Worker visa is employer-led. You need a confirmed job from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence, and they must issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for a specific role. Without a licensed sponsor and a CoS, you cannot apply on this route — so the job offer comes before the visa.

The job must meet a skill level

The role must be an eligible occupation at the required skill level set by the Home Office. Not every job qualifies; the occupation and its code determine eligibility and the salary rules that apply. Your sponsor normally identifies the correct occupation code when they assign the CoS.

Salary thresholds

You must be paid at least the applicable minimum — usually the higher of a general threshold and the specific 'going rate' for your occupation, with some lower thresholds for certain cases. These figures are updated by the Home Office, so always check the current amount for your occupation rather than an old number.

English, fees and settlement

You will generally need to prove English at the required level, pay the application fee and the immigration health surcharge, and show you meet the other requirements. The Skilled Worker route can lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after a qualifying period of continuous residence, if you still meet the rules at that time.

Tip: the single most important early question is whether the employer is a licensed sponsor and can issue a CoS for your specific role — confirm that before anything else.

Common questions

Can I switch to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK?: Often yes, if you are already in the UK on an eligible visa and meet the requirements, you may be able to switch without leaving. Some routes cannot switch, so check your current visa's rules.
Does the salary threshold change?: Yes. The Home Office updates the general threshold and occupation 'going rates' periodically. Always confirm the current figure for your occupation code on gov.uk.
Can my family come with me?: Partners and children can usually apply as dependants if you meet the requirements. They have their own application and fees.

The details turn on your specific job offer. Tell the assistant about the role and sponsor for a plain-language check.

This guide is general information about the UK Skilled Worker visa and is not immigration advice. Salary thresholds, occupation lists and rules change; confirm current requirements on gov.uk or with an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (formerly the OISC).