Updated for 2026 policy

🇬🇧 Skilled Worker Visa

Sponsor-based UK work visa with ILR pathway

The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's primary employer-sponsored work visa. It allows workers to be sponsored by a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence, in an eligible occupation paying at least the required salary threshold.

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4.9 ★ on Google & JustDial · 12,000+ families since 2016

Filed from

Pune · Since 2016

Timeline

3-8 weeks standard; 5 working days priority; next working day super priority.

Investment

Professional fees ₹95,000+…

Success rate

94% approvals

Families filed

12,000+ since 2016

Chapter 01

The 2024-2026 Skilled Worker overhaul

In April 2024 the Home Office raised the general Skilled Worker salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700. The Shortage Occupation List was replaced by the Immigration Salary List which offers a narrower salary discount (80% of the going rate, rather than 80% of the general threshold).

New entrants — applicants under 26, those switching from Student or Graduate visas, and specific STEM PhD holders — qualify for a lower £30,960 threshold. Certain listed occupations retain access to Reduced Salary Thresholds specific to the role.

Chapter 02

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Every Skilled Worker application requires a CoS issued by a UK employer with a valid Worker sponsor licence. The CoS is a virtual reference number confirming the job details, salary, duties, SOC code and expected start date. Defined CoS (for out-of-country applicants) and Undefined CoS (in-country) have different assignment rules.

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Check your United Kingdom PR score in 2 minutes

Answer a few questions and get an indicative score, a factor-by-factor breakdown and your gap against current 2026 cut-offs.

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Eligibility scorecard

Do you qualify for Skilled Worker?

Every box below counts. Meet 70% or more and you're a strong candidate — book a free assessment and we'll map the exact CRS / points / score.

Job offer from a UK employer with a valid Worker sponsor licence
Job at RQF Level 3 or higher (recognised skilled level)
Salary at or above the higher of £38,700 or the going rate for the SOC code (with new-entrant / ISL / listed-occupation adjustments)
English Level B1 or higher (IELTS UKVI Life Skills, degree taught in English etc.)
Sufficient maintenance funds (£1,270 held for 28 days) unless certified by sponsor
TB test if from a listed country including India

Total timeline

3-8 weeks standard; 5 working days priority; next working day super priority.

Investment

Professional fees ₹95,000+. Government fees: application fee £625-£1,500 depending on route, IHS £1,035/year, priority service optional.

Mark Consultant advantage

Written scope · Fixed fee · Licensed advisors · 94% approval rate

UK Home Office / Migration Advisory Committee · Post-2024 salary reforms, reviewed 2026

Is your occupation on the United Kingdom shortage list?

Skilled Worker selection is driven by occupation demand. See the full Immigration Salary List & Skilled Worker eligible occupations with official codes, indicative 2026 salaries and the visa route each job unlocks.

View in-demand occupations

The process

How we file your Skilled Worker

A transparent, milestone-based process. You always know what stage your file is at.

01
Step 1 of 6
Sponsor & CoS verification
Confirm sponsor holds a valid licence and CoS issuance timing.
02
Step 2 of 6
Skills & salary check
SOC code check, going-rate confirmation and salary evidence.
03
Step 3 of 6
English & maintenance
IELTS UKVI Life Skills or equivalent, and 28-day bank statement.
04
Step 4 of 6
Online application
Skilled Worker online application, IHS payment and appointment booking.
05
Step 5 of 6
VAC biometrics & documents
VFS Global Pune / Mumbai for biometrics and document submission.
06
Step 6 of 6
Decision & travel
Vignette in passport, travel to UK, collect BRP / activate eVisa.

Document checklist

Everything you'll need to file

Every document is pre-verified for accuracy, chronology and destination-country standards before submission.

19 documents · fully managed

Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond intended stay
Recent passport-sized photographs meeting country-specific dimensions
Educational certificates and consolidated mark-sheets (SSC, HSC, degree, PG)
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA / WES / IQAS) where required
Detailed CV with month-precise employment history
Experience letters on company letterhead with roles, responsibilities and salary
Latest three years of income tax returns and Form 16
Bank statements for last six months (personal and business)
English language proficiency proof (IELTS, PTE, CELPIP, TOEFL, Duolingo as accepted)
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from all countries of 6+ months residence since age 18
Upfront medical examination from panel physicians when required
Marriage certificate and spouse's supporting documents if adding dependents
Birth certificates of dependent children
Proof of funds — fixed deposits, mutual funds, property valuation, sponsor affidavits
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number
Job offer letter and contract of employment
IELTS UKVI Life Skills B1 / degree in English
Maintenance funds evidence (28 days) or sponsor certification
TB test certificate

Mark Consultant filed our Skilled Worker end-to-end. Written scope, fixed fee, honest timeline — no follow-up chasing. We landed in United Kingdom exactly when they said we would.

Verified client family

United Kingdom · Filed through Pune office

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Documents Required

Documents Required for UK

Complete document checklist for UK visas

FAQs

Skilled Worker Visa — Common questions

Can I switch from Student to Skilled Worker in the UK?

Yes — switching in-country is allowed and eligible for the new-entrant salary discount for many applicants.

Why is Mark Consultant considered the best visa and immigration consultant?

Since 2016 we have filed 12,000+ approved visas from Pune with a 4.9-star client rating on Google and JustDial. We are known as the best visa and immigration consultants because we sign written scope-and-fee agreements, refuse to over-promise outcomes and assign a single accountable case manager to every file. Our team is trained on ICCRC-aligned processes and stays current with monthly IRCC, Home Affairs, UKVI, USCIS, INZ and BAMF policy changes.

Are you the best visa consultants in Pune and India?

Client-rated yes — Mark Consultant is repeatedly ranked among the best visa consultants in Pune and the best visa consultants in India for permanent residency, skilled work and student visas. Our reputation is built on transparent pricing, refusal to file weak cases and post-landing settlement help.

Can you guarantee a visa approval?

No ethical consultant can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the immigration authority. What we guarantee is an accurate eligibility assessment, honest advice on the strongest visa route for your profile, forensically prepared documents and a filing that maximises your approval odds.

What documents do you review for a free assessment?

For a free 30-minute assessment we review your latest CV, passport bio page, highest education mark-sheets and any English test scores you already have. If you don't have IELTS/PTE yet, we still run an indicative eligibility calculation and share a step plan by email.

Book a free assessment

File your Skilled Worker with Pune's best immigration consultants

Honest eligibility read within 24 hours. Written scope, written fees, and a single accountable case manager from day one to landing.

Call +91 91194 49942 Book free assessment →

Why 12,000+ clients trust us

✓ 9+ years in Pune — since 2016
✓ 4.9★ average rating, verified reviews
✓ Written fee agreements, no surprises
✓ ICCRC-aligned filing processes
✓ Post-landing support in destination country

Free visa assessment

Get a free eligibility check for your visa

Share a few details — a licensed advisor will call you within 24 hours with an honest read on your profile.

✓ Response within 24 hours by a licensed advisor
✓ Written scope and fixed fee — no hidden charges
✓ 9+ years, 12,000+ successful cases across India

Prefer to talk?

+91 91194 49942 info@markconsultant.in