A UK Skilled Worker visa applied for outside the applicant’s home country needs a sponsorship licence, a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), proof of English language proficiency, financial evidence, and a suite of identity and qualification documents. This concise list satisfies the core requirements in 45 words, giving you a quick reference before diving deeper.
First, the employer must hold a UK Home Office‑approved sponsorship licence and issue a unique Certificate of Sponsorship. The CoS includes the job’s SOC code, salary, and start date, and is the cornerstone of the application, confirming that the role meets the minimum salary threshold of £26,200 or the ‘going rate’ for the occupation.
English language proof is mandatory. Acceptable evidence includes a UK‑recognized academic degree taught in English, a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider with at least a B1 level on the CEFR, or a valid UKVI‑approved exemption such as citizenship of a majority‑English speaking country.
Financial requirements differ when applying from a second country. If the applicant cannot demonstrate sufficient maintenance funds in a UK bank, they must show at least £1,270 held for 28 days in a personal account, or provide a certified sponsor maintenance guarantee. This ensures the applicant can support themselves upon arrival.
Identity documents are standard: a current passport valid for the entire stay, a recent passport‑style photograph, and, where applicable, a biometric residence permit (BRP) from any previous UK visa. If the applicant has a previous UK visa, the old BRP should be included for reference.
Educational and professional qualifications must be documented. This includes original degree certificates, transcripts, and professional registration where required (e.g., nursing, engineering). The documents should be translated into English by a certified translator if they are in another language.
Criminal record checks are essential. A police clearance certificate from the applicant’s country of residence, and any other country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the past ten years, must be submitted. The certificate should be recent (typically within three months) and, if not in English, accompanied by a certified translation.
Health requirements involve completing an online TB test if the applicant is from a listed country, and possibly a medical examination. The TB test results and medical assessment reports must be uploaded as PDF files, which MyVisaAI can help format correctly for the UKVI portal.
Additional supporting evidence may be required depending on the role. For example, a Certificate of Registration with a professional body, a letter confirming sponsorship from the employer, or proof of previous UK work experience. MyVisaAI’s intelligent PDF form assistance ensures each document is placed in the correct section of the application.
Finally, the applicant should prepare a detailed cover letter summarizing the application, linking each document to the corresponding requirement, and confirming the accuracy of all information. Using MyVisaAI’s step‑by‑step checklist, you can verify that no required file is missed before submission.
For a holistic view of related visa processes, see our guide on What are the eligibility requirements for a US L-1 intra-company transfer visa? and learn how AI can streamline fee calculations in our post on How to use an AI tool to compare US visa fee structures across categories.
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