- British Nationality
- British Citizenship – Automatic Acquisition
British Citizenship – Automatic Acquisition
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.
Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?
We can help you. It’s what we do.
Overview
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.
International Sportspersons visa
This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.
To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.
Indefinite leave to remain
The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.
To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.
What is British Citizenship by Automatic Acquisition?
Under British nationality law, many individuals will automatically be eligible for British citizenship by law, without the need to submit any application. This differs to individuals who may have to make an application to register or naturalise first, to become British. By obtaining a British citizenship by Automatic Acquisition, you will then have the right to enter and live in the United Kingdom, with no restrictions regarding your immigration.
What are the eligibility requirements for British Citizenship by Automatic Acquisition?
To successfully qualify for British Citizenship via this route, this can vary on their status – for instance whether they are born in the UK or outside of the UK. You will need to demonstrate that you are a British citizen by operation of law. This can be confirmed via the following:
(Born inside the UK)
An individual born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006 will automatically be a British citizen, if at the time of their birth, at least one of the following statements applies:
- Their parents are married and either parent is a British citizen.
- Their parents are married and either parent is settled in the UK.
- Their mother is a British citizen.
- Their mother is settled in the UK.
Please note, that applicants who are born in the UK on or after 1 July 2006 will automatically be a British citizen if at the time of their birth either parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK. However, the parents do not need to be married if the child is born on or after this date.
(Born outside the UK)
If the applicant is born outside of the UK on or after 1 January 1983, they will automatically become a British citizen if at the time of their birth, either parent was a British citizen ‘otherwise than by descent’.
However, an individual will be British ‘otherwise than by descent’ if they are naturalised or registered as British or if they were born in the UK to British parents.
What else do I need to know about Automatic Acquisition as a British Citizen?
It’s important to be aware that British nationality law can highly complex, so it’s highly advised that you seek advice from a member of our immigration team, as your precise circumstances will be different to any other person. For instance, you may be eligible for automatic acquisition even if one or more of your siblings is not.
Additionally, the above covers the most common routes of individuals who automatically acquire British citizenship – there are alternative methods where someone could acquire a British passport. For example, this could apply to individuals whose parents were serving in the armed forces or were adopted. Also, individuals born prior to 1 January 1983 may also acquire British citizenship in certain scenarios.
How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?
Our immigration experts have substantial experience assisting with a range of nationality matters and dealing with the complexities of British nationality law. We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our clients’ needs – as a highly driven team, we are committed to delivering results and making your immigration goals to obtain citizenship, a reality. Please contact us today if you would like to find out more about the Automatic Acquisition pathway and discuss your eligibility for this route.
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Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa Application Questions
Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.
The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement.
You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.
The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.
Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.
For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.
Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.
Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.