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Tourist Visa

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.

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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 the Tourist Visa?

The UK Standard Visitor is an ideal route for applicants who intend to enter the UK for a short stay. This can be for several reasons including – leisure (for tourism, visiting family and friends), for business-related activities, sporting, or creative events and even for receiving medical treatment in the UK.  

With this route, it is impossible to switch into an alternative visa category from the visitor visa once you are in the UK. If this is the case, you would be required to return to your country of residence and apply from there with a valid visa route.  

Who can apply for a Tourist Visa?

You can visit the UK on this route if you are not planning to stay for longer than 6 months and that you have enough money to maintain yourself, during your time in the UK and fund your return travel also. You may be applicable for this route, if you intend to come to the UK for leisure, business or other reasons, as long as it doesn’t exceed the maximum stay.  

What are the requirements?

Compared to other visa routes, the Tourist Visa route is quite limited in its eligibility requirements. However, besides being able to provide your passport or valid travel document to enter the UK, you must be able to demonstrate that: 

  • You plan to leave the UK at the end of your visit. 
  • You’re able to support yourself and your dependents during your trip (or have funding from someone to help support you financially). 
  • You can pay for your return or onward journey.  
  • You do not intend to live in the UK for extended periods of time or make the UK your main residence.  

Please note, that depending on the purpose of your visit to the UK this may dictate any extra eligibility requirements that must be met.  

What is the Tourist Visa processing time?

Under this Tourist Visa, you can expect a decision from the Home Office within 3 weeks, if applying from overseas. However, do expect there to be ongoing delays in processing services which can result in your visa application being decided after 6 weeks, in some cases longer.  

You can apply up to three months before your intended date of travel – fast tracked processing within 5 working days is potentially available in some visa centres, which is something that we can assist you with.  

How to apply for the Tourist Visa?

To apply for a Tourist Visa, you will be required to fill out an online application form via the Home Office website. This will usually involve submitting supporting documents to help prove your eligibility for the visa. Please note, that to apply for the UK visitor visa you will need to apply from outside the UK. You may also be required to attend an appointment at a visa appointment centre in your country of residence, where you will typically be asked to provide biometric information and questioned about how genuine your status is as a ‘visitor’.  

How long does a Tourist Visa last?

Under this visa category, the applicant can remain in the UK for 6 months. There are circumstances whereby the applicant can remain longer – for example, you can stay for longer if you’re receiving medical treatment (up to 11 months).  

Moreover, the long-term visitor visa may be a viable option if you are looking to make frequent visits over an extensive period – such as 2, 5 or potentially 10 years. However, please note that you can only remain in the UK for up to 6 months at one given time.  

How much does it cost to get a Tourist Visa?

Under the current route, it can cost £100 for the standard 6 month stay. On the other hand, if you are travelling for medical reasons, the cost is £200 for 6 months, or £200 for academic visitors.  

Additionally, if you intend to visit the UK on a longer-term visa it can cost £376 for the 2-year visit visa, £670 for the 5-year visit or £837 for the 10-year visit visa.   

Can I apply for the Tourist Visa if I am a dependent?

Under this visa route, you may visit the UK if you’re under 18 if you meet the necessary requirements. For instance, you must be able to demonstrate to the Home Office that you have made suitable arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK. Additionally, you must have written consent from your parent or guardian if you decide to travel to the UK alone. You must be able to demonstrate that you are self-sufficient financially and have enough money to support yourself regarding travelling to the UK and back, as well as any additional living costs once you arrive in the UK – without relying on any public funding.  

How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?

As a team of immigration advisors, we have established reputation for advising on the most appropriate immigration route for your needs and supporting you with completing the application as effectively and accurately as possible. We understand the stress involved when completing a visa application, so we take great pride in ensuring that we deal with the complexities of the Home Office, so that you can feel more at ease during this time. Please contact us today for further information.  

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.