Tier 2/Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa (SWV) is part of the UK immigration Points-Based System and allows individuals to come to, or stay in, the UK if they have an eligible job with an approved employer. 

SWV eligibility

Points requirement

The individual must score a minimum of 70 points from the following attributes:

Other requirements

Finance/Maintenance 

For Skilled Worker Visa applicants, the department can certify that, should it become necessary, you will 'maintain and accommodate' the employee (and their dependants if you wish) up to the end of the first month of each of their grants of permission.

What does it mean in practice?

This is not a commitment to provide additional financial support or pay them in advance; it simply means that the applicant will not need to submit bank statements with their application. However, you should bear in mind that, if you agree and for some reason it is necessary, you would need to provide the funds up to the amounts below.

If you do not wish to certify the ‘Financial Requirement’, then for visa purposes the individual and each of their dependants must meet these requirements:

• The following minimum funds must be held, and evidenced, by the applicant in a bank/savings account for at least 28 days:
  • Main applicant - funds of £1,270
  • Spouse/Partner - funds of £285
  • First child - funds of £315
  • Each additional child - funds of £200

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requirement

International researchers who are applying for a Skilled Worker visa and who meet the eligibility criteria* must have obtained an ATAS certificate before submitting their visa application. The ATAS requirement only applies to certain nationalities, and in certain roles and research fields.

As part of the ATAS application process, the individual will be required to submit information about their programme of research including the relevant 'CAH3' code. This must be arranged by the recruiting department/institution, via an HR58 form.

* For further guidance on the ATAS scheme and making an application, please see:

• our guidance webpages
• our video briefing (May 2021) (Raven login required)
• gov.uk guidance

'Genuine Vacancy'

To meet this requirement, the HR Compliance Team uses RAS and Web Recruitment to monitor and assess the 'record of the text of advert' for any given role.

As part of this requirement, please ensure the following is met so as to avoid issues where sponsorship is required:

• Where under-appointing to a Research Assistant role, please ensure that the advert clearly sets out the terms for under-appointment e.g. where the individual does not yet hold a PhD, they would be be appointed as Research Assistant in the first instance.

• Where a role states that any given qualification is required, a copy of that qualification must be provided with the CoS application form.

Applying for a Skilled Worker Visa

The University provides a list of FAQs to all Skilled Worker Visa CoS recipients regarding the processes and procedures to obtain a visa. These are provided by e-mail to the applicant alongside the CoS.

Anyone applying inside the UK must apply for their new visa before their existing visa expires. Failure to do so will jeopardise their ability to start work/continue working for the University.

Sponsor duties

To hold a sponsor licence, the University must adhere to requirements set out by the UK government. Please see our Sponsor Duties webpage for full details.

Skilled Worker Visa conditions

• The individual will not be allowed access to state benefits or other public funds. See the UKVI website for full definitions.
• The only work that they can do is:
  • The job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), working for the designated sponsor; and
  • Supplementary work which must be in a sponsorable occupation code or in a job on the Immigration Skills List, outside their normal working hours and for up to 20 hours per week; and
  • Voluntary work.

Family members

A Skilled Worker Visa holder’s family members are allowed to work if they are accompanying or joining them in the UK provided they have the correct visa to do so. Please see our dependant visas webpage for guidance.

Fees

A Skilled Worker Visa CoS will cost the faculty/department £239.

The individual is responsible for paying the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. The total cost will depend on the length of the visa.