UK Skilled Worker document checklist for 2026.

A Skilled Worker visa application stands or falls on the Certificate of Sponsorship. The CoS is an electronic record generated by your employer through the UKVI sponsor management system. It contains a unique reference number that links your application to a specific job offer, occupation code, salary, and start date. Without a valid CoS assigned before you apply, the Home Office will reject the application as invalid — they will not accept a promise of a future CoS or a draft from the employer. The CoS must be assigned to you, not just generated for the employer's records.

Beyond the CoS, UKVI requires evidence that the sponsor holds a valid licence, that the occupation code (SOC 2020) is eligible, and that the salary meets both the general threshold and the occupation-specific going rate. English language proficiency must be proved through an approved test, a degree taught in English, or exemption. Maintenance funds (currently GBP 1,270 for the main applicant, lower for some routes) must be held for 28 consecutive days unless the sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS. Each piece of evidence must match the rules in Appendix Skilled Worker and Appendix Skilled Occupations at the time of filing.

The structure of this guide follows the order UKVI caseworkers use: sponsor and CoS first, then job and salary, then English and maintenance, then dependants and suitability. Collecting evidence in this order reduces the chance of overlooking a requirement and makes the file easier for a reviewer to check before submission.

Workers applying from overseas who need to assemble a complete application packet before their biometric appointment. Switching applicants who are changing employer or occupation code within the UK and need to update their visa records. Employers and HR teams preparing CoS records and gathering the supporting documents that UKVI expects. Dependants applying alongside or after the main Skilled Worker applicant who need to submit their own evidence of relationship, maintenance funds, and suitability.

This guide is also for applicants who have received a refusal or an RFE (request for further information) and want to check whether their evidence packet was complete before re-filing. If you are preparing an application, start with the CoS and work outward to avoid the common mistake of submitting documents that do not match the specific requirements of the Skilled Worker route.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Unique reference number from the employer, confirming job title, SOC code, salary, hours, start date, and sponsor licence details. Verify that the occupation code matches the job duties and that the salary figure on the CoS matches the contract and payroll records. The CoS must be assigned to you in the SMS before you submit the visa application. Check the start date — the CoS is valid for 3 months from assignment. If it expires before you file, the employer must assign a new one.

Sponsor licence evidence: The employer must hold a valid A-rated sponsor licence. You can verify this against the Home Office register of licensed sponsors. The licence must cover the Skilled Worker route (not just Tiers 2, 5, or temporary routes). If the employer's licence is suspended or downgraded to B-rating, the application will be refused regardless of your personal eligibility.

Salary evidence: Employment contract, payslips (if already employed), and a letter confirming salary, hours, and benefits. The salary must meet both the general threshold (typically GBP 38,700 per year in 2026) and the occupation-specific going rate. For hourly-paid workers, the annual equivalent is calculated using a 39-hour working week. Allowances such as London weighting, overtime, or bonuses count only if they are guaranteed and contractual. Commission-only or discretionary bonus structures are not considered guaranteed salary for the threshold test.

English language evidence: Approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B1 level or above, a degree taught in English (verified through Ecctis), or exemption based on nationality from a majority English-speaking country. The test certificate must be from an approved provider (IELTS, PTE Academic, LanguageCert, or Trinity College London) and must be valid at the time of application — test results expire after 2 years.

Maintenance funds evidence: Bank statements showing the required funds (typically GBP 1,270 for the main applicant, plus GBP 285 for a dependant partner and GBP 315 per child) held for at least 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of the application date. The funds must be in the applicant's name or the partner's name (with permission to use them). If the employer certifies maintenance on the CoS (box R-LT on the CoS), financial evidence is not required. Sponsors using the certify-maintenance option must be prepared to cover the costs if the applicant cannot support themselves.

Apply before the current visa expires if switching in the UK, or before the CoS expires (3-month validity window) if applying from overseas. Do not travel outside the Common Travel Area while the application is pending — doing so withdraws the application. The application date is the date you submit and pay online, not the date of the biometric appointment. Submit the online form first, then book the biometric appointment within the timeframe specified by UKVI (usually 45 days for overseas and 60 days for in-country applications).

Standard processing from outside the UK is typically 3 weeks after the biometric appointment. From inside the UK, standard processing is approximately 8 weeks. Priority processing (5 working days) and super-priority (next working day) services are available for an additional fee, subject to availability. Processing does not begin until UKVI receives all required documents and the biometric data is captured. Plan the start date to allow for processing time — the new job cannot begin until UKVI confirms the updated permission.

If switching from the Graduate Route, apply before the Graduate visa expires. If applying from overseas, do not travel to the UK until the visa is issued and you have your entry clearance vignette (or eVisa confirmation). The NHS surcharge (IHS) must be paid at the time of application — the current rate is GBP 1,035 per year for the main applicant (check live rates). The IHS covers access to NHS healthcare for the duration of the visa grant.

Audit the case from the CoS outward rather than from the applicant's CV inward. Start with the sponsor and CoS: is the employer's licence valid? Does the CoS occupation code match the job duties? Is the salary figure consistent across the CoS, contract, and payslips? UKVI caseworkers check consistency first — a CoS that says GBP 42,000 but a contract that shows GBP 38,500 creates a mismatch that triggers further questions.

Organise the evidence packet in the same order UKVI expects: identity (passport), sponsor (CoS and licence), job (occupation code and salary), English (test certificate or degree), maintenance (bank statements), and dependants (relationship evidence). Use cover sheets or a table of contents to make each document easy to find. Label bank statements with the applicant's name and date range in the margin. Highlight the 28 consecutive days of funds on maintenance statements with a marker or annotation — caseworkers appreciate not having to calculate holding periods themselves.

If any document is in a language other than English or Welsh, include a certified translation with a translator's declaration. Translations from a non-certified source may be rejected. Check passport validity — the passport must be valid for the entire period of the visa grant. If it expires sooner, renew it before applying or include evidence that renewal is in progress.

Wrong occupation code on the CoS. The single most common Skilled Worker refusal reason is a CoS with an occupation code that does not match the actual job duties. UKVI cross-references the CoS SOC code against the job description. If a software engineer is coded as an IT project manager (different going rate and threshold) or a nurse is coded as a care worker (restricted route), the application will be refused. Verify the SOC code against the official SOC 2020 occupation coding tool before the employer assigns the CoS.

Salary below the going rate. The salary must meet both the general threshold AND the occupation-specific going rate — whichever is higher is the minimum. A salary of GBP 40,000 meets the general threshold of GBP 38,700, but if the going rate for the occupation code is GBP 45,000, the application is below the requirement and will be refused. Check both figures against the live Home Office tables before filing.

Starting the new job before permission is confirmed. Working before UKVI confirms the updated visa is a breach of immigration conditions. Even if the employer is eager for you to start, do not begin work until you have the decision. Starting early can result in refusal, cancellation of the CoS, and a negative impact on future applications.

Assuming dependants are automatically covered. Dependants must be included in the application or apply separately. Their approval is not automatic based on the main applicant's grant. Each dependant must prove their relationship and meet the maintenance funds requirement. Children over 18 who are not financially dependent may need to apply separately.

CoS errors and inconsistencies. A CoS with a typo in the applicant's name, incorrect date of birth, wrong passport number, or mismatched salary is a refusal risk. The caseworker may treat the error as evidence that the employer's HR systems are unreliable. Review the CoS carefully before the employer submits it, and ask for a corrected version if anything is inaccurate.