Streamlining Immigration for International Talent

If you’ve been offered a job in the UK, you’ll likely need to apply for a Skilled Worker visa. Your role must be with a UK-licensed sponsor and meet skill and salary requirements. The visa is typically granted for up to 5 years and can lead to settlement.

Yes, under the Standard Visitor visa, you can visit the UK for permitted business activities such as attending meetings, conferences, or negotiating contracts. However, you cannot work or take up employment while on a visitor visa.

Yes. UK companies with a valid sponsor licence can sponsor international graduates or students switching from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa, provided the job meets the required skill level and salary threshold. This is a common route for retaining international talent post-study.

The Skilled Worker visa is for individuals taking up employment with a UK-based company, often leading to settlement.

The Global Business Mobility (GBM) routes are for overseas businesses transferring staff to the UK temporarily — for example, senior executives, specialists, or graduates on assignment. GBM routes do not lead to settlement.

Yes, there are a few options depending on your circumstances:

• The Innovator Founder visa is ideal for entrepreneurs looking to start an innovative, scalable business in the UK. The business must be endorsed by an approved endorsing body and show genuine potential for growth.
• The UK Expansion Worker visa is part of the Global Business Mobility route and is designed for overseas businesses that are not yet trading in the UK but want to send senior staff to establish a UK presence. This visa does not lead to settlement, and the UK entity must obtain a sponsor licence beforehand.
• Alternatively, if the UK business is already established and has a UK-based ‘authorising officer’ or key personnel, the company can apply for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. This allows the business to sponsor overseas workers directly under the Skilled Worker route.

Each route has specific requirements, and choosing the right one depends on your business model, presence in the UK, and long-term plans.

To sponsor overseas workers, UK employers must apply for a Sponsor Licence. This involves submitting an online application, supporting documents, and demonstrating that your company can manage sponsorship duties. Once approved, you can assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to eligible workers.

From 22 July 2025, the UK government increased the salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas. In most cases, the minimum salary is now:

£41,700 per year (or £17.13 per hour) for most jobs

• Lower salary levels may apply if:
  • The applicant has a relevant PhD
  • The job is on the Immigration Salary List
  • The applicant qualifies as a new entrant (under 26 or early in their career)
  • The job is in healthcare or education, where national pay scales apply

Some transitional rules still apply for workers who were sponsored before April 2024, with lower thresholds in those cases.

Because salary requirements depend on the specific job and applicant’s situation, it's important to check the latest Skilled Worker salary rules or speak with an immigration adviser.