UK Visa Sponsorship Requirements: Documents, English and Fees (2026)
UK Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa requirements in 2026: documents, B2 English, salary rules, £819 fee, £1,035 surcharge and refusal reasons.
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Step 2 of 3: Requirements
As of 2026, a Skilled Worker visa for up to 3 years costs £819 from outside the UK, plus a healthcare surcharge of usually £1,035 a year. Health and Care Worker visas cost much less and skip the surcharge. The next page shows how to apply, step by step.
Which route are you most interested in? Tap it to see the steps.
Which visa fits you?
✅ Who is eligible
GOV.UK says that for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:
- Work for a UK employer that the Home Office has approved as a sponsor
- Have a certificate of sponsorship from that employer with details of your job
- Have a confirmed job offer before you apply
- Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations
- Be paid at least the minimum salary for your type of work
The Health and Care Worker visa has the same basic shape, but it's for qualified doctors, nurses, health professionals and adult social care professionals in eligible jobs. For new applicants from abroad, eligible jobs include doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, physiotherapists and pharmacists. Care workers and senior care workers are no longer open to new applicants from overseas.
💷 Salary rules (as of 2026)
| Situation | Minimum salary |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, general rule | £41,700 a year or the going rate, whichever is higher |
| Skilled Worker, some cases outside health and education | £33,400 a year |
| Health and Care Worker | Usually £25,000 or the going rate, whichever is higher |
| Healthcare and education jobs | Going rates based on national pay scales |
Medium skilled jobs can only qualify if they're on the immigration salary list or the Temporary Shortage List. Check your occupation code and its going rate on GOV.UK before you apply anywhere.
Sure you meet the rules? See exactly how to apply, from finding a sponsor to your visa decision.
🗣️ The English requirement
For a new Skilled Worker visa, you must prove English at level B2 on the CEFR scale. You can usually prove it with a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider, a degree taught in English (with an Ecctis check if it's from outside the UK), or certain UK school qualifications.
Nationals of some countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA, don't need to prove it. Doctors, nurses and midwives may be exempt if they passed an English assessment accepted by their professional body.
📄 Documents you'll need
- Your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer
- Proof of your English
- A valid passport
- Your job title, annual salary and occupation code
- Your employer's name and sponsor licence number, which are on your CoS
- Bank statements showing your savings, unless your employer certifies maintenance
- Tuberculosis test results, if you're from a listed country
- A criminal record certificate if you're applying from outside the UK for a job in education, healthcare, therapy or social services
Documents not in English or Welsh need a certified translation.
💰 Costs and who pays what (as of 2026)
| Cost | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa fee (outside UK) | £819 up to 3 years; £1,618 over 3 years | You |
| Skilled Worker, immigration salary list job | £628 up to 3 years; £1,235 over 3 years | You |
| Health and Care Worker visa fee | £324 up to 3 years; £628 over 3 years | You |
| Healthcare surcharge | Usually £1,035 a year (not paid on Health and Care Worker visa) | You |
| Savings | £1,270 held for 28 days, unless exempt | You, or your employer certifies |
| Certificate of sponsorship | £525 | Employer only |
| Immigration Skills Charge | £480 (small or charitable) or £1,320 (medium or large) for the first 12 months | Employer only |
GOV.UK says employers must pay the CoS fee and the Immigration Skills Charge themselves, and asking a worker to pay them can lead to the sponsor losing its licence. Partners and children each pay their own fees too.
Now you know the costs, here's how to apply without making expensive mistakes.
⚠️ Common reasons applications go wrong
- Salary too low. The pay is below £41,700 or the going rate for the occupation code.
- Job not eligible. The occupation isn't on the eligible list, or it's medium skilled and not on a shortage list.
- Care worker offers from abroad. New overseas applications for these roles closed on 22 July 2025.
- English not proved at B2. The test or degree doesn't meet GOV.UK's rules.
- Savings not held long enough. The £1,270 must be in your account for 28 days in a row.
- Fake or paid-for CoS. GOV.UK warns that paying for a CoS risks a fake certificate and a refused visa.
❓ Quick answers
Can I get a UK work visa without a job offer?
Should I pay for my certificate of sponsorship?
How long does a decision take?
Can my family come with me?
On the next page: 6 steps from checking the Register of Licensed Sponsors to applying on GOV.UK, plus how to spot fake job offers and CoS scams.
🌍 More work-abroad guides
Comparing countries? These guides cover other employer-sponsored routes.
Disclaimer: This is an independent information website. We are not an employer, recruitment agency or immigration adviser, and we are not connected to the Home Office or UK Visas and Immigration. We don't hire, sponsor or place anyone, and we don't collect applications. Immigration rules, salary thresholds and fees change often, so always check GOV.UK before you act. Never pay anyone for a job offer, a certificate of sponsorship or a "guaranteed" visa.