The United Kingdom offers a wide range of work visa routes for people who want to live and work in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Whether you have a skilled job offer from a UK employer, want to stay after graduating from a British university, or plan to launch an innovative business, there is likely a visa category that fits your situation.
This guide covers all major UK work visa types, their requirements, costs, processing times, and how to apply. If you are still planning your initial journey, you may also want to check whether you need a UK ETA for short visits before your work visa begins.
Overview of UK Work Visas
The UK work visa system is managed by the Home Office. Most routes require sponsorship from a licensed UK employer, but some visas let you come to the UK without a job offer. The main categories are:
- Long-term work visas — for people with a confirmed job offer (Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker)
- Graduate and youth visas — for recent graduates and young adults (Graduate visa, Youth Mobility Scheme)
- Talent and entrepreneurship visas — for leaders in their field or innovative founders (Global Talent, Innovator Founder)
- Temporary and seasonal visas — for short-term roles (Seasonal Worker, Creative Worker)
- Ancestry and other routes — for people with specific family or nationality connections (UK Ancestry visa)
Before applying, use the free GOV.UK visa checker to confirm which route applies to your nationality and circumstances.
Long-Term Work Visas
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker visa is the most common UK work visa. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa and allows you to work in an eligible job with a Home Office-approved employer.
Key requirements:
- A confirmed job offer from a licensed UK sponsor
- A certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from your employer
- A job on the list of eligible occupations
- A minimum salary of whichever is higher: £38,700 per year or the going rate for your job
- Proof of English language ability at B2 level (upper intermediate) — this was raised from B1 in January 2026
Duration: Up to 5 years, with the option to extend. After 5 years, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (permanent settlement).
What you can do: Work in your sponsored job, study, bring your partner and children as dependants, travel abroad and return to the UK, do voluntary work, and take on additional work in certain circumstances.
What you cannot do: Claim most public funds or the State Pension, or change jobs without updating your visa.
For full details, see the official GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa page.
Health and Care Worker Visa
The Health and Care Worker visa is a dedicated route for medical professionals, nurses, doctors, and adult social care workers coming to work for the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in the adult social care sector.
Advantages over the standard Skilled Worker visa:
- Lower application fees (from £62 for stays over 3 years)
- No immigration health surcharge (saving over £1,000 per year)
- Faster processing in many cases
The salary and English language requirements still apply, but the cost savings make this the preferred route for eligible healthcare professionals.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
This visa, part of the Global Business Mobility route, allows employees of multinational companies to transfer to a UK branch. It replaced the old Intra-company Transfer visa.
Key requirements:
- An existing employee of an organisation approved by the Home Office
- A certificate of sponsorship
- An eligible occupation
- A minimum salary of £52,500 per year
Duration: Usually up to 5 years, with maximum total stay rules. Graduate trainees have a separate route with different requirements.
Short-Term and Temporary Work Visas
Graduate Visa
The Graduate visa lets international students stay in the UK after completing a qualifying degree at a UK university. You do not need a job offer to apply.
Duration (changing in 2027):
- Applications on or before 31 December 2026: 2 years
- Applications on or after 1 January 2027: 18 months
- PhD or doctoral graduates: 3 years
You must already be in the UK on a Student visa or Tier 4 visa and apply before it expires. This visa cannot be extended, but you can switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you find a sponsored job.
Seasonal Worker Visa
The Seasonal Worker visa is for people coming to the UK to work in horticulture (such as picking fruit and vegetables) for up to 6 months, or in poultry work from 2 October to 31 December each year.
Fee: £340. You need a sponsor and must apply by 15 November for poultry work.
Creative Worker Visa
This visa covers actors, dancers, musicians, film crew members, and other creative professionals who have arranged work in the UK. It replaced the Temporary Worker — Creative and Sporting visa (T5).
Duration: Up to 12 months, or the length of your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days. Fee: £340.
Other Work Visa Routes
Global Talent Visa
The Global Talent visa is for leaders and potential leaders in academia, research, arts and culture, and digital technology. You do not need a job offer, but you must be endorsed by an approved body such as the Royal Society, the British Academy, Tech Nation, or Arts Council England.
This visa gives you the freedom to work for any employer, be self-employed, or switch jobs without restriction.
Innovator Founder Visa
The Innovator Founder visa is designed for entrepreneurs who want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK. Your business idea must be new, viable, and scalable, and it must be endorsed by an approved endorsing body.
Duration: 3 years, extendable for another 3 years. Fee: £1,357 (outside the UK) or £1,693 (extend or switch inside the UK). You can apply for settlement after 3 years if your business meets the requirements.
Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa allows young people aged 18 to 30 (or 35 for some nationalities) from eligible countries to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years. You do not need a job offer.
Participating countries include Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India (via a ballot system), and others. Check the GOV.UK Youth Mobility page for the full list of eligible nationalities.
UK Ancestry Visa
If you are a Commonwealth citizen and one of your grandparents was born in the UK, you may qualify for a UK Ancestry visa. This allows you to work and live in the UK for 5 years and apply for settlement afterwards.
UK Work Visa Costs
Application fees vary by visa type, where you apply from, and how long you plan to stay. Here is a summary of current GOV.UK fees:
| Visa Type | Application Fee | Immigration Health Surcharge | Maintenance Funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | £819 to £1,865 per person | £1,035 per year | Usually £1,270 minimum |
| Health and Care Worker | £324 (up to 3 years) or £62 (over 3 years) | Not required | Usually £1,270 minimum |
| Senior or Specialist Worker | £819 to £1,865 per person | £1,035 per year | Usually £1,270 minimum |
| Graduate | £937 | £1,035 per year | No standard requirement |
| Seasonal Worker | £340 | Usually not required for stays under 6 months | Route-specific |
| Creative Worker | £340 | £1,035 per year | Route-specific |
| Innovator Founder | £1,357 (outside UK) / £1,693 (inside UK) | Payable as part of application | Route-specific |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | £298 | £1,035 per year | £2,530 savings requirement |
The immigration health surcharge (IHS) gives you access to the National Health Service (NHS) during your stay. Students and under-18s pay a reduced rate of £776 per year. If you are eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa, you are exempt from the IHS entirely.
You must usually show you have at least £1,270 in personal savings to support yourself, unless you have already been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or your employer certifies they will cover your first month costs.
How to Apply for a UK Work Visa
The application process is similar for most UK work visas:
- Check your eligibility — Use the GOV.UK visa checker to confirm which route applies to you.
- Secure a job offer and sponsorship — For most work visas, you need a confirmed offer from a licensed UK employer who will provide a certificate of sponsorship.
- Gather your documents — This typically includes your passport, certificate of sponsorship, proof of English language ability, bank statements showing maintenance funds, and any other evidence specific to your visa type.
- Apply online — Submit your application on the GOV.UK website, upload your documents, and pay the application fee and immigration health surcharge.
- Prove your identity — Depending on your nationality and location, you may use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a visa application centre for biometrics (fingerprints and photograph).
- Wait for a decision — Do not travel to the UK until you receive your decision.
You can apply up to 3 months before your employment start date.
UK Work Visa Processing Times
| Where You Apply From | Standard Processing | Priority Service |
|---|---|---|
| Outside the UK | 3 weeks | Available (extra fee) |
| Inside the UK | 8 weeks | Available (extra fee) |
Priority and super-priority services are available for some visa types at additional cost, which can reduce processing to a few working days. Availability depends on the visa route and the country where you apply.
