UK Tier 2 Visa for Skilled Workers

UK medical worker on a Tier 2 visa

The UK Tier 2 visa route is reserved for highly skilled international workers with a job offer from a UK company that holds a valid Tier 2 sponsor licence. The UK work visa is currently used for non-EU immigration to the UK only.

From 1 January 2021, the Tier 2 visa scheme will apply to EU immigration. Skilled workers from EU member states will require a UK work visa under the post-Brexit immigration bill that ends EU-UK freedom of movement rights.

The UK has a multi-diverse workforce, represented by hundreds of nationalities from around the world, and welcomes people with high-level professional skills.

How Our London UK Visa Solicitors Can Help

With some of the best Tier 2 visa solicitors in the UK, we will assess your eligibility to apply for a UK skilled worker visa and help you with your immigration application. The UK work visa scheme has several different categories under which you can apply. We will ensure that you apply for the right visa for you.

You will be assigned a dedicated Tier 2 skilled visa lawyer to support you with your application every step of the way. We will work with you to ensure that its complete and accurate, and gather the necessary documentation to support your application.

In most cases, we can file your skilled worker visa application on the same day!

Tier 2 Visa for Work Requirements

The Tier 2 visa operates under the UK immigration points-based system. To qualify for the skilled worker visa, you must score a minimum of 70 points, which are awarded as follows:

  • 50 points for having an employer with a valid Tier 2 sponsor licence that assigns you a certificate of sponsorship.
  • 10 points for English language skills (excluding intra-company transfer visas).
  • 10 points for maintenance, which means the funds you have available to support yourself.

While you need a minimum of 70 points to be eligible for a Tier 2 work permit, it’s not a guarantee that you will be approved. Your application will be considered by the Home Office against their General Grounds for Refusal criteria.

Additional eligibility requirements include:

  • Having a job offer from a UK-based company
  • A valid certificate of sponsorship issued by an employer with a valid Tier 2 sponsorship licence
  • Earning a salary that meets the minimum threshold
  • Meeting specific English language requirements
  • Being over the age of 16 on the day that you apply
  • Passing the ‘genuine vacancy test’, which means that your skills must fit the job you will be doing in the UK
  • Providing proof of available funds to support yourself without relying on UK public funds

Types of Tier 2 Work Permit

There are four types of Tier 2 work permit:

#1 – Tier 2 (General) visa – This is the most common type of skilled worker visa issued for non-EEA immigration to the UK. The Tier 2 (General) visa is granted to skilled migrants to fill jobs on the UK shortage occupation list or other roles requiring specialist skills.

#2 – Tier 2 intra-company transfer (ICT) visa – This visa enables non-EEA migrants to transfer from an overseas office to a UK branch of the company they work for on a temporary basis. This work permit is split into two sub-categories:

  • Long term staff – reserved for those who have worked for their company for a minimum of 12 months prior to a UK transfer. This option allows for a stay in the UK of up to 5 years.
  • Graduate trainee – available to recent graduate recruits transferring to a UK branch of the company they work for to train. This option allows a maximum stay in the UK of 12 months.

#3 – Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) – issued to religious officials coming to the UK for the purposes of preaching or pastoral work. Missionaries and members of religious orders can also qualify for UK entry under this visa.

#4 – Tier 2 (Sportsperson) – granted to sporting professionals or coaches whose work will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport in the UK.

Benefits of a Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visa

The UK work visa, with the exception of the Tier 2 ICT, provides a pathway to UK settled status – otherwise known as indefinite leave to remain – after five years in the country. The five years can include time spent in the UK under another visa category, such as the Tier 1 visa.

For more information on applying for settled status under a skilled worker visa, talk to our specialist UK immigration solicitors, now.

The main holder of a UK work permit can also bring their partner or spouse and children to the UK. Dependants of Tier 2 visa holders can work in the UK unrestricted.

Apply for a UK Work Permit 

If you’re a non-UK skilled worker with a job offer in Britain, speak to our specialist skilled worker visa lawyers in London for help to secure your work visa.

If you’re in the UK under a different UK visa category, such as a Tier 1 visa or Tier 4 student visa, and you’re interested in switching to a Tier 2 visa, get in touch with our experienced UK immigration lawyers to discuss your options.

For personalised, professional assistance with your UK work visa application, call Ash Norton Solicitors on +44 (0)207 629 3633 or click here to get in touch.


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