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Helpful eligibility checker tool for those seeking a UK Skilled Worker Visa
Attention: the removal of the Skilled Worker Visa eligibility checker
As of April 2024, the UK Government no longer hosts an eligibility checker tool on its website.
However, there are still ways that you can check if your role is eligible.Â
First, you will need to find your job’s occupation code. To do this, you can use CASCOT’s occupation code tool to search for your job title.Â
When you use CASCOT, you will need to input your job title. Please ensure that you are as specific as possible. It will then provide a list of all roles related to yours, with the most relevant ones being at the top. There will be a score on the right, with a higher number meaning a greater match; they will also be coloured green.Â
Once you have your code, you will need to find out if the role you want to do is eligible or not. The UK Government’s website has a table that lists all jobs that are eligible or not under the Skilled Worker Visa route. You will need to use your browsers ‘search’ function to input and find your code.
Computer browser: you can press Control+F (Command+F for Mac) to bring up a search box in which you can input your code.
Mobile browser: press the three dots in the top right of your browser; under this you will find some variation of ‘search page’ or ‘find in page’ which will allow you to input your code.
The table will say either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in the fourth column, depending on if your role is eligible. If it is not eligible then you may need to get a different visa, or find a different role you can do.Â
Using the above steps, you can get around the fact there no longer a dedicated Skilled Worker Visa eligibility checker tool, and find the answers you need.Â
What was the eligibility checker tool?
The Skilled Worker Eligibility Checker was a handy tool for prospective employers and employees. This tool allowed them to determine if a specific job falls under the Skilled Worker category. By using this Skilled Worker points calculator tool, workers were able to get an idea of their eligibility before they submitted their visa application.
The tool was hosted on the UK Government’s website, but now it is no longer accessible. It is not known why they removed the tool.
Whilst the tool did not guarantee you a way into the UK, it was useful in that you could see what requirements you needed to meet before you even applied.Â
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What is a Skilled Worker visa?
The Skilled Worker Visa allows foreign workers to live in the UK to work an eligible job with an approved employer. This visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) Work Visa. We discuss the visa in further detail here.
What can I do on the Skilled Worker visa
There are a number of things that you can and cannot do whilst you are in the UK on a Skilled Worker Visa. If your application is successful, you will get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Skilled Worker Visa.
Read our full Skilled Worker Visa guide here.
What is the eligibility criteria?
To qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa you must meet the following criteria:
- Work for an approved UK employer
- Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from your employer, stating information about the job role you have been offered in the UK
- Must do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations
- Get paid minimum salary – this can vary depending on the type of work that is done
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Specifics vary depending on the type of work you will do while you are in the UK.Â
How to check if my job will be eligible for work in the UK
Job occupations have their own 4-digit occupation code. When you receive your occupation code from your employer, you will be able to check if your job is eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa.
If you have not been offered a job but want to know if a prospective job is eligible for the visa, you can search for job occupation codes using the ONS occupation coding tool. Ensure that you are specific with the job information as similar jobs have different codes, and thus varying eligibility.
The document of eligible jobs is available here.
What is an approved UK employer?
You cannot apply for a Skilled Worker Visa unless you have a job offer from an approved UK employer. Approved employers are also known as sponsors. The list of approved UK employers can be seen here.
Employers can apply for a Sponsor Licence in order to become approved by the Home Office.
What if I already have a job offer from an approved UK employer?
An approved employer will give eligible employees a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ to prove your eligibility. We have a guide on the Certificate of Sponsorship if you would like to learn more.Â
Contact us
If you need any help with applying for your Skilled Worker Visa, get in touch with us today.
Ready for assistance?
If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment with one of our legal experts, contact Woodcock Law today. Call us on +44 (0)20 7712 1705 or email info@woodcocklaw.co.uk.
