Can I switch to a Skilled Worker visa while on a Visitor visa in the UK?

30 Jan 2025, 27 mins ago

The UK continues to attract tourists and professionals from around the globe. If you are in the UK on a Visitor visa for short-term purposes, such as tourism or family visits, and find a job opportunity during your visit, you may be wondering how you can switch to a Skilled Worker visa. In this blog we will explore to the possibilities of switching to a Skilled Worker visa.

Can I switch to a Skilled Worker visa while on a Visitor visa?

UK immigration rules do not allow individuals to switch from a Visitor visa to a Skilled Worker visa while in the UK. There is an explicit requirement that Visit visa holders must leave the UK, and should they wish to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, they should apply from their home country or country of residence.

A Skilled Worker visa application made by a Visit visa holder from within the UK will be rejected as invalid.

How to successfully apply for a Skilled Worker visa?

If you find a job opportunity in the UK while on a Visitor visa, you need the following to successfully apply for a Skilled Worker visa:

  1. Have a job offer from a licensed UK employer.
  2. Be offered a role that appears on the list of eligible occupations found here and requires skills at A-level or higher.
  3. Meet a salary threshold, typically at least £38,700 per year or the going rate for your job.
  4. Prove your English proficiency.
  5. Demonstrate that you can financially support yourself when you arrive in the UK or check if your employer is willing to certify for your maintenance.
  6. Discuss the need for you to leave the UK with your employer and set a tentative start date accordingly.
  7. Upon leaving the UK, apply for an entry clearance Skilled Worker visa application from your country of origin or from a country where you have residency rights.
  8. Provide a valid tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if you are coming from a country with high rates of TB.

How long is the processing time for a Skilled Worker visa application?

The published processing timeline for a Skilled Worker visa application that is submitted from outside the UK is currently within three weeks.

However, a decision can be expedited by purchasing the priority service, currently £500, where a decision should be made on your application within five working days of your biometric appointment.

There may also be the option to purchase the super priority service for £1000, where a decision should be made by the end of the next working day following your biometric appointment.

Whether a priority service is available for an application made from outside the UK will depend on the country you are applying from.

Updated: 30 January 2025

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on XFacebookInstagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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