UK Skilled Worker Visa: Shortage Occupations

With the introduction of the Skilled Worker Visa in December 2020, employers in the UK who wish to hire individuals from abroad under the Skilled Worker visa can do so only if the occupation is in the Skill Shortage Occupation List.

The occupations in the list are decided by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) which chooses the occupations based on the needs of UK businesses. A job on the shortage list indicates that there are not enough native U.K workers to meet the talent requirements in that particular sector. In order to hire for jobs on the list, employers need not apply for the resident labor market test.

UK skilled worker visa benefits

• Ample opportunities in employment
• Long term work authorization
• Skill and career development
• Competitive salaries
• Eligible to bring dependents
• Access to healthcare and public services
• Authorized for additional and voluntary work
• Travel freely in and out UK
• Path to permanent residency and British citizenship

Shortage Occupations list: 

Occupation code	Job types included on the shortage occupations list	Areas of the UK where there is a shortage	Annual salary (80% of going rate)
1181	Health services and public health managers and directors – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £30,720 (£15.15 per hour)
1242	Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £21,360 (£10.53 per hour)
2111	Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry	Scotland only	80% of going rate: £21,360(£10.53 per hour)
2112	Biological scientists and biochemists – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £23,760(£11.72 per hour)
2113	Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the construction-related ground engineering industry:	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £29,200(£14.40 per hour)
	engineering geologist
	hydrogeologist
	geophysicist
2113	Physical scientists – only the following jobs in the oil and gas industry:	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £29,200(£14.40 per hour)
	geophysicist
	geoscientist
	geologist
	geochemist
	technical services manager in the decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry
	senior resource geologist and staff geologist in the mining sector
2114	Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £20,720(£10.22 per hour)
2121	Civil engineers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £28,000(£13.81 per hour)
2122	Mechanical engineers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £26,720(£13.18 per hour)
2123	Electrical engineers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £29,600(£14.60 per hour)
2124	Electronics engineers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £27,760(£13.69 per hour)
2126	Design and development engineers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £27,280(£13.45 per hour)
2127	Production and process engineers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £26,480(£13.06 per hour)
2129	Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £26,160(£12.90 per hour)
2135	IT business analysts, architects and systems designers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £29,280(£14.44 per hour)
2136	Programmers and software development professionals – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £26,640(£13.14 per hour)
2137	Web design and development professionals – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £20,800(£10.26 per hour)
2139	Information technology and communications professionals not elsewhere classified – only cyber security specialists	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £25,440(£12.54 per hour)
2216	Veterinarians – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £26,000(£12.82 per hour)
2425	Actuaries, economists and statisticians – only bio-informaticians and informaticians	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £26,240(£12.94 per hour)
2431	Architects – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £28,000(£13.81 per hour)
2461	Quality control and planning engineers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £24,400(£12.03 per hour)
3411	Artists – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £16,800(£8.28 per hour)
3414	Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies.	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £23,840(£11.76 per hour)
	The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales).
3415	Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras.	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £22,000(£10.85 per hour)
	The orchestra must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by the Association of British Orchestras.
3416	Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £24,000(£11.83 per hour)
3421	Graphic designers – all jobs	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £18,800(£9.27 per hour)
5215	Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	80% of going rate: £18,240(£8.99 per hour)
5434	Chefs – only skilled chefs where all of the following requirements are met:	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland	£29,570 – see description
	the pay for which points are awarded is at least £29,570 per year; and
	the job requires 5 or more years’ relevant experience in a role of at least equivalent status; and
	the job is not in either a fast food or standard fare outlet; and
	the job is in one of the following roles:
	executive chef – limited to 1 per establishment
	head chef – limited to 1 per establishment
	sous chef – limited to 1 for every 4 kitchen staff per establishment
	specialist chef – limited to 1 per speciality per establishment

 

UK skilled worker visa eligibility

Have a job offer from a valid UK employer and is approved and licensed by Home Office

Have a certificate of sponsorship from your employer

Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Have 70 points to qualify in few categories such as specific skills, qualifications, salaries and professions

Meet the minimum salary requirements

Meet the English Language requirements

 

UK skilled worker visa requirements

The following documents will be required at the time of applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa:

A valid passport

Title and occupation code of the job

Annual salary that is being offered

Name and sponsor license number of the employer

Occupation code

Applicant’s certificate of sponsorship reference number

Proof of proficiency in English language

Evidence of relationship if any of the dependents also applying

 

Steps to apply for UK skilled worker visa

Step 1: Check your eligibility for the Skilled Worker visa

Step 2: Have a valid job offer from a licensed sponsor in the nation

Step 3: Receive Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer

Step 4: Prepare the required documents to prove your eligibility for a Skilled Worker visa

Step 5: Complete the online application form

Step 6: Pay the application fee, biometric fee, and healthcare surcharge

Step 7: Upload any documents required and submit the application

 

UK skilled worker visa cost

The cost for UK skilled worker visa depends on the duration of stay:

• Up to 3 years: £464 per person
• Over 3 years: £1,084 per person

 

UK skilled worker visa processing time

The processing time for skilled worker visa if you are applying from outside the UK is 3 weeks, and if you are applying from inside the UK it is 8 weeks.