Skilled Worker visa

The length of the Skilled Worker visa is based on the length of the individual’s employment contract with the University.

• If offered a one-year fixed-term contract, the individual will be issued with a one-year visa.
• If offered a standard contract, the individual will usually be issued with a five-year visa (the maximum visa length before an extension is required).

It is possible to apply to extend the visa, depending on the individual’s role and contract at the University. After five years of continuous residence in the UK, individuals may be eligible to apply for permanent settlement.

To be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa at the University, the applicant must score at least 70 points in total. This includes:

• 50 points for mandatory (non-tradeable) criteria
• 20 points for tradeable criteria

Mandatory criteria (50 points)

Applicants must meet all the mandatory criteria to score the first 50 points:

Tradeable critera (20 points)

In addition to scoring 50 points for the mandatory criteria, applicants must gain a further 20 tradeable points. These are awarded based on:

• their salary, which must meet or exceed both the minimum salary threshold and the going rate for the occupation
• other qualifying factors, such as
  • holding a relevant PhD
  • the role appearing on the Immigration Salary List
  • being a new entrant to the UK labour market

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is required for all Skilled Worker visa applications.

This is a digital document that contains the sponsored individual’s personal information and details about their job role. The CoS also provides a reference number, which must be included in the visa application.

You cannot apply for a Skilled Worker visa without a valid CoS.

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) service uses an occupation code system designed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to determine whether a role is eligible for sponsorship.

Sponsorable roles must be skilled to at least RQF Level 6, for example Graduate Level A-level.

Some roles will not be eligible for sponsorship, even if they meet the minimum salary requirements. This will be because they don't meet the required skill level or because they don't appear on the UKVI list of eligible occupations.

To be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, individuals must meet both mandatory and tradeable criteria.

The mandatory criteria are:

• A job offer from the University of St Andrews.
• The job must appear on the list of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) eligible occupations.
• The job must be at the required skill level.

The University will only assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) if both the job and the applicant meet all eligibility requirements.

Before advertising a role, Human Resources will assess the job description and assign the most appropriate Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. This ensures consistency and compliance with UKVI requirements. The SOC code is then used by the University when assigning a CoS.

Minimum salary requirements for the Skilled Worker visa can be complex. The following guidance applies to new applications submitted from 4 April 2024.

Basic salary thresholds

To meet the salary requirements, the role must offer a salary that meets or exceeds both of the following:

• the general salary threshold of £41,700 (see Pay scales)
• the going rate for Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and pro-rated according to the number of contractual working hours, which in some cases is higher than the general salary threshold

If both thresholds are met, the applicant will automatically gain the 20 tradeable points needed to reach the full 70 points required for sponsorship.

Lower salary thresholds under tradeable points

If these salary levels are not met, it may still be possible to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) if one of the following criteria is satisfied:

• individual is under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• individual holds a PhD in a subject relevant to the role
• individual holds a PhD in a STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) subject relevant to the role
• the role appears on the Immigration Salary List
• the role is a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Using a PhD to meet salary criteria

If using a PhD or STEM PhD to claim tradeable points, the SOC code must be listed as eligible for PhD points under the Government’s Appendix Skilled Occupations. The CoS will include a credible explanation of how the PhD is relevant to the role, and whether it qualifies as a STEM subject.

If the PhD was awarded outside the UK, applicants must apply through Ecctis to confirm that it is equivalent to a UK PhD. The relevant Ecctis number and confirmation must be provided to the University for inclusion on the CoS.

If you received your first Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before 4 April 2024, lower salary requirements apply if both of the following are true:

• You received your CoS for your first Tier 2 or Skilled Worker visa before 4 April 2024.
• You have continually held one or more Skilled Worker visas since then.

In this case, you can be paid whichever is higher of £31,300 or the lower going rate for your occupation if you extend your visa, switch occupations, or change sponsor.

Full details are available in the UK Government’s Skilled Worker visa guidance for those with a certificate of sponsorship issued before 4 April 2024.

ATAS requirement

Applicants who are academics or researchers will require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if they need a Skilled Worker visa and plan to carry out postgraduate-level research in certain sensitive subjects.

Further information is available on the ATAS webpage.

Financial requirement

Applicants must show that they have enough funds to support themselves and any dependants if either of the following applies:

• They are applying for entry clearance from outside the UK.
• They have been in the UK for less than one year on the date of application.

As the University is an A-rated sponsor, this requirement will be certified when a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is issued. This means that, if necessary, the University will support the employee and their dependants until the end of the first month of the visa.

This is not a commitment to provide financial support. It simply means the applicant does not need to submit bank statements with their application. It is the individual’s responsibility to arrange accommodation before arriving in the UK. Only in exceptional circumstances will the University provide assistance.

Criminal records certificate requirement

Applicants for entry clearance who are sponsored for a role listed under specific occupation codes must provide a criminal record certificate. This must be issued by the relevant authority in any country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the past 10 years, while aged 18 or over.

Visa conditions

Individuals holding a Skilled Worker visa are subject to the following conditions:

• No access to state benefits or other public funds. Full definitions are available on the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website.
• Work is permitted only in the job for which the individual is sponsored.
• Supplementary employment is permitted, provided the individual continues to work in the sponsored role.
• Voluntary work is permitted.

Skilled workers can bring their family members (partner and children) to the UK and may apply to settle in the UK after five years’ continuous lawful residence.

See the Your partner and children section of the Skilled Worker visa page.

If an individual is successful in securing a role at the University, Human Resources will assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). It is then the individual’s responsibility to apply for the Skilled Worker visa.

Applicants for research or academic roles may instead be eligible for a Global Talent visa. This route offers several benefits, including no English language or minimum salary requirements.

The University will reimburse the cost of the visa application and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in line with our Immigration Reimbursement policy (PDF).