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Skilled Worker sponsorship: Recruiters' guidance

Requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship

Please review information on UKVI, ATAS, and HR Staff Compliance team processing times and other important updates on our HR Notices webpages here.
Please review estimated processing times for new hires here.

If a successful candidate does not have an automatic right to work, and is not eligible for our preferred route Global Talent Visa or another suitable non-sponsored immigration route, the Skilled Worker Route (SWR) is likely to be the most suitable route for them to obtain permission to work in the UK.

In order to obtain a visa, Skilled Workers must have:

a suitable job offer; and

be issued with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from Imperial College; and
pass a points-based assessment.

We are only permitted to apply for and issue a CoS if the following requirements have been met and the individual can demonstrate they will score a total of 70 points (50 mandatory and 20 tradeable) across the assessment criteria below:

Mandatory points (50):

A suitable job offer from an approved sponsor (20 points); and
The job meets the appropriate minimum skill level (RQF level 3 (A-level equivalent)), and any specific criteria detailed in the relevant Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code (20 points); and
The individual can provide evidence of English Language skills at level B1, by meeting one of the requirements in Appendix English Language (10 points)

Tradeable points (20):

The basic salary for the job meets:
The general salary threshold (£38,700) and the going rate for the relevant SOC code; or
One of the tradeable salary points options or transitional arrangements (outlined in Standard Occupational Classification and Salary requirements below), if the ‘going rate’ is not met. (20 points)

Please view the following guidance for further information. If the guidance does not answer your question, please contact the Staff Compliance team for specific advice.

Recruitment & Selection

If the individual was recruited in line with Imperial College’s recruitment guidance and the vacancy has been advertised internally and/or externally, please retain the following documentation:

Advert evidence:

Screenshot of the archived Imperial vacancies advert, which can be saved retrospectively
For adverts placed externally, additional evidence of advert placement e.g. screenshot from Talentlink /other advertising evidence such as email of advert placement/removal from jobs.ac.uk/summary of placement
Where the Recruitment Hub team is placing advertisements on your behalf, they will be responsible for providing advert evidence to the Staff Compliance Team, if sponsorship is required.

and

Selection evidence e.g. completed Shortlist Record Form and Interview assessment form.

Although there is no requirement to undertake a Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT), we may need to evidence that the job is a genuine vacancy that:

requires the jobholder to perform the specific duties and responsibilities of the job and meets all the requirements of the relevant route; and
does not include dissimilar and/or predominantly lower-skilled duties; and
is appropriate to the business in light of its business model, business plan and scale

Evidence of our recruitment and selection process is one of the main ways we can demonstrate that the job is genuine to UKVI.

It is also essential that the individual meets the selection criteria for the job, outlined in the person specification, and holds the appropriate qualifications listed as essential.

If the individual is named on a research grant award/fellowship, and a genuine recruitment process cannot be undertaken, evidence (i.e. copy of fellowship/grant award letter and evidence of application/award process) should be submitted to HR with the request to hire/contract request.

If the individual is being appointed to a short-term contract (up to 6 months) and it has not been appropriate to run a standard recruitment and selection process, please provide an explanation of the reasoning not to advertise, and how the successful candidate was identified and assessed.

Standard Occupational Classification and Salary requirements

The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) is a common classification of occupational information for the UK. Jobs are classified in terms of their skill level and skill content.

For a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to be issued, a job offer must meet all the following:

the appropriate minimum skill level (RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent)) and any specific criteria detailed in the relevant SOC code within Appendix Skilled Occupations
the general salary threshold (£38,700) and the going rate for the relevant SOC code contained in Appendix Skilled Occupations; or one of the tradeable salary points options (outlined below), if the going rate is not met.
Going rates can be pro-rated but the general/minimum salary threshold cannot so part-time staff will need to meet the pro-rated going rate and the general/minimum salary threshold.
Salary will be based on guaranteed basic gross pay, excluding allowances.
However, transitional arrangements permit guaranteed allowances for those last granted leave in Tier 2 if still working for same sponsor, until 1 December 2026.

April 2024 – Salary minimum requirements for sponsorship

Tradeable criteria

Applicants must score at least 20 points from the following criteria:

A) Salary equals or exceeds both £38,700 and the full going rate for the SOC code*

B) PhD qualification in a non-STEM subject relevant to the job

and

Salary equals or exceeds both £34,830 and 90% of the going rate for the SOC code*

C) PhD qualification in a STEM subject relevant to the job

and

Salary equals or exceeds both £30,960 and 80% of the going rate for the SOC code*

D) Job in a shortage occupation (Immigration Salary List)

and

Salary equals or exceeds both £30,960 and the full going rate for the SOC code*

E) Applicant is a New Entrant to the labour market

and

Salary equals or exceeds both £30,960 and 70% of the going rate for the SOC code*

*All above must also meet - £15.88 per hour

April 2024 – Salary minimum requirements for sponsorship – Transitional Arrangements for individuals holding skilled worker visas
There are further transitional arrangements for individuals already holding skilled worker visas and transferring roles / extending their visa, following the rule changes in April 2026. These arrangements are explained in detail in the updated Sponsor guidance.

Tradeable criteria Applicants must score at least 20 points from the following criteria:
F) Salary equals or exceeds both £29,000 and the full going rate for the SOC code*
G) PhD qualification in a non-STEM subject relevant to the job and Salary equals or exceeds both £34,830 and 90% of the going rate for the SOC code in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations
H) PhD qualification in a STEM subject relevant to the job and Salary equals or exceeds both £23,200 and 80% of the going rate for SOC in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations
I) Job in a shortage occupation (Immigration Salary List) and Salary equals or exceeds both £23,200 and full SOC going rate
J) Applicant is a New Entrant to the labour market and Salary equals or exceeds both £23,200 and 70% of the going rate for SOC in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations

Tradeable criteria

Applicants must score at least 20 points from the following criteria:

F) Salary equals or exceeds both £29,000 and the full going rate for the SOC code*

G) PhD qualification in a non-STEM subject relevant to the job

and

Salary equals or exceeds both £34,830 and 90% of the going rate for the SOC code in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations

H) PhD qualification in a STEM subject relevant to the job

and

Salary equals or exceeds both £23,200 and 80% of the going rate for SOC in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations

I) Job in a shortage occupation (Immigration Salary List)

and

Salary equals or exceeds both £23,200 and full SOC going rate

J) Applicant is a New Entrant to the labour market

and

Salary equals or exceeds both £23,200 and 70% of the going rate for SOC in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations

Other mandatory requirements for sponsorship:

Before a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) can be applied for/assigned, the Individual will need to provide evidence they meet any other Skilled Worker Route requirements, including:

For all sponsored roles:

English Language points, which may be satisfied in several ways.
Evidence that the candidate meets all essential qualification / professional registration as stated on the Person specification

For some roles/individuals:

Certain roles (roles including research activity at PhD-level in specific academic fields), an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate may also be required.
Financial maintenance (evidence of personal savings) unless the hiring department is willing to certify maintenance on the certificate of sponsorship
Criminal record certificate requirement for specified roles and where the applicant is applying to enter the UK
Tuberculosis certificate requirement for nationals of specified countries applying to enter the UK

Dependant on the evidence required and how long it will take the individual to provide the evidence, this may impact on proposed start date if there is a delay to a CoS being assigned.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

A CoS is a virtual document, similar to database record. When we assign a CoS the individual will need to quote the CoS number on their application when applying for leave to enter:

if applying from outside the UK, using a defined CoS
or if applying inside the UK, using an undefined CoS

A CoS is valid for 3 months from the date it was assigned and can only be used once to support an application for leave. Applications for initial leave cannot be made more than 3 months in advance of the start date quoted on the CoS. If an individual does not use the CoS within the 3-month period to apply for entry clearance or leave to remain, it automatically becomes invalid.

If the application is refused, the individual would need to be issued with a new CoS in order to make a new application.

Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship – In-country applications for leave to remain

Imperial College has an annual allocation of undefined CoS, which can be issued by the Staff Compliance team, but only to the following individuals:

In country applicants:

whose College contracts are being extended
who are changing employment within the College where the new job is in a different SOC code
who are moving from another employer and starting work for the College
who are switching from another eligible immigration category into the SWR. Individuals will be able to switch into the SWR from most immigration categories, other than Visitor routes.
who are subject to transitional arrangements

Defined Certificate of Sponsorship – Out of country applications for leave to enter

Individuals applying for leave to enter the UK must be issued with a Defined CoS.

Imperial College is required to apply to UKVI as they need a Defined CoS. These applications will normally be processed by UKVI within 2 days to 2 weeks. UKVI may request additional information and/or evidence from the College during this process.

Once the Defined CoS has been granted, the Staff Compliance Team will then assign it to the individual.

CoS fees & Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)

CoS fees are payable by the hiring department. £239 is the standard rate.

Except for jobs in PhD level SOC codes (Academic & Research roles) and those switching from the Student/Tier 4 route, departments will also need to pay the Immigration Skills Charge (£364 for first 12 months plus £182 for each additional 6 months) in addition to the CoS fee.

One Virtual Credit card should be raised for the total of the CoS and Skills Charge fees.

The Staff Compliance team will advise the total VCC sum that will need to be generated by the hiring department

Submitting an application for leave to enter/remain

Individuals will need to follow the Skilled Worker visa guidance to apply for leave to enter / leave to remain and pay the appropriate application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs. The Immigration Health Surcharge is now £1,035 per individual per year, paid up front when paying the visa fees.

Assistance with payment of UK immigration application fees for members of staff and/or their dependants is available, as outlined in Imperial College’s expenses policy, which allows either for departments to reimburse UK immigration application fees at their discretion or for a salary advance to support payment of application fees and legal support costs where necessary.

Individuals with a job offer from the NHS or an organisation providing medical services to the NHS in specified health or education SOC codes may be eligible for a fast track Health and Care Visa which attracts reduced application fees and exemption from the IHS for both the applicant and their dependants. However, we advise to check this with the Staff Compliance Team before making an application selecting this option.

Multiple entry CoS

If a job may require regular overseas travel as part of the role, Imperial College can state this requirement on the CoS. However, if a CoS does not have multiple entry indicated, this does not mean that the employee will be unable to travel outside the UK for either business or level reasons.

(Financial) Maintenance

Individuals must meet one of the requirements by:

The College, as an A-rated sponsor certifying maintenance on the CoS; or
Holding funds for 28 days at date of application of:
Main applicant - £1,270.
Dependant partner - £285
First child - £315
Each subsequent child - £200

and submitting evidence within 31 days of the date of application.

Individuals will be exempt from this requirement if they have held permission to stay in the UK for more than 12 months already.

Criminal record checks

Certain jobs in specified SOC codes require criminal records checks. The Staff Compliance Team will confirm where this applies.

Where applicable, individuals (and their dependent partners) will need to provide criminal records certificates for each country where they have spent more than 12 months in the past ten years before they apply.

Period of sponsorship / SWR leave

Individuals can apply for and be granted up to 5 years’ skilled work route leave at a time, with unlimited extensions, in line with their contract of employment dates

This may be helpful for those who travel frequently/spend time overseas who may previously have been unable to extend their Tier 2 visa or apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain due to the strict continuous residence requirement.

Skilled Worker sponsorship: Recruiters' guidance

Requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship

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