Business Skilled Worker Visa
A handy list of the documents you will need during your visa application.
Details on the supporting documents required for skilled worker visas
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What documents will I need to apply for a skilled worker visa?
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Are there any other documents I need?
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What if I’ve lived in more than one country?
Don't forget to provide the following documents when you apply:
- the reference number that you can find on your certificate of sponsorship - you’ll get this from your employer
- confirmation of your knowledge of English
- an up-to-date passport or other document that shows who you are
- confirmation of your job title and annual salary
- your job’s occupation code
- the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number - this will be on your certificate of sponsorship and confirms they are an approved employer
If you’ve not been given your certificate of sponsorship, don’t worry, you can ask your employer for a copy
Depending on your own situation, you may be asked to show:
- that you have enough money to support yourself (and family) in the UK. You can show this by providing a bank statement. Or your certificate of sponsorship if your employer is planning to support you.
- confirmation of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you
- your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re travelling from a country listed here
- a criminal record certificate (you only need this if you’re working in certain jobs)
- a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (this is only required if your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher - don’t worry, you can ask your employer if you need one)
- your UK PhD certificate, or your unique Ecctis reference number (this used to be known as a unique UK NARIC reference number). If your qualification is from outside the UK - you’ll need to apply through Ecctis.
If you’re travelling from one of the following, don’t forget to keep a page in your passport blank for your visa:
- outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
- from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it (this biometric passport shows your photo and fingerprint)
Another thing to note, if your documents aren't in English or Welsh you'll need to provide a certified translation.
Will I need to provide a criminal record certificate?
You’ll only need to provide this if you’re applying from outside the UK and you work in one of the following:
- education - such as teachers, education advisers and school inspectors, childminders, or teaching assistants
- healthcare - such as nurses, doctors, paramedics, managers, pharmacists, dentists and dental nurses, ophthalmic opticians
- therapy - psychologists, speech and language therapists, counsellors
- social services - social workers, managers, probation officers, welfare and housing officers
You can check how to apply for criminal records checks, here.
If you work in healthcare, it could be a good idea to check if a Health and Care Worker visa would be a better option for you.
If you’ve lived in multiple countries, you may be asked to show a certificate from each country, but this will depend on how old you are and how long you stayed in each country. For example:
- If you’re under 28, you’ll be asked for a certificate from each country you’ve stayed in for over 12 months since you turned 18.
- If you’re 28 or over, you’ll need a certificate from each country you’ve stayed in over the last 10 years.