Moving from Ireland to the UK for work is a major step for skilled workers seeking to advance their professional careers. The UK’s diverse economy, global companies, and strong demand for qualified talent continue to draw workers from across Europe and beyond.

However, after Brexit, moving from Ireland to the UK is no longer as easy as it used to be for non-Irish citizens, including those from the European Union (EU) and non-EU countries.

As an Irish-based professional planning your transition to the UK market, it is now essential to understand the Skilled Worker visa UK.

When planning to explore this visa route, you must understand the crucial and mandatory eligibility criteria for a UK Skilled Worker visa.

This article explains the Skilled Worker visa UK as it relates to non-Irish citizens, including its eligibility criteria, application process, and other relevant details.

Understanding the Skilled Worker Visa for Irish Citizens

Understanding the Skilled Worker Visa for Irish Citizens

The Skilled Worker visa enables overseas professionals to reside and work in the United Kingdom for an approved employer in an eligible occupation. This visa route is specifically designed to attract skilled talent in sectors facing labour shortages.

The Skilled Worker visa can be granted for up to 5 years at a time. To obtain this visa, you must meet various eligibility requirements, including the recently updated immigration rules. With the Skilled Worker visa, you can bring your dependents to the UK.

While the Common Travel Area (CTA) allows Irish citizens to live and work in the UK without restriction, applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa can be a strategic career decision for other EU and non-EU citizens living in Ireland who want to enter and remain in the UK long-term.

The Skilled Worker visa offers you a formal, documented permission to work for a specific employer in an eligible skilled role. The Skilled Worker visa also provides you with a clear pathway to long-term residency in the UK that simply moving under the CTA does not automatically provide.

Eligibility Criteria for Skilled Worker Visa UK

When applying for a UK Skilled Worker visa, you must meet all the eligibility requirements by adhering to the latest UK immigration rules. To qualify for this visa, you must do the following:

Have a Job Offer

Your UK-based employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

While the sponsor licence allows your employer to recruit you from overseas, the CoS demonstrates that you have obtained a job offer for which your employer has agreed to sponsor you. With the CoS, you can apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa.

High Skilled Job

Your role in the UK company must be at the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 6 or above (graduate degree level). Roles at RQF levels 3 to 5 (A-level to foundation degree equivalent) are generally no longer eligible.

The exception is the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), which allows some medium-skill roles in RQF level 3 to 5 to be eligible for skilled worker sponsorship. However, the TSL is expected to end by December 31, 2026.

English Language Proficiency

If you have not applied for a UK Skilled Worker visa before January 8, 2026, you must now prove English proficiency at B2 level (upper intermediate) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

This was recently increased from B1 level (intermediate). Individuals already in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa can generally extend their visa using the lower B1 route.

However, those switching to the visa and new applicants must meet the current B2 level requirement.

Minimum Salary Threshold

To obtain the Skilled Worker visa, you must earn a minimum salary of £41,700 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the specific occupation, whichever is higher.

However, lower thresholds of up to £33,400 may apply for new entrants, including graduates, PhD holders, or roles on the Immigration Salary List (ISL).

Note that specific rules apply to jobs on national pay scales, such as those in the National Health Service (NHS).

Application Process for a UK Skilled Worker Visa

Application Process for a UK Skilled Worker Visa

As a non-Irish citizen resident in Ireland, you must apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa by adhering to a certain process. You must first obtain a job offer from a UK-based employer. The Home Office must license your employer to hire foreign workers.

Once your employer offers you the role, they will issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that outlines your details, including your name, job details, salary, and a reference number. You must gather various documents, including but not limited to your:

You must then complete an online Skilled Worker visa application form and pay the application fee, as well as any other necessary fees.

Submit your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) through the UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, or attend an appointment at a UK visa application centre, depending on your situation.

Submit your application and track your application, should the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) require you to provide additional documentation to support your application. Then, await a decision from UKVI within three weeks.

Professionals Moving from Ireland to the UK

If you’re a non-Irish professional based in Ireland, the UK Skilled Worker visa is now the main route to work in the United Kingdom legally.

Following Brexit and the introduction of stricter immigration rules proposed in the UK White Paper, applicants must meet updated requirements, including higher salary thresholds and stricter skill and English language requirements.

While Irish citizens can move freely in the UK under the Common Travel Area (CTA), foreign nationals in Ireland must plan to move to the UK to live and work there legally.

Conclusion

The UK Skilled Worker visa is a reliable route for professionals living in Ireland to relocate to the UK. However, this immigration route has become more expensive, tightly regulated, and complex.

You must be strategic in your Skilled Worker visa application, as the UK government periodically introduces immigration rules.

For a higher chance of success in your application, it is advisable to consult with a UK immigration lawyer.

An immigration lawyer can help you assess your eligibility for the Skilled Worker visa and ensure that your application complies with the latest immigration rules.