On March 17, The National Audit Office, the UK’s independent public spending watchdog has released an interesting report on the Skilled Worker visa. Below, we provide a snapshot of some key points from the article.
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Background on the Skilled Worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa was introduced in 2020 following the UK’s exit from the European Union. It allows skilled individuals to enter the UK and become a part of the UK workforce. It also allows employers to sponsor overseas workers in eligible roles.
What is a Skilled Worker visa?
A Skilled Worker visa allows suitably qualified overseas nationals to enter or stay in the UK to perform an eligible job with an approved employer. The employer must be approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to sponsor overseas nationals. The sponsor will assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to the overseas national. This will be used to support their visa application. It replaced the 2 Tier ‘General’ visa category.
Key facts from the report
In the period between 2021 and 2024, Skilled Worker visa applications increased by 101% from 127,300 to 256,300.
509,100 Skilled worker applications were received by the Home Office in 2023.
The report also states that the number of Health and Care worker visas has increased significantly since the care worker category was introduced. Health and Care workers are in high demand
In addition the this, there has been an increase in the number of sponsors between 2021 and 2024 from 38,000 and 11,500. Sponsors are companies and businesses that are registering an entitlement to hire overseas nationals to work in the UK because they have identified a skill shortage. Whereas EU nationals were once simply exercising their treaty rights, they now require sponsorship to enter an work in the UK.
The primary driver in application increases is the Health and Care Worker visa.
In 2023/2024, the Home Office generated £438 million from Skilled Worker visas. In the same year, the cost of running the Home Office Skilled Worker fee was £109 million. That saw the Home Office make a profit of £329 million from Skilled Worker applications alone in 2023/2024.
The data clearly shows that the Skilled Worker visa has bought many fiscal benefits to the UK.
How we can help you
Thomas Chase Immigration offer immigration assistance to individuals, families and businesses.
If you have questions or concerns or you would like straightforward immigration advice, or help with applying for a visa, contact us.
Our processes are tried and tested and have proven successful. Yet, we know that each person’s circumstances are different and requires that individual touch when assisting you and when presenting the matter to UKVI.
