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UK Skilled Worker Visa for Americans: Requirements, Salary, and U.S. Tax Rules

The Skilled Worker visa is the main route for an American to live and work in the UK long term. To qualify, you need a job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor license; the role must be at a degree-equivalent skill level (RQF 6); and the salary must be at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. You also need to demonstrate B1-level English proficiency. The visa can be granted for up to five years and can lead to settlement, though the rules for settling permanently are changing.

A few things to know before you apply:

You need a sponsor first. No job offer from a licensed UK sponsor means no Skilled Worker visa.
The salary bar is high. The general threshold is £41,700, or the occupation’s going rate if that is more.
It can lead to staying for good. After five years, you can usually apply to settle, then for citizenship, though settlement is moving to an “earned” model.
You still file U.S. taxes. Moving to the UK on this visa does not end your U.S. filing obligation.

This guide covers who qualifies, the salary rules, the application and costs, the path to settlement, and what the move means for your U.S. taxes.

Moving to the UK for work?

Greenback helps you apply the treaty and keep the IRS and HMRC from taxing the same income.

The Skilled Worker visa is points-based: you need 70 points, and the core requirements are fixed rather than optional. You can confirm the current rules on the UK government’s site.

To qualify, you must have:

A job offer from a licensed sponsor. Your UK employer must hold a Home Office sponsor license and give you a Certificate of Sponsorship for the specific role.
A job at the right skill level. The role must sit at RQF 6, broadly degree level. Lower-skilled roles were largely removed from the route in 2025.
A salary that meets the threshold. At least £41,700, or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher (see more below).
English at B1 level. You must show reading, writing, speaking, and listening at B1 on the Common European Framework, usually through an approved test or a degree taught in English.

The Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold Starts at £41,700 or the Going Rate

Salary is where most Skilled Worker applications are won or lost. You generally must be paid the higher of the general threshold or the published going rate for your specific occupation code, which you can look up in the government’s job guidance.

Situation	Minimum salary (current)
General threshold	£41,700 per year, or the going rate if higher
Reduced threshold (limited cases, not healthcare or education)	£33,400 per year, or the going rate if higher
Going rate	Set per occupation code; can be well above the general threshold

New entrants to the labor market, such as recent graduates or those under 26, may qualify at a lower rate. These figures are current as of June 2026, and the Home Office regularly adjusts them, so confirm the exact threshold for your role before you apply.

You apply from the U.S. before you travel, and the process usually takes a few weeks once your sponsor has issued your Certificate of Sponsorship.

Get sponsored. Your employer issues a Certificate of Sponsorship with your job and salary details.
Apply online. Complete the Skilled Worker application on gov.uk and enter your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number.
Pay the fees. You pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge at this stage (see costs below).
Prove your identity. Give your biometrics at a visa application center, or use the UK Immigration: ID Check app if eligible.
Submit documents. Provide your passport, proof of English, and evidence of your salary and role.

A decision usually comes within about three weeks of your biometrics appointment when applying from outside the UK, and a priority service can speed that up for an extra fee.

The Visa Fee and Health Surcharge Are the Main Costs You Pay

You pay two main costs as the applicant, and your employer covers a separate set of sponsorship costs. The current figures are on the government’s how much it costs page.

The visa application fee is £819 for a stay of up to three years if the job is not on the immigration salary list, and higher for longer stays.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 for each year of your visa, which gives you access to the National Health Service.

For a two-year visa, that is roughly £2,889 in total. Your employer separately pays for its sponsor license, your Certificate of Sponsorship, and the Immigration Skills Charge, so those costs do not fall on you. As with the salary rules, fees change often, so check the live figures before applying.

The Skilled Worker Visa Lasts Up to Five Years and Can Lead to Settlement

A Skilled Worker visa can be granted for up to five years at a time, and you can extend it as long as you still meet the requirements. Over time, it can lead to permanent status:

After five years of continuous UK residence, you can usually apply for indefinite leave to remain, which lets you stay permanently.
After holding a settled status, you can apply to naturalize as a British citizen.

One important change is underway. The government is moving to an “earned settlement” model, under which settlement is no longer granted automatically after a fixed number of years. Applicants are expected to demonstrate sustained contribution, good conduct, and integration; the standard qualifying period may be extended. If settlement is part of your plan, confirm the current route on gov.uk, because this is one of the most actively changing areas of UK immigration.

You Still File U.S. Taxes on Your UK Salary

Moving to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa does not change the fact that, as a U.S. citizen, you file a U.S. tax return every year on your worldwide income, including your new UK salary. The good news is that you can usually wipe out the U.S. tax on that salary using one of two tools:

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, which excludes a large amount of foreign earned income if you meet the residence or presence test.
The Foreign Tax Credit, which allows you to offset the UK tax you pay against your U.S. bill, is often the better choice given the UK’s higher rates.

Once you have UK bank accounts, you may also need to file an FBAR if they exceed $10,000 in total, and the U.S.-UK totalization agreement prevents you from paying Social Security taxes to both countries.

Our guide to working in the UK as an American covers the full tax picture.

Your Partner and Children Can Join You as Dependants

You can bring your partner and children under 18 as dependants on your Skilled Worker visa. Partners can usually work in the UK without restriction, and dependants are included in your route to settlement. Each dependent pays their own visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, so factor those into your budget. If your partner does not qualify as a dependant, the separate Family visa route may apply instead; we cover it in our guide to UK Family and Spouse visas for Americans.

Frequently Asked Questions about the UK Skilled Worker Visa

Can Americans get a UK Skilled Worker visa?

Yes. There is no nationality restriction. Any American with a job offer from a UK employer that holds a sponsor license, at the right skill level and salary, can apply for the Skilled Worker visa from the U.S.

What salary do I need for a UK Skilled Worker visa?

You generally need at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for your specific occupation, whichever is higher. A reduced threshold of £33,400 applies in limited cases, and new entrants may qualify at a lower rate. Figures change regularly, so confirm the rate for your role on gov.uk.

How long does the Skilled Worker visa last?

It can be granted for up to 5 years at a time and extended. After five years of continuous residence, you can usually apply to settle, though the settlement route is moving to an “earned” model rather than an automatic one.

Can the Skilled Worker visa lead to British citizenship?

Yes. After you hold indefinite leave to remain and meet the residence requirements, you can apply to naturalize as a British citizen. If you keep your U.S. citizenship, you would be a dual citizen with filing obligations in both countries.

Does moving to the UK on a work visa affect my U.S. taxes?

Yes, you still file a U.S. return on your worldwide income, but the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or the Foreign Tax Credit usually eliminates U.S. tax on your UK salary, and the totalization agreement prevents double social security tax.

How Greenback Can Help

Landing the visa is the immigration side; staying compliant with the IRS while you build a life in Britain is the tax side, and the two run in parallel from your first day. Greenback’s U.S. CPAs and Enrolled Agents work alongside in-house UK Chartered Accountants on a single account, so your U.S. return and your UK Self Assessment are handled together, and your salary is not taxed twice.

If you are moving to the UK for work, you can have both tax systems coordinated from the start. Learn more about how we help Americans living in the UK.

Get both your UK and U.S. returns handled by one team.

Greenback helps Americans on UK work visas avoid double tax on their salary.

UK + U.S. Tax Services

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or immigration advice. Visa rules, salary thresholds, and fees change frequently, and your circumstances may differ. Confirm the current requirements on gov.uk and consult a qualified professional before applying.