United Kingdom — Work (Skilled Worker visa (job offer from a licensed sponsor))

Main requirements

You need a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from a UK employer licensed by the Home Office. The job must be an eligible occupation code: 'higher skilled' codes (RQF level 6, graduate level) qualify directly, and 'medium skilled' codes only if they are on the immigration salary list or temporary shortage list (for the temporary shortage list, the rules require the CoS to be issued before 31 December 2026). Per the official source as of October 2026, you usually need at least £41,700 a year or the job's going rate, whichever is higher.

Lower salaries only in specific cases: new entrants (under 26, students or recent graduates) 70% of the going rate with a £33,400 minimum, for a maximum total stay of 4 years; a job-relevant PhD 80% in STEM (min £33,400) or 90% otherwise (min £37,500); immigration salary list jobs at least £33,400.

Documents

CoS reference; English evidence; passport; job title, salary, occupation code and sponsor licence number; proof of funds (unless the employer certifies maintenance on the CoS); certified translations. Jobs in education, health (doctors, nurses), therapy and social services need criminal record certificates from countries you've recently lived in. Iran is not on the TB test list.

Language

Since 8 January 2026 the required level is B2. Prove it with a SELT such as IELTS for UKVI, or a foreign degree taught in English confirmed by Ecctis. Per GOV.UK's official list (October 2026), IELTS for UKVI is offered in Tehran through Irsafam.

Costs and proof of funds

Per the official source as of October 2026, the fee from outside the UK is £819 for up to 3 years and £1,618 for more than 3 years (£628 and £1,235 for immigration salary list jobs). IHS is £1,035 per year, paid upfront for the whole visa. You need £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days unless the employer certifies first-month maintenance on the CoS. The Immigration Skills Charge (£1,320 for the first year for medium/large sponsors, £480 for small ones) is paid by the employer and may not be passed on to you.

Steps and timeline

IELTS for UKVI; find a licensed sponsor (the official register is published on GOV.UK) and interview; CoS issued; online visa application and biometrics; decision usually within weeks. Finding the employer is the hardest and longest part.

Notes for Iranian applicants

Where to give biometrics: visa decisions aren't made in Tehran, but GOV.UK's visa application centre finder lists Iran with a link to the VFS page, and Persian sources say the UK visa centre in Tehran (Heravi Center) has been taking applicants again since 21 June 2026. We couldn't open the VFS page itself, so check which centre the online form offers for Iran when you book. If Tehran isn't available, the nearby options are Istanbul and Ankara, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and Yerevan.

Because sponsoring costs the employer a lot (ISC plus licence duties), UK employers hire from abroad mainly for scarce skills or strong experience; your Iranian experience must be provable with employer letters and insurance records. If the job involves PhD-level research in a sensitive subject, ATAS is also required. Men need a completed service or exemption card.

After arrival (work while studying, post-study stay, path to settlement)

The visa lasts up to 5 years before extension. Partners and children can join for higher-skilled jobs (funds: £285 partner, £315 first child, £200 each further child); for medium-skilled jobs started after 22 July 2025 dependants generally cannot join. Settlement (ILR): under the current rules (October 2026) it's still 5 years, but the government's earned settlement plan proposes a 10-year baseline (shorter for high earners and public service roles) and says it will apply to people not yet settled; this isn't law yet. The English level for settlement rises to B2 from 26 March 2027.