UK Visas & Immigration 2026:
Every Route Explained

The visa you need depends on your reason for moving. For work, the most common route is the Skilled Worker Visa, which requires a job offer from a UK-licensed sponsor and a minimum salary of £41,700 per year. For study, the Student Visa covers degree-level and above courses. For joining a partner or spouse already in the UK, the Spouse and Partner Visa applies. People visiting for up to 6 months use a Standard Visitor Visa or the UK ETA if they are from a visa-exempt country. All visa routes are managed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the Home Office.

The main cost of a UK Skilled Worker Visa in 2026 is the application fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The IHS is £1,035 per year — so for a 3-year visa it is £3,105. The application fee is £719 for up to 3 years and £1,420 for over 3 years when applying from outside the UK. Employers also pay an Immigration Skills Charge of £1,000 per year for medium and large businesses (£364 for small businesses and charities). These figures are subject to change — always verify current fees on GOV.UK.

Yes, in most cases you can apply to switch to a different visa category from inside the UK without leaving, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements for the new route and your current permission has not expired. Common switches include moving from a Student Visa to a Graduate Visa, or from a Graduate Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa. You cannot switch to most work visas from a Standard Visitor Visa. Each switch requires a new application to the Home Office with the applicable fee.

The standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is 5 continuous years of lawful residence for most work and family visa routes. During those 5 years, you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period. You also need to pass the Life in the UK test and demonstrate English at CEFR B1 level. The government is consulting on extending this to 10 years — always verify current requirements on GOV.UK before applying.

Yes. Since free movement ended on 31 December 2020, EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals who want to move to the UK need a visa under the points-based immigration system. The exception is EU nationals who were living in the UK before 31 December 2020 and applied to the EU Settlement Scheme — those with Settled Status have Indefinite Leave to Remain. Those with Pre-Settled Status can continue to live and work in the UK while their status remains valid but must apply for Settled Status before it expires.

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a pre-travel permission required from nationals of countries who do not need a visa to enter the UK but are not British or Irish. This includes EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals, as well as US, Canadian, and Australian citizens. It became mandatory on 25 February 2026. The ETA costs £16, is valid for 2 years or until the linked passport expires, and must be obtained before travelling. It is not a visa and does not permit living or working in the UK.

Both visas require a job offer from a UK employer, a role at RQF Level 6+, and English at CEFR B2. The key difference is employer flexibility. On the Skilled Worker Visa, you must remain sponsored for the entire duration — changing employers requires a new visa application. On the Scale-up Visa, after 6 months with your sponsoring employer you can change jobs or employers freely. The Scale-up has a lower minimum salary (£39,100 versus £41,700) but the pool of eligible sponsors is smaller — only fast-growing businesses that meet strict growth criteria qualify.

Yes, most UK work visas allow you to bring your partner and dependent children under 18 as dependants. They can live, work, and study in the UK for the duration of your visa. However, from July 2025, workers sponsored for roles below RQF Level 6 via the Temporary Shortage List are generally not permitted to bring dependants. Dependants must submit separate applications and meet relationship and financial requirements.

From 8 January 2026, new applicants for the Skilled Worker, Scale-up, and High Potential Individual visas must demonstrate English at CEFR Level B2 (upper-intermediate). This replaced the previous B1 requirement. Exemptions apply for nationals of majority English-speaking countries, holders of degrees taught in English, and those who have previously met the standard in a prior successful UK visa application. People extending existing visas granted at B1 do not need to retest.

If a UK visa application is refused, the refusal letter will state the reasons and whether you have a right to appeal or request an administrative review. For most entry clearance refusals there is no in-country right of appeal, but you may request an administrative review if you believe the decision contained an error. You can also reapply if circumstances have changed or if you can address the reasons for refusal. A regulated UK immigration solicitor or an OISC-registered adviser can advise on the best course of action.