UK Skilled Worker Visa For Ghanaians: Apply With Immigration Lawyers

Generally, applicants must:

• Be aged 18 or over.
• Have a job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Have a job in an eligible occupation that meets the required skill level, normally RQF level 6, unless an applicable exception or transitional provision allows a lower-skilled role. Applicants do not necessarily need a degree themselves.
• Meet the salary requirements applicable to their role and circumstances.
• Demonstrate English language ability at CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Level B1 may still apply where their most recent permission was as a Skilled Worker granted subject to the B1 requirement.
• Have sufficient funds to support themselves without relying on public funds. Applicants normally need at least £1,270, held for 28 consecutive days, unless their sponsor certifies maintenance or they have been in the UK with permission for at least 12 months.
• Provide a criminal record certificate where required for the sponsored occupation and their circumstances.

Minimum Skill Level and Eligible Jobs

Your job must normally be at RQF level 6 or above, equivalent to degree level. This does not mean you need to have a formal degree; the requirement concerns the skill level of the role. You must have the skills and experience needed to do the job.

Some roles below RQF level 6 can qualify under an applicable exception, including eligible jobs on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Transitional provisions may also apply to existing Skilled Workers.

When you submit a visa application, the Home Office will determine whether the job meets the requirements. Each eligible occupation has a four-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. If you already have a job offer, ask your employer for the relevant code. You can also look up occupations using the CASCOT occupation coding tool.

Several jobs may have the same occupation code. When you identify the code, cross-reference it with the list of eligible jobs to check that it is included and is eligible under the Skilled Worker route. The job description should match the position and duties you will actually undertake.

Your employer must not use an inappropriate job code or exaggerate the requirements of a position to match a SOC code. If the Home Office has concerns about the accuracy of the code used, it may ask for more details about the position.

English Language Requirements

You must normally demonstrate English language ability at CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Ghanaian nationality alone does not exempt you from this requirement, even though English is Ghana’s official language. You can normally meet it by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) or holding a qualifying degree taught in English.

If your degree was awarded by a Ghanaian or another non-UK institution, you will normally need an Ecctis assessment confirming that it is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher and was taught in English. Qualifying UK school qualifications and certain professional English assessments can also be accepted.

If your most recent permission was as a Skilled Worker granted subject to the B1 English requirement, you may continue to qualify at B1. You may not need to provide fresh evidence if you have already met the applicable English requirement in a previous successful application.

Minimum Salary Requirements

You must be paid a minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing.

The general salary threshold for most jobs is £41,700 annually. For qualifying jobs on the Immigration Salary List (ISL), which replaced the Shortage Occupation List, the general threshold is normally £33,400.

You must normally meet both the applicable salary threshold and the going rate for your occupation. Meeting the general threshold alone is not enough if your job’s going rate is higher.

Lower salary options may apply in certain circumstances, such as where you qualify as a new entrant or hold a relevant PhD. Some healthcare and education jobs have separate salary rules based on national pay scales.

Financial, Character and Other Requirements

You must normally show that you have at least £1,270 available to support yourself in the UK. You must have held the funds for 28 consecutive days, with the final day falling within 31 days before your application. This evidence is not normally required if your sponsor certifies maintenance on your CoS or you have been in the UK with permission for at least 12 months.

You must also meet the immigration suitability requirements. Criminal convictions, deception or breaches of immigration law can affect your eligibility. You must answer the application questions accurately and disclose relevant information when asked.

If you are applying from outside the UK for certain education, healthcare, therapy or social services roles, you must provide criminal record certificates covering the countries where you have lived for the periods specified in the rules.

You will normally need a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic if you have been living in Ghana and are coming to the UK for more than 6 months. Certain research roles also require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

You must provide a valid passport or other acceptable identity document, pay the applicable visa fee and immigration health surcharge unless exempt, and provide certified translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh.

As an employer, you must:

• Hold a valid Home Office sponsor licence covering the Skilled Worker route.
• Ensure the job is in an eligible occupation and meets the applicable skill-level requirement.
• Assign the worker a valid Certificate of Sponsorship containing accurate details of the role, salary and employment.
• Pay the worker a salary that meets the applicable salary threshold and going-rate requirements, taking account of any permitted exceptions.
• Pay the Immigration Skills Charge, unless an exemption applies.
• Offer a genuine role that has not been created mainly to enable the worker to obtain a visa.
• Comply with your sponsor duties, including record-keeping, reporting relevant changes and monitoring the worker’s attendance.

Employer Application Process

Before you can sponsor a Ghanaian applicant for a Skilled Worker visa, you must hold a valid Home Office sponsor licence covering the Skilled Worker route. If your organisation does not already have one, you must obtain it before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

Identify the Correct SOC Code

Identify the correct Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code for the job role. You should ensure the job is eligible under the Skilled Worker route, meets the applicable skill-level requirement and pays the required salary for the selected SOC code. The code must reflect the worker’s actual duties, rather than simply the job title.

Confirm That the Vacancy Is Genuine

You do not need to complete a Resident Labour Market Test or advertise the role to UK workers before sponsoring someone. However, you must offer a genuine job that meets the Skilled Worker sponsorship requirements. The role must not be a sham or have been created mainly to secure a visa. The Home Office may request information about the duties and why your organisation needs the position.

Apply for and Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship

Once you have obtained a sponsor licence, use the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) to arrange the appropriate CoS. If your prospective employee is applying from Ghana, you must request a defined CoS and wait for approval before assigning it to them.

Enter accurate details about the job offer and the sponsored worker, including the occupation code, salary and employment dates. Pay the CoS assignment fee and any applicable Immigration Skills Charge.

Your employee can then use the CoS reference number to apply for their Skilled Worker visa. They must apply within 3 months of assignment and no more than 3 months before the employment start date shown on the CoS.

Employee Application Process

Once your employer has assigned your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), you can apply for your Skilled Worker visa from Ghana by following these steps.

Prepare Supporting Documents

Gather all the supporting documents required for your visa application. These normally include your valid passport, CoS reference number and evidence that you meet the English language requirement.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also need evidence of maintenance funds, a TB test certificate and criminal record certificates. Your employer should provide the job details and sponsorship information you’ll need to complete the application accurately.

Submit Your Visa Application

Apply for the Skilled Worker visa online through the UK government’s website. Complete the application form, provide your supporting documents and pay the visa application fee and immigration health surcharge, unless an exemption applies.

You must apply within 3 months of your CoS being assigned and no more than 3 months before the employment start date shown on it.

Prove Your Identity

As part of your application, you must prove your identity. You will be instructed either to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app, if eligible, or to attend a visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and photograph.

Follow the instructions provided during your application and take your passport to any required appointment.

Receive Your Decision and Access Your Visa

For applications made outside the UK, a decision usually takes around 3 weeks after you have submitted your application, proved your identity and provided your supporting documents. It may take longer if additional checks or an interview are required.

If your application is approved, you will receive a decision notification explaining what to do next. You will get an eVisa, which is a digital record of your immigration status accessed through a UKVI account.

Check your visa details and validity dates before travelling. You can then travel to the UK and begin your sponsored employment in accordance with your visa conditions.

Employer Must Hold Valid Sponsor Licence

To sponsor a new Skilled Worker, you must normally hold an A-rated sponsor licence covering the Skilled Worker route and be listed on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors.

If you are not currently approved to sponsor skilled workers, you must apply for a sponsor licence before you can assign a CoS. The sponsor licence will cost:

• £611 for small businesses and charitable sponsors
• £1,682 for medium and large organisations.

Most applications are processed in less than 8 weeks, although additional checks or a visit to your business may be required. You must apply online, pay the relevant fee and submit the submission sheet and any required supporting documents. Your organisation must also have suitable systems in place to meet its sponsor duties.

Choose the Correct Type of Certificate of Sponsorship

There are two types of CoS: defined and undefined.

• Defined CoS are for Skilled Worker visa applicants applying from outside the UK.
• Undefined CoS are for Skilled Worker applicants applying from within the UK, including those switching routes, extending their permission or changing employers. They are also used for other sponsored work routes requiring a CoS.

If you’re hiring someone who will apply from Ghana, you must assign them a defined CoS. The correct type depends on where they apply, rather than their nationality.

Apply for and Assign the CoS

Employers with a valid sponsor licence can use the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) to request a defined CoS. Applications are usually approved within one working day, but further checks can take longer.

After approval, you can assign the CoS to your employee through SMS. Employers must pay the assignment fee and any applicable Immigration Skills Charge.

When Must the Employee Apply?

An employee must use the CoS reference number to apply for their visa within 3 months of assignment. They must also apply no more than 3 months before the employment start date shown on the CoS.

• Valid sponsorship is worth 20 mandatory points towards the 70-point requirement. A CoS does not guarantee visa approval: the applicant must also meet the remaining Skilled Worker requirements.