Table Of Contents:
- What is the UK Skilled Worker Visa for AI Professionals
- UK Skilled Worker Visa – A Pathway for AI Professionals
- Opportunities for AI Professionals
- Eligibility for Skilled Worker Visa for AI Professionals
- How to Apply
- What can you expect from us
The demand for AI (Artificial Intelligence) professionals is on the rise in the UK, not just in London but also in other cities such as Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds. The UK government also has ambitions to make the country a global hub for AI. For this, the government is not depending on local talents alone, but it also wants to attract top tech talents from across the world.
International students and professionals are also looking to tap into the opportunities available in the field of AI in the UK. They can do a job or establish a business or a start-up in the UK in this sector for which they have multiple visa options. These options include the UK Skilled Worker visa, the Global Talent visa, the High Potential Individual visa, the Innovator Founder visa, and the UK Expansion Worker visa.
What is the UK Skilled Worker Visa for AI Professionals?
In recent times, the demand for AI professionals has surged in tech job listings in the UK. However, the businesses, especially tech firms, are not able to find enough local talent to meet the demand. Therefore, they are also looking to employ overseas professionals. The government is also encouraging foreign talent in tech fields.
If you are a fresh or experienced AI professional with skills or expertise in data science, machine learning, robotics, NLP, and more, and want to work in an AI role, you can apply for a UK skilled worker visa. You can apply from outside the UK or switch to this visa if you are already in the UK on another visa, such as a UK Graduate visa. Skilled worker visa is a sponsored visa route, which means you need a job offer from a licenced employer who can sponsor overseas workers to work in an eligible role in their company.
You will also need to meet the new skill and salary threshold (effective from 22 July 2025) and meet the knowledge of the English language requirement.
UK Skilled Worker Visa – A Pathway for AI Professionals
You can migrate to the UK as an AI professional by applying for a skilled worker visa. You must have a job offer letter that you have received from your employer, and you must demonstrate your English language skills. You can migrate to the UK or switch to a skilled worker visa based on your eligibility, and if you can meet the required criteria.
To get into an AI role, you can do a university course or an apprenticeship in the UK or another country. You can do a degree course in a subject such as:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Software Engineering
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Mathematics
Some employers may also look to hire postgraduate degree holders in a related subject like ML (Machine Learning).
For jobs in AI as an overseas worker, you’ll need skills and knowledge of the following:
- Maths
- Analytical skills
- Attention to detail
- Engineering science and technology
- Writing computer programs
- New trends in the AI sector
- Systems analysis and development
- A thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
There are the world’s leading universities in the UK, including names like the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the University College London, and Imperial College London, which collaborate with industry giants, providing valuable avenues for AI professionals to work on cutting-edge projects.
Opportunities for AI Professionals
As an AI professional, you work in many different parts of the economy. For example, in the healthcare sector, you can develop screening tools to detect disease, while in the manufacturing sector, you can program robotic systems to improve production.
Global tech giants such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and DeepMind have their offices and research centre in the UK. These companies, along with others from across the industries, are bolstering the demand for skilled AI personnel.
Generally, as an AI engineer, you will:
- Work with businesses to understand and solve their problems
- Develop ML (Machine Learning) models and algorithms
- Run tests on prototypes and analyse data to make improvements
- Find and fix ‘bugs’
- Assess the risks associated with new ML programs
- Work as a team member to roll out AI solutions
- Keep yourself up to date with the latest advancements in AI
Eligibility for Skilled Worker Visa for AI Professionals
To work in the UK on a skilled worker visa (formerly known as the Tier 2 (General) Work visa) as an AI professional, you need to first meet the eligibility criteria. You need to meet the CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) requirement, the skill and salary requirement, and the proficiency in English requirement.
1. Have a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship)
You must have a confirmed job offer from an approved UK employer, also known as a sponsor. The employer must be on the Home Office’s list of approved employers. Your employer must assign you a CoS, which is a digital record that includes your job details such as your job title, start date, and salary.
2. Meet the ‘Points’ Requirement
The Skilled Worker visa is a points-based system. You must earn 70 points to qualify. You will be allocated points for having a valid job offer (20 points), having a job that meets the skill threshold (20 points), meeting the English language proficiency requirement (10 points), and meeting the relevant salary threshold (up to 20 points).
Out of these, salary is a tradable component, while the rest are all mandatory components.
3. Your Job must meet the Skill Threshold
The role you are being offered must be at an appropriate skill level, which will be RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree) for CoS being assigned from 22 July 2025. Most AI jobs will typically meet this criterion.
4. Meet the Minimum Salary Requirements
Your employer must offer you a salary that meets the threshold or the “going rate” for the job, whichever is higher. The salary threshold will rise for applications submitted from 22 July 2025. The new general salary threshold will increase to £41,700 per annum from the existing £38,700 per annum. You may be paid less if you have a PhD degree relevant to the job, a PhD degree in a STEM subject relevant to the role, you are a ‘new entrant’, or your job is listed on the immigration shortage list. Please note that the salary threshold will rise across all options from 22 July 2025.
You may easily meet the salary requirement as employers offer higher salaries for many AI roles due to their specialised nature.
5. Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
You must prove your knowledge of English language (speaking, reading, writing, and understanding English) to at least CEFR (Common European Framework of Research for Languages) level B1.
How to Apply?
You can apply from outside the UK, or if you are already in the UK, you can switch to a UK skilled worker visa. You need to apply online and submit supporting documents.
You need to pay the visa application fee, which ranges from £769 to £1,751 depending on your circumstances. You also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year.
As part of your application, you will need to enrol your biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) by using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app or visiting a VAC (Visa Application Centre), or at a UKVCAS (if applying to switch to a skilled worker visa).
If you have applied from outside the UK, you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks, and if you have applied to switch from inside the UK, you will usually get a decision within 8 weeks.
What can you expect from us?
We help you explore your appropriate visa option to work in the UK as an AI professional. If the UK skilled worker visa is the right choice for you, we will help you assemble your visa application materials and ensure that your visa is successful. While you can focus on taking a decisive step toward a rewarding AI career in the UK, we take care of all your visa needs. With recent changes in immigration rules, especially in the skilled worker route, we ensure that you meet the latest requirements, as we always stay abreast of the latest changes in UK immigration policy.
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