Skilled Worker Visa Document Checklist & Translation Guide
Last updated: March 2026
The Skilled Worker route turns on two things: your qualifications and your sponsor's Certificate of Sponsorship. The CoS comes from your UK employer in English, so that's sorted. Everything else may not be. Degree certificates, academic transcripts, professional registration documents, and criminal-record certificates all need translating into English if they were issued in another language. This checklist covers what to translate, plus where the regulated-profession bodies (GMC, NMC, GDC) add extra rules on top.
What documents do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?
Skilled Worker visa applicants need a valid passport, certificate of sponsorship, proof of English language ability, criminal record certificate, and professional qualifications. Any non-English documents need a certified translation.
The Skilled Worker route used to be called Tier 2 before the 2020 rebrand. You need a UK job offer from a licensed sponsor, plus a supporting document pack. Which documents face scrutiny depends on the role, salary, and country. A software engineer joining a tech firm has a different document mix than a nurse joining the NHS, or a doctor joining a private trust.
Professional qualifications carry extra weight in regulated professions — healthcare especially. GMC for doctors, NMC for nurses, GDC for dentists, HCPC for allied health. None of these bodies will register an overseas qualification without a certified English translation. The standards they apply are tighter than UKVI's.
- Passport and travel documents
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number
- Proof of English language ability
- Criminal record certificate from home country
- Degree certificates and academic transcripts
- Professional qualifications and licences
- TB test results (from certain countries)
- Bank statements (if salary below threshold)
Which Skilled Worker visa documents need translation?
Degree certificates, academic transcripts, professional qualifications, criminal record certificates, and bank statements need certified translation if they are not in English. Your Certificate of Sponsorship is already in English.
The Certificate of Sponsorship is issued by your UK employer and is always in English. So it does not need translation. But supporting documents from your home country — especially qualifications and criminal records — often need translation.
For healthcare workers, professional registration documents and medical qualifications almost always need certified translation for GMC, NMC, or GDC registration.
- Degree certificates and diplomas
- Academic transcripts and mark sheets
- Professional registration certificates
- Criminal record certificates
- Bank statements (if required)
- Employment references (if not in English)
How much do Skilled Worker visa translations cost?
A typical Skilled Worker visa translation package costs £40–£100. That covers a degree certificate, transcript, and criminal record certificate. Each document costs from £12.99 per page.
Skilled Worker visa applications usually need fewer translated documents than spouse visa applications. The most common documents are a degree certificate (1 page), an academic transcript (2–4 pages), and a criminal record certificate (1 page).
Frequently Asked Questions
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