Extending Your Skilled Worker Visa After 5 Years is more than just an administrative step; it’s a milestone in your journey of building a life and career in the UK. By this stage, many Skilled Workers have already established themselves professionally, created meaningful connections, and begun to feel truly at home. Extending your visa is not simply about filling in forms; it’s about recognising the progress you’ve made and opening the door to even greater opportunities.
This article clarifies the process for extending a Skilled Worker visa in 2025, explaining the difference between renewal and applying for settlement. It highlights recent policy developments—namely the proposed 10-year standard settlement route and the move toward a points-based contributions system underpinning settlement and citizenship. You’ll find key eligibility criteria and how this differs from older settlement pathways.
Reaching the five-year mark is a chance to pause and reflect: do you want to continue building your career under a renewed visa, or are you ready to take the step towards settlement and deeper stability? Neither path is a compromise; both represent progress and choice. What matters is aligning your decision with your goals, whether that’s continuing your professional growth, exploring new opportunities, or laying down permanent roots.
As immigration rules adapt and evolve, the overall spirit remains reassuringly constant: the UK values the skills, dedication, and contributions Skilled Workers bring. This stage is an invitation to plan with confidence, embrace your options, and look ahead with optimism to the next chapter of your journey.
What Does “Skilled Visa Renewal” Entail?
In everyday conversation, “skilled visa renewal” typically refers to extending a Skilled Worker visa. Officially called the extension of leave, you can continue working and living in the UK if you still meet all relevant requirements. Notably, it is not the same as applying for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR).
How to Extend Your Skilled Worker Visa in 2025?
If you’re looking to renew (extend) your Skilled Worker visa, you must meet all the following conditions:
- Continue in the same job under the same occupation code as your current visa.
- Remain with the same employer who issued your current Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
For roles classified as medium-skilled, there are additional criteria:
- Your first CoS must have been issued before 22 July 2025.
- You must have held one or more Skilled Worker visas continuously since that first CoS.
Other practical considerations include:
- You must apply online before your current visa expires.
- Once applied, do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you receive a decision.
- Standard processing time is approximately 8 weeks, and accelerated options may be available.
In short, a “Skilled visa renewal” means extending your current Skilled Worker visa by staying in the same role, with the same employer, applying online before expiry, and following any extra rules if your job is medium-skilled.
Applying for Settlement After 5 Years: What You Need to Know?
If you’ve lived and worked in the UK for five years under a Skilled Worker or equivalent visa, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Requirements include:
- Meeting continuous residence conditions,
- Earning at or above the specified salary threshold for your occupation,
- Remaining needed for your role (your employer must confirm), and
- Passing the Life in the UK Test (if aged 18–64). Language requirements have already been met via your visa application.
The application fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the Skilled Worker route has recently been updated. From February 2025, the standard fee is £3,583. If you choose to use optional priority or super priority services, the costs are higher and subject to change. Because these fees are reviewed regularly, it’s always wise to check the official website for the latest figures before submitting your application.
Emerging Changes: 10-Year Settlement Route & Points-Based Contributions
Recent proposals announced in the Immigration White Paper include:
- Extending the standard qualifying period for settlement from 5 to 10 years for certain applicants,
- Introducing a points-based contributions system to determine eligibility for settlement and citizenship, reflecting individuals’ contributions to UK society.
Currently, these reforms are still under consultation and haven’t yet come into effect, which means the five-year settlement route continues to apply for now.
Key Eligibility Criteria & How It’s Changing
| Factor | Skilled Visa Extension | Current ILR (Settlement) | Proposed Changes (White Paper) |
| Residency Required | Apply near visa expiry (extension). | 5 years on a qualifying visa. | Standard route extended to 10 years; possibly shortened via contribution-based scoring (under consultation). |
| Salary Requirements | Must meet current thresholds (same or going rate, including new July 2025 increases) | Meets salary thresholds specified at the time of ILR application. | May include contribution-based scoring alongside salary criteria (under consultation). |
| Occupation & Employer | Same job, same occupation code, same sponsor. | Must continue in a skilled role with employer support at ILR stage | Criteria may widen based on contributions to the UK, not just job specifics (under consultation). |
| Other Requirements | Apply online with supporting documents and a new CoS; attend ID checks; do not travel while pending. | Life in the UK test, proof of continuous residency, sponsor letter, etc. | Additional contribution-based assessment may apply on top of existing requirements (under consultation). |
Practical Steps that help!
- Track your fifth anniversary—calculate carefully to avoid missing the ILR window.
- Decide whether to renew your visa or apply for ILR. If you’re not quite at five years, you’ll need to “renew” (extend) first.
- For extension applications: ensure your CoS and job remain valid and apply online within three months of expiry.
- For ILR: prepare evidence of salary, residence, and pass the Life in the UK Test; apply from 28 days before your five-year mark.
- Stay informed about immigration reform progress, since settlement rules might evolve towards a 10-year route and a contribution-based scheme.
Take Away!
Understanding the difference between skilled visa renewal and settlement is key to plotting your path rightly. As of mid-2025, you can still settle after five years, provided you meet the eligibility criteria, but proposed reforms could bring new timelines and requirements in the near future. What matters most is staying informed, keeping your paperwork and planning in good order, and approaching the process with confidence rather than stress. Change is part of the immigration journey, but with clarity and preparation, you can navigate it smoothly.
For now, focus on the opportunities your Skilled Worker visa continues to provide, remain proactive about upcoming updates, and remember—you’re building a future, not just filling in forms. And if you’d like clear guidance and practical updates along the way, make sure you follow Skilled Worker Mag, where we share supportive insights tailored to your journey.
