Tier 2 Visa UK Explained: What It Means in 2026

The Tier 2 visa was the UK's main sponsored work route under the Points-Based System from 2008 until December 2020, when Tier 2 (General) was replaced by the Skilled Worker visa and Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) became the Senior or Specialist Worker route. The Tier 1 categories were closed earlier. Tier 2 is now legacy terminology only.

Tier 2 visa: what it was and when it ended

The Points-Based System was introduced by the Home Office in 2008. It organised the main UK work and study routes into five tiers numbered Tier 1 to Tier 5. Tier 2 was the sponsored work tier and had four sub-categories: General (the standard sponsored worker route), Intra-Company Transfer (for employees being moved into a UK office by an overseas group company), Minister of Religion, and Sportsperson.

Tier 2 (General) was the most commonly used. Between 2008 and 2020, it was the main route by which non-EU workers came to the UK for sponsored employment. Eligibility relied on a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UKVI-licensed sponsor, a job at NQF Level 6 or above (graduate level), a salary at or above the published threshold, and an English language qualification at CEFR B1.

On 1 December 2020, following the UK's departure from the European Union and the end of free movement, Tier 2 (General) was closed to new applicants and replaced by the Skilled Worker visa. The Skilled Worker visa is structurally similar but lowered the skill level (now RQF Level 3, broadly A-level equivalent, rather than NQF Level 6), removed the resident labour market test, and brought in a new salary and going-rate structure. The other Tier 2 sub-categories were renamed and absorbed into the new Worker and Temporary Worker categories.

What replaced Tier 2 (General): the Skilled Worker visa

The Skilled Worker visa is the current main sponsored work route. Eligibility is broadly:

• A Certificate of Sponsorship from a UKVI-licensed sponsor holding a Worker licence.
• A job on the eligible Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) list at RQF Level 3 or above.
• A salary at or above the general threshold and the going rate for the specific SOC code. Thresholds change periodically; verify the current figures at GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa.
• English language at CEFR B1 (speaking, listening, reading, writing) or equivalent qualification, exemption, or nationality.
• A successful application paying the visa fee, Immigration Health Surcharge, and biometric enrolment fee.

The Skilled Worker visa is granted for up to five years at a time and can lead to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after a continuous five-year qualifying period. Dependants (partner and children under 18) can accompany the main applicant subject to the rules in force at the time of application. The route covers a wider range of occupations than Tier 2 (General) did at the date of closure, although changes since 2024 have removed some occupations from eligibility and raised salary thresholds for others.

What replaced Tier 2 (Intra-Company): the Senior or Specialist Worker visa

Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) was used by multinational employers to move existing employees into a UK office or subsidiary. In April 2022 it was renamed and re-shaped as the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, sitting inside the new Global Business Mobility framework alongside the Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker routes.

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa requires:

• Sponsorship by a UKVI-licensed sponsor that is part of the same corporate group as the worker's overseas employer.
• A qualifying period of overseas employment with the same group (typically twelve months, with a reduced or waived requirement for high earners).
• A skilled role meeting the SOC code and salary thresholds for the route.

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa does not lead to settlement. A worker on this route who wishes to settle in the UK usually has to switch into the Skilled Worker route, which does lead to ILR. Detail on the current route is at GOV.UK: Global Business Mobility visas.

What replaced Tier 1 routes

The Tier 1 categories were the investor, entrepreneur, and talent routes:

• Tier 1 (General): highly skilled migrant programme. Closed to new applicants in 2010 and to extensions in 2015.
• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur): closed to new applicants in March 2019. Replaced by the Innovator visa, which was subsequently reformed into the Innovator Founder visa in April 2023.
• Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur): closed to new applicants in July 2019. Replaced by the Start-up visa, which was itself closed to new applicants in 2023 and folded into the Innovator Founder route.
• Tier 1 (Investor): closed to new applicants in February 2022 with no direct replacement. Investors are now expected to use the Innovator Founder or Global Talent route, depending on profile.
• Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent): reformed into the Global Talent visa in February 2020. The route remains open and requires endorsement by an approved body in arts and culture, digital technology, sciences, engineering, or research.

Anyone still on a legacy Tier 1 grant can usually extend in line under transitional provisions, but no fresh Tier 1 applications can be made. The current investor and founder routes are at GOV.UK: Innovator Founder visa and GOV.UK: Global Talent visa.

Key differences between Tier 2 and Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker visa is the most direct successor to Tier 2 (General). The main differences in route design are:

• Skill level: Tier 2 required NQF Level 6 (graduate). Skilled Worker requires RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent), broadening the range of eligible occupations. Recent reforms in 2024 and 2025 have tightened this in specific sectors.
• Resident labour market test: Tier 2 required most roles to be advertised in the UK before sponsorship. Skilled Worker removed the resident labour market test, so sponsors do not need to advertise externally before issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Salary structure: Tier 2 used a single threshold table. Skilled Worker uses two layers (a general threshold and a going rate per SOC code), with tradeable points for shortage occupations, PhD holders, and new entrants.
• Cap: Tier 2 (General) had an annual cap on new entrants. Skilled Worker removed the cap, although other levers (salary thresholds, SOC eligibility, sponsor compliance) restrict volume.
• English language: Both routes require CEFR B1, but Skilled Worker tests four skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) while Tier 2 tested two.

For someone holding a legacy Tier 2 (General) visa, the practical effect is that their next renewal will be on the Skilled Worker route. The Home Office treats prior Tier 2 leave as counting towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement, provided continuous residence and salary conditions are met throughout.

Tier 2 dependants: are they still valid

Dependants of legacy Tier 2 visa holders (partners and children under 18) are usually granted leave in line with the main applicant. The conditions of leave for the dependant (work permitted, study permitted, no recourse to public funds) follow what was in force when the dependant's leave was granted.

The 2024 immigration changes restricted dependants on some Skilled Worker applications (notably the closure of dependant routes for international students on most non-research postgraduate courses, and proposed changes to dependant entry for care workers). Legacy Tier 2 dependants whose main applicant remains on Tier 2 leave can usually continue under their existing conditions, but at the next extension or switch they fall under current Skilled Worker dependant rules. Reading the current dependant page at GOV.UK before any extension application is essential.

Dependant fees on the current Skilled Worker route follow the same fee table as the main applicant. The Immigration Health Surcharge is also paid separately for each dependant. Verify both at the current GOV.UK fee schedule.

What to do if your documents say 'Tier 2'

Many UK visa vignettes, biometric residence permits, and older eVisa entries still say "Tier 2 (General)" or "Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer)" because they were issued before the December 2020 rebrand. The legacy wording does not invalidate the grant. The visa remains in force until the expiry date stated on the document.

Steps to take if the document shows Tier 2:

1. Check the expiry date on the document or in the UKVI account. Set a calendar reminder for around six months before expiry to plan the next step.
2. Confirm the conditions: work permitted with the named sponsor, study permitted alongside, no recourse to public funds. These conditions still apply.
3. For employers, confirm the right to work using the GOV.UK online checking service with a share code, not by inspecting the physical document alone. Guidance is at GOV.UK: check a job applicant's right to work.
4. For renewals or settlement, apply on the current route (Skilled Worker for Tier 2 (General); Senior or Specialist Worker for Tier 2 (Intra-Company)). The Home Office treats the prior Tier 2 leave as continuous with the new route for most purposes.
5. If anything is unclear, speak to the sponsor's HR or compliance team, or contact UKVI directly through the routes published at GOV.UK.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Tier 2 visa still available in the UK?

No. Tier 2 (General) was closed to new applicants on 1 December 2020 and replaced by the Skilled Worker visa. Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) was rebranded as the Senior or Specialist Worker visa under the Global Business Mobility framework in April 2022. No new Tier 2 applications can be made.

If my visa says Tier 2, is it still valid?

Yes. Tier 2 vignettes, biometric residence permits, and eVisas issued before the rebrand remain valid until the expiry date stated on the document. The conditions of leave (sponsored work, study permitted alongside, no recourse to public funds) continue to apply. At the next renewal, you apply on the equivalent current route.

What is the difference between Tier 2 and Skilled Worker?

The Skilled Worker visa is the direct successor to Tier 2 (General). Key differences include a lower skill threshold (RQF Level 3 rather than NQF Level 6), removal of the resident labour market test, no annual cap, a four-skill English requirement rather than two, and a salary structure with a general threshold and a going rate per SOC code.

What happened to Tier 1?

The Tier 1 categories closed in stages. Tier 1 (General) closed in 2015. Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) closed in 2019. Tier 1 (Investor) closed in February 2022. Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) was reformed into the Global Talent visa, which remains open. The Innovator Founder visa replaced the entrepreneur and start-up routes from April 2023.

Does time on a Tier 2 visa count towards settlement?

Yes. The Home Office treats continuous lawful leave on Tier 2 (General) and Skilled Worker as a single qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain, provided continuous residence and the other settlement requirements are met throughout. The standard qualifying period for settlement on this route is five years.

Can a dependant of a Tier 2 visa holder still extend?

Yes, where the main applicant extends or switches to the equivalent current route, the dependant can usually extend in line. The conditions of the extension follow the current Skilled Worker dependant rules at the date of the extension application. Recent rule changes have affected some dependant categories, so review the current dependant page on GOV.UK before applying.

How do I apply for a UK work visa now?

Most sponsored work applications go through the Skilled Worker visa at GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa. Intra-company moves use the Senior or Specialist Worker route under Global Business Mobility. High-talent applicants use the Global Talent visa. Founders use the Innovator Founder visa. Each route has its own eligibility rules; the GOV.UK route finder helps narrow the choice.