Skilled Migrant Visa for Teachers Moving to England

You are reading this blog because you have nailed a teaching job in England. Well done!
The visa process is now ahead of you. This is a guide of what to expect and what steps you need to take.

If you are already in the UK on a visa and decide to Switch Employers/Schools then you can apply here.

The School or Trust becomes your Sponsor

To be Sponsored to teach in England your employer must have Sponsorship License. Once you are appointed, the school will apply for your COS (Certificate of Sponsorship). If you are outside of the UK this is called a Defined COS. This application can be quick, but in some cases, it can take up to 8 weeks for this step to be approved. The Sponsor must wait for Immigration to approve the COS, this part can be a waiting game!

Before you apply for a job it is essential you know the costs and fees involved. Relocating on this visa takes careful planning and you need to ensure your attention to details around documents and savings required. The official checklist can be found here.

The COS is granted

Once the COS is granted the school then needs to pay for and allocate it to the applicant. They pay for the COS and immigration skills surcharge (from £364 -£1000 per year of visa). This step takes 1-3 days, as schools need to get approval for payment and have the paperwork authorised by the Finance Manager or CEO.

The COS is issued

You received a PDF copy of the COS. From here you can apply for your Skilled Migrant Visa or pay an approved immigration lawyer to do this step for you.

This step requires you to be careful and ensure that all of your documentation and finances are in order. Things such as your criminal background check/s, TB Test, IELTS, ENIC should all be prepared in advance.

Complete your online application

Apply here if you are in the UK
Apply here if you are outside the UK
Once you complete the online application you will be required to pay the visa application fee along with the healthcare surcharge. Be sure to keep a record of the receipts. You will also be required to book a biometric (fingerprint and photo) appointment at your nearest embassy.

Waiting for the decision

Standard processing can take anywhere from 15 days up to 8 weeks. You need to be very patient during this time as the process has its own timelines and is out of your control. You can pay priority fees to have a faster decision (i.e. £500 for 5-day response).

Approved visa

Once your visa is approved you can either personally collect it or have it delivered to your nominated address. The entry visa allows you to book flights, arrive in the UK and collect your BRP Card. The BRP is your official ‘Right to Work’ documents.

Useful links

Generally speaking, Teachers are NOT on the Immigration Salary List.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list
If you will check your code on your COS it will likely be;
Primary Teacher 2314
Secondary Teacher 2313
SEN 2316

You can check your code on this immigration tool: https://cascotweb.warwick.ac.uk/#/classification/soc2020
Tip: If your COS has a different code and you are unsure, please consult your Recruiter or the HR Manager at your School. Applying with the wrong code can be heartbreaking and costly.

We are happy to work with teachers seeking teaching jobs in England that require Sponsorship. Please register your expression of interest TODAY.