You’re staring at your laptop screen in Colombo, another visa rejection email glaring back at you. The points don’t add up—maybe your salary offer fell short of that £41,700 threshold, or your English test hit only B1 when B2 is now mandatory after January 8, 2026. It’s maddening, isn’t it? That sinking feeling when dreams of a UK job slip away over a single missed requirement.
I’ve walked countless Sri Lankans through this exact maze, from securing a Certificate of Sponsorship from an A-rated employer to matching your role’s Standard Occupation Code against the eligible list at RQF level 6. One client, a software engineer, boosted his points by getting his non-UK degree Ecctis-verified for English equivalence—avoiding a pricey SELT retake.
In this article, you’ll uncover the precise 70-point breakdown: 50 mandatory for your job offer, skills, and English, plus 20 tradeable for salary nuances like PhD discounts down to £33,400. I’ll share insider tips on proving £1,270 maintenance funds and dodging B-rated sponsor pitfalls. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to stack your points and land that Skilled Worker visa.
What is the UK Points-Based Immigration System?
Picture Priya, a software engineer from Colombo, staring at her laptop in the dim light of her family home. She’s dreamed of coding for a London tech firm, but post-Brexit rules feel like a locked gate. Then she discovers the points-based system—her ticket through, if she tallies the right score. I’ve guided dozens like her over 15 years, watching them turn dreams into Biometric Residence Permits.
The UK rolled out this system in 2021, scrapping the old Tier 2 setup for everyone, EU folks included. It ranks overseas talent purely on merit—skills, job fit, English chops—no favoritism for passports. For skilled work visas, like the one Priya chases, you need 70 points total. Grab 50 mandatory ones first: a genuine job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor (that’s 20 points), work at skill level RQF3 or above in an eligible occupation (another 20), and English at B1 level via approved tests like IELTS (10 points).[1][4]
Those 50 lock in your basics. Now chase 20 tradeable points through salary or extras. Hit £41,700 annually—or the occupation’s “going rate,” whichever’s higher—and you bag all 20. New entrants, like fresh grads under 26, snag them at lower pay. A relevant PhD adds 10; shortage jobs, like certain health roles, deliver 20. I once helped a Sri Lankan doctor pivot to a shortage spot, dodging the full salary hurdle.[1][4]
For Sri Lankans eyeing UK work, this levels the field. No quotas cripple your shot if points align. Sponsors issue a Certificate of Sponsorship—digital gold—proving your role’s legit. Apply online, biometrics at a Colombo visa center, and decisions roll in weeks. Nuances trip people: sponsors must prove no Brit fits first, via Resident Labour Market Tests in some cases. English jumps to B2 for extensions from 2026, so Priya preps early.[1][5]
I’ve seen it firsthand—points demystify the maze. Priya nailed 70 with her sponsor’s offer and B1 score, landing in Heathrow six months later. You stack yours right, the UK opens wide.
Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility for Sri Lankans
Picture this: Ravi, a software engineer from Colombo, stares at his laptop screen late one night, heart racing as he reads the email from a London tech firm. They’ve offered him a role coding AI tools—his dream job. But as excitement fades, doubt creeps in. Does he tick every box for the UK’s Skilled Worker Visa? I’ve guided dozens like Ravi over my 15 years writing on immigration, watching them turn offers into reality.
To snag this visa, you start with a solid job offer from a UK employer holding a Home Office-approved sponsor licence. They issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), that golden ticket packed with details on your role, salary, and start date. Without it, you’re stuck. Sponsors prove they’re legit by showing they’re a genuine business, compliant with UK laws, and ready to oversee your work—UKVI checks this rigorously during licence applications[3][2].
Next, your job must match an eligible occupation on the UK’s official list, tied to a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. From April 2025 changes baked into the rules, most roles now demand RQF Level 6 skills—think bachelor’s degree equivalent, like managers, engineers, or programmers in Tables 1-3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. Lower-skilled spots? Rare, only if they’re on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List, but don’t bank on it for Sri Lankans chasing stability[1][3]. Ravi’s SOC code for software development? Spot on at RQF 6.
English language hits harder now. Since January 8, 2026—just days ago—you Sri Lankans need B2 level across speaking, listening, reading, and writing, upper-intermediate like A-Level standard. Pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from approved providers like IELTS for UKVI. Or, get Ecctis to verify your Sri Lankan degree was taught in English. UK qualifications like GCSEs in English work too. Exempt if you’re from a majority-English country, but Sri Lanka doesn’t qualify. I’ve seen applicants scramble last minute for SELT bookings—book early, aim for Trinity or IELTS[3][1][5].
But wait — there’s more to consider. You prove £1,270 in maintenance funds, held for 28 straight days ending no more than 31 days before applying. Bank statements do it. Exceptions? If your sponsor certifies they’ll cover your first month’s costs on the CoS, or you’ve lived legally in the UK for 12 months with earnings. Ravi dodged this by having his firm vouch for him[3].
Nuance matters. New entrants or PhD holders snag tradeable points for lower salaries, but you still hit floors like 70% of the going rate. Salary baseline? £41,700 or your occupation’s rate, whichever’s higher—must hit 20 tradeable points[1]. One client, a Colombo accountant switching from a student visa, nailed it with a SOC-matched role at a Big Four firm, B2 via Ecctis-verified degree, and sponsor-covered funds. He packed for Heathrow weeks later.
Score 70 points total: 20 for the sponsor job, 20 for skill level, 10 for English, 20 from salary or perks. Miss one? Application tanks. From my desk, watching Sri Lankans thrive, I say: match your skills to the list first, then hunt sponsors via LinkedIn or gov.uk directories. Your story could be next.
How Sri Lankans Earn Visa Points: Salary and Tradeables
Picture this: Ravi, a sharp software developer from Colombo, stares at his laptop screen late into the night. He’s landed a job offer from a London tech firm, but the email mentions “tradeable points” and salary thresholds that make his head spin. He wonders if his £38,000 offer will cut it. Stories like Ravi’s fill my inbox weekly—Sri Lankans chasing UK dreams through the Skilled Worker route, where 20 of your 70 mandatory points hinge on salary smarts.
The backbone here? You hit 20 tradeable points by clearing the higher of £41,700 general salary or your occupation’s going rate, drawn straight from ASHE 2024 data and uprated in July 2025.[1][5] That going rate reflects median full-time earnings for your SOC code, pro-rated for fewer hours but never dipping below £17.13 hourly on a 48-hour week max.[3] Employers assign this via Certificate of Sponsorship; get it wrong, and your application tanks.
This brings us to something often overlooked: those salary discounts that turn “no” into “yes” for folks like Ravi. Hold a relevant PhD? Drop to £37,500 (90% of general threshold) for non-STEM fields, or £33,400 (80%) if STEM-related—perfect for Sri Lankan engineers with UK postgraduate degrees.[1][2] New entrants—think graduates under 26 or switching early in career—grab 70% at £33,400, though health roles on national pay scales slide to £25,000.[1][2] I’ve seen a Colombo nurse snag this via Agenda for Change band 3, her sponsor licence gleaming in the application stack.
Take software developers, SOC 2139. Going rate? Around £48,000 annually, so you need at least that, even if your offer tops £41,700.[5] Healthcare shines for Sri Lankans too—nurses (SOC 2231) often hit going rates near £35,000 on NHS scales, qualifying new entrants easily.[2] But here’s the nuance I’ve learned from guiding dozens: Immigration Salary List jobs get 80% leeway, postdoctoral roles match new entrant discounts at 70%, and everything prorate-checks against 37.5-hour weeks.[1][4] Miss the going rate? No points, no visa.
One case sticks out: Priya, a Colombo physiotherapist with a STEM PhD. Her £34,500 offer flew through at 80% STEM discount, beating the £41,700 wall. She aced her TB test—mandatory for Sri Lankans, that chest X-ray from an approved Colombo clinic uploaded seamlessly.[2] Exceptions bite, though: extensions before December 2026 might hold lower thresholds like £31,300 if pre-April 2024 CoS.[2] Always cross-check your SOC on GOV.UK tables; I’ve watched apps crumble on outdated rates.
You chase these points by matching job to qualifications, negotiating salary proofs like payslips or contracts. Sponsors verify via Home Office portals. For Ravi? He pivoted to new entrant status, bumped to £33,400, and boarded that flight. Your story waits—align the numbers right, and the UK gate swings open.
Step-by-Step Application Process and Next Steps
Picture Priya, a Colombo-based software engineer, staring at her laptop screen late one night. Her UK employer just emailed the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)—that golden ticket for her Skilled Worker visa. Heart racing, she wondered: where to start? I’ve guided dozens like her through this exact path, turning nerves into stamped passports.
You begin by collecting essentials. Grab your valid passport with a blank page. Secure your CoS reference number from an A-rated licensed sponsor—check the Home Office register first, as B-rated ones can’t issue new ones.[1][3] Prove English at B1 level now, but note the 2026 shift to B2 for extensions and settlement.[6] Show £1,270 in savings held for 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before applying, unless your sponsor covers it via the CoS.[3] Don’t forget the TB test from an approved clinic in Sri Lanka—results expire after six months.[1]
With documents ready, head to the Home Office website. Check eligibility for 70 points: 50 mandatory for your job offer in an eligible occupation, English, and skill level; 20 tradeable for salary and such.[3][4] Apply online up to three months before your CoS start date.[7] Pay the fee—£719 from outside the UK for up to three years—plus biometrics and the Immigration Health Surcharge, roughly £1,035 per year for NHS access.[1][3] Upload everything: passport scans, CoS details, job title, occupation code, employer sponsor number, savings proof.[1]
Book biometrics promptly at a Sri Lanka visa centre or use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app for fingerprints and photo.[1] Decisions come in three weeks outside the UK; priority services speed it up for extra cost.[1][3] I recall Priya’s relief when her approval arrived in 18 days—her employer chose priority after a tight deadline.
Once in the UK, track your visa expiry. After five years on Skilled Worker, apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Pass the Life in the UK test—study that handbook cover to cover—and meet continuous residence rules. Watch 2026’s earned settlement proposals: factors like prior breaches or public funds could extend your qualifying period beyond five years.[5][6][9]
Plan ahead for visits too. From February 2026, Sri Lankans need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for short stays—no more visa-free entry.[5][8] One client overlooked this, stranding family plans. Double-check sponsor compliance and document formats; caseworkers reject sloppy apps without second chances.[3]
Stick to these steps, and you’ll join thousands of Sri Lankans building lives in the UK. Questions on your CoS? Reach out to your employer early. Your story starts now.
Your Path to the UK Awaits
Picture Amali, a Colombo software engineer, staring at her laptop late one night, her fingers hovering over the apply button after matching her skills to a London job offer. She gathered her Certificate of Sponsorship, confirmed her salary cleared £41,700, proved her B2 English level, and showed £1,270 in savings—ticking off the 70 points needed for her Skilled Worker visa. Just like that, her dream shifted from distant hope to tangible steps.
Now, you hold the same power: secure a sponsoring employer, align your qualifications with eligible occupations at RQF level 6 or above, and front-load your application with precise evidence. You’ve got the roadmap to turn ambition into opportunity.
Consult a UK immigration expert and check gov.uk for your eligibility today—your next chapter in the UK starts with that first confident move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary for UK Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
£41,700 or job’s going rate, higher applies. Lower for PhD/new entrants.
Do Sri Lankans need a TB test for UK visa?
Yes, TB test from approved clinic required for long-term visas.
How to prove B2 English for UK visa?
SELT test, English-taught degree (Ecctis), or UK school English quals.
Can Sri Lankans get ILR on Skilled Worker visa?
Yes, after 5 years continuous residence, Life in UK test, salary maintenance.
What if my UK employer is not A-rated sponsor?
B-rated can’t issue new CoS; check Home Office sponsor list.
