How much money do you need in your bank account for a Skilled Worker visa?
Money you must be able to show, not money you pay — and it must have been in your account for at least 28 days in a row.
This is regularly confused with a fee. It is savings you must be able to evidence, with a separate, smaller amount for a partner and for each child. GOV.UK also sets a timing rule that catches people out: the money must have been available for 28 consecutive days, and day 28 must fall within 31 days of applying. The exact amounts, and the total for your family, are on the fee page — kept visually apart from the fees for exactly this reason.
“You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.”
Source: GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs · last checked 2026-09-01
When this answer doesn’t apply
- · GOV.UK lists exceptions, including where your employer certifies on your certificate of sponsorship that they will cover your costs, and where you have already been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months. Whether one applies to you is yours to check.
- · It is not added to the fee total anywhere on this site, because it is not a payment.
These are limits of the answer, not a judgment about any reader’s situation. Working out which apply is yours to do.
See the amounts alongside the fees.
See the amounts alongside the fees →