1. Salary below the combined threshold + going rate
The single most common refusal reason. Since April 2025 the general Skilled Worker threshold is £41,700, but you must also meet the going rate for your SOC 2020 occupation code — whichever is higher. Many applicants satisfy £41,700 but fall short of the going rate. This is the root cause of an estimated 35-45% of all Skilled Worker refusals.
How to avoid: run our Salary Checker with your job title, SOC code, and offered salary before accepting the job. If your offer falls short, negotiate up or ask the employer whether the role qualifies under a reduced route (new entrant, Immigration Salary List, PhD).
2. Mismatch between CoS, job description, and actual role
The Home Office checks that the SOC code, salary, and duties on the Certificate of Sponsorship match your employment contract and the actual work you'll be doing. Mismatches include: CoS issued under a senior SOC code but contract shows junior duties; CoS showing higher salary than the contract to meet threshold; or CoS described as full-time when the contract is part-time.
How to avoid: ask your sponsor to show you the CoS fields (they can export from SMS). Cross-check line-by-line against your signed contract. Any difference — even a typo in job title — should be corrected by withdrawing and reissuing the CoS before you apply.
3. Sponsor licence suspended or revoked
If your employer's sponsor licence is suspended or revoked between CoS issue and visa decision, your application will usually be refused. Licences can be suspended for non-compliance audits, paperwork failures, or Home Office concerns about the sponsor's legitimacy. Suspensions are not publicly visible until resolved — this is a hidden risk when dealing with smaller or newer sponsors.
How to avoid: check the public Register of Licensed Sponsors before accepting the offer (our Sponsor Licence Checker runs this in one click). Ask the employer how many CoS they have issued in the last 12 months and whether they have had any audit actions. A sponsor with a long track record and large CoS allocation is dramatically lower risk than a first-time sponsor.
4. Missing or mismatched financial evidence
Unless your CoS certifies maintenance, you must show at least £1,270 held in your name for 28 consecutive days before applying. For dependants, add £285 for a partner + £315 per first child + £200 each additional child. Bank statements must be dated within 31 days of application, show account-holder name matching your passport, and cover the full 28-day period.
How to avoid: ask the sponsor whether your CoS "certifies maintenance" — if yes, no financial evidence is required. If not, hold the required funds in a current or savings account well in advance. Do not move money in/out during the 28 days, even if the balance never drops below £1,270.
5. English language test from an unapproved provider
You must meet the B1 CEFR English requirement. Several routes qualify automatically: a degree taught in English (you need a NARIC Statement of Comparability + Statement of English proficiency), being a passport holder from a majority-English-speaking country, or holding a GCSE/O-Level equivalent English qualification.
If you use a Secure English Language Test (SELT), it must be one of the Home Office-approved providers: IELTS UKVI, Trinity College London ISE, LanguageCert, or Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic UKVI). Standard IELTS Academic does not qualify. Check your test centre is listed as a UKVI provider before booking.
6. TB test certificate missing
Applicants resident for 6+ months in one of the 101 countries on the Home Office's TB-test-required list must submit a TB test certificate from an approved clinic as part of the visa application. The list includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and many others.
How to avoid: check gov.uk's tuberculosis test list before applying. Book with a Home Office-approved clinic in your country of residence (not just any medical centre). The certificate is valid for 6 months from issue.
7. Application document quality and gaps
Other common refusal factors: passport expired or under 3 months validity, biometrics booking missed, documents not translated to English by an approved translator, or criminal records not declared (required even for minor offences for some routes).
How to avoid: make a physical checklist from the gov.uk application guide and tick each item twice before submitting. Pay for the premium document-checking service (around £75) at the Visa Application Centre if available in your country — caseworkers often flag issues the applicant didn't notice.
If you are refused — Administrative Review vs re-apply
A refusal letter gives you 14 days (from outside the UK) or 14 days (in-country) to request an Administrative Review. This is a paper review where a different caseworker checks whether the original decision made an error. It is not a fresh consideration — new evidence is usually not admissible.
In most cases where the refusal is for salary, missing documents, or sponsor issues, a fresh application with the problem fixed is faster and more reliable than AR. Fresh applications from outside the UK take 3 weeks; AR takes 6-12 weeks with a low overturn rate. Always speak to your sponsor's compliance team before choosing — some refusal reasons (e.g. deception findings) make a fresh application impossible without AR first.