Arriving in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa

Before you fly

• Check your eVisa. The UK has replaced most physical immigration documents with an eVisa held in your online UKVI account. Make sure you can sign in and that the passport you will travel with is linked to the account. If you have renewed your passport, update it before you travel. See eVisas on GOV.UK.
• Know your dates. Your visa has a start date. You cannot enter the UK on it before then, so book flights and your airport transfer for on or after that date.
• Bring your paperwork. Carry your employer’s details, your Certificate of Sponsorship reference and your accommodation address in your hand luggage.
• Family coming too? Dependants can apply to join you. If they are flying with you, book a vehicle big enough for everyone and every case.

The official rules, including salary levels and eligible jobs, are on GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa. A Skilled Worker visa can last up to 5 years, and you can usually apply up to 3 months before your job starts.

When you land

At the UK border, have your passport ready. Depending on your nationality you may use the eGates or see a Border Force officer, who may ask about your job and where you will live. After baggage reclaim, walk through to arrivals, where your driver will be waiting.

Getting from the airport to your new address

Your first journey in the UK is usually your hardest one: a long flight, a new country and everything you own in two or three large cases. Trains and the Underground are cheap, but with heavy luggage, changes and stairs they are hard work, and a black-cab fare to outside London can run high. A pre-booked private car takes you from the arrivals hall straight to your front door.

• Flight tracked: we watch your flight and your driver is there when you actually land, early or late, with no extra charge for delays.
• 60 minutes of free waiting after landing, so passport control and baggage reclaim are not a race.
• Meet & greet: your driver waits in arrivals holding a name board and helps with your bags.
• Driver details before you travel, so you know who is meeting you.
• Fixed price in pounds, agreed when you book. No meter and no surge pricing.
• Room for luggage: choose an MPV (up to 6 passengers), a 9-seater (up to 8) or a 16-seat minibus for a family or group. Tell us how many cases you are bringing.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup, useful if your visa decision or start date moves.

We cover Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City and Southampton, and drive to addresses anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales, not just London.

Get a fixed price

Your first week checklist

• Share your eVisa with your employer so they can complete right-to-work checks. You do this with a share code from your UKVI account.
• Apply for a National Insurance number if you don’t already have one. You can start work while you wait.
• Register with a GP (family doctor) near your home.
• Open a UK bank account. Many banks accept your eVisa and passport as ID.
• Set up council tax, energy, broadband and a UK SIM.

Relocating for a new job?

Many employers pay relocation costs. Ask HR whether they will cover your airport transfer and whether they need a receipt in the company name. Ask when you book. If your team is moving several new starters at once, a 9-seater or 16-seat minibus is often cheaper per person than separate cars.

Book your Heathrow arrival   Arriving at Gatwick?

Visa rules change. Always check GOV.UK for the latest requirements before you travel. Rushxo is a transport company, not an immigration adviser.

Moving to the UK: more guides

Students arriving · Nurses & doctors arriving · Joining family in the UK · Moving back to the UK · UK ETA for visitors · Heathrow to your London hotel