Caseworker guidance for the Skilled Worker route sets out a visa brake for Afghan nationals applying from outside the UK from 26 March 2026, and transitional arrangements for prison officers.
Key facts
- Who: Afghan nationals making out-of-country Skilled Worker entry clearance applications as main applicants; prison officers below principal officer under the transitional arrangements
- From: Already in force (visa brake from 26 March 2026)
- Source: Skilled Worker visa: caseworker guidance
The guidance tells Home Office caseworkers how to consider applications to enter, remain or settle under the Skilled Worker route. Version 20.0 was published for staff on 3 August 2026. Its section 1.3 lists the change from the last version as an update to Part Suitability on immigration bail. This item reports the visa brake (section 5.1) and prison officer (section 8.4) provisions that the guidance contains.
Visa brake for Afghanistan (section 5.1). Afghanistan is subject to a visa brake from 26 March 2026. Caseworkers must refuse any out-of-country Skilled Worker entry clearance application submitted online on or after that date by a main applicant who is a national or citizen of Afghanistan, under paragraph SW 3.3. Suitability is assessed in full, but the applicant's wider eligibility is not considered.
The brake applies only where the main applicant applies from outside the UK using a passport or travel document confirming Afghan nationality. An application made by a dual national under a different nationality is considered as normal, in line with that nationality.
Prison officers below principal officer (section 8.4). Transitional arrangements allow prison officers to be granted under Option F of the salary points consideration. The skills allowance applies to applications until 1 January 2027, and the salary allowance is valid until 1 January 2028.
- A person previously granted Skilled Worker permission as a prison officer can apply with a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued before 1 January 2028.
- Otherwise, a worker can switch into the route as a prison officer provided the application is for permission to stay and the CoS is issued before 1 January 2027.
- In both cases the CoS end date must be no more than 3 years after the start date.
Prison officers can apply outside these arrangements only if they meet the normal requirements. They must have been sponsored in the route continuously since before 22 July 2025 and meet any salary option they are eligible for.
What this means for applicants
Afghan nationals applying online from outside the UK as main applicants on the Skilled Worker route will have the application refused under SW 3.3, whatever their eligibility. An application made under a different nationality is considered in line with that nationality.
Prison officers wanting to switch into the route can do so under the transitional arrangements only by applying for permission to stay with a CoS issued before 1 January 2027. Those previously granted permission as prison officers can apply with a new CoS issued before 1 January 2028. In both cases the CoS end date must be no more than 3 years after the start date. Applications outside these arrangements must meet the normal requirements: continuous sponsorship in the route since before 22 July 2025, and any salary option the applicant is eligible for.
Related guide
Sources
- Skilled Worker visa: caseworker guidance, UK Visas and Immigration, GOV.UK