Skilled Worker salary rules (in force 16 October 2026)
| Standard | £41,700 or 100% of the going rate |
| New entrant (max 4 years incl. Graduate time) | £33,400 and 70% of the going rate |
| STEM PhD / other PhD | £33,400 and 80% / £37,500 and 90% |
| Immigration Salary List | £33,400 and 100% of the going rate, lower visa fee |
| National pay scales (NHS, teachers) | £25,000 or the pay-scale rate |
Coming changes
- 31 December 2026: Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List entries end; the certificate of sponsorship must be issued before then. The government has not yet laid what replaces them.
- 1 January 2027: Graduate visa shortens from 2 years to 18 months (PhD stays 3 years).
- 26 March 2027: B2 English needed for settlement (ILR), including people already on a route.
- Proposed, not law: a 10-year baseline for settlement ("earned settlement"). Today ILR is still possible after 5 years. See the ILR timeline.
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Sources: GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa · Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker · Immigration Rules: Appendix Immigration Salary List · GOV.UK: Temporary Shortage List · GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa · GOV.UK: Graduate visa · GOV.UK: Global Talent visa · GOV.UK: High Potential Individual visa · GOV.UK: India Young Professionals Scheme visa · GOV.UK: India Young Professionals Scheme ballot · GOV.UK: Scale-up Worker visa · GOV.UK: Home Office immigration and nationality fees (8 October 2026) · GOV.UK: Immigration Health Surcharge · Statement of changes HC 1333 (Graduate 18 months, B2 English).