UK Skilled Worker Visa: Salary Threshold Now £41,700
July 22, 2025 – The UK has implemented another major increase to the Skilled Worker salary threshold, further tightening who can qualify for a sponsored work visa.
Current General Salary Threshold
For new Skilled Worker applications where the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is assigned on or after 22 July 2025, the main rule is:
£41,700 per year, or
the “going rate” for your occupation, or
the relevant discounted rate (for certain PhD holders or new entrants), whichever is highest.
This follows the earlier jump to £38,700 on 4 April 2024 and represents a continued push to limit lower-paid migration.
Transitional Rules for Existing Workers
If you already hold a Skilled Worker visa, you may fall under transitional salary rules:
Many workers sponsored before 4 April 2024 can extend or change employer using a lower salary threshold (around £31,300) until 1 December 2026, provided they remain in the same SOC code and route.
Health and Care workers and some education roles have separate, lower thresholds, often tied to national pay scales (e.g., Agenda for Change for NHS staff).
Settlement (ILR) applications normally require meeting the current salary rules for your route, so long-term planning is important.Because thresholds, “going rates” and discounts differ by occupation code, applicants and sponsors should always check the latest Home Office tables before submitting a case.
Immigration Salary List (ISL) vs Shortage Occupation List
In April 2024, the UK replaced the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) with the narrower Immigration Salary List (ISL):
ISL roles can often be paid at 80% of the general threshold, but not below a minimum floor set for that code.
The list focuses on genuine, evidence-based shortages, so many roles that used to benefit under the SOL no longer qualify for reduced thresholds.
Health and Care roles are largely handled under their own rules rather than the ISL.Who Is Most Affected?
Most impacted:
Junior and mid-level professionals in IT, business, marketing, hospitality, and retail, especially outside London where salaries are lower.
Small and medium-sized employers that previously sponsored roles close to the old £26,200 baseline.Less affected:
Senior professionals in finance, tech, engineering and professional services, whose salaries often already exceed £41,700.
Health and Care workers on national pay scales, where separate rules apply.Planning a Skilled Worker Application
If you are considering a Skilled Worker visa in 2025–2026:
Check your SOC code and confirm the required “going rate” and any applicable discounts (new entrant, PhD, ISL).
Make sure your gross annual salary (not including overtime or most bonuses) clearly meets or exceeds the relevant threshold.
If you already hold a visa, determine whether you are on transitional rules and how long they will last.
Coordinate your Skilled Worker plan with any longer-term goal of settlement (ILR), which may need you to meet higher thresholds in future.These salary changes are part of a broader strategy to reduce net migration and ensure that sponsored roles are genuinely skilled and well-paid. For many applicants, that means fewer options at lower salary levels and more pressure to negotiate competitive packages.
