Your Route to Working in the UK

Skilled Worker visa in 2026: £41,700 general salary floor, going rates by SOC code, Health & Care and New Entrant discounts and 5-year route to ILR.

Wesbridge Associates is an IAA-regulated UK immigration law firm. Our advisers support individuals, families and UK sponsors with skilled worker visas, sponsor licences, family routes, settlement (ILR), British citizenship, appeals and compliance — combining experienced legal advice with AI-powered self-service tools.

Reviewed by Wesbridge Associates' IAA-regulated immigration advisers. Last updated: July 2026.

The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's main sponsored work route, replacing Tier 2 (General) in December 2020. It requires a job offer from a licensed sponsor in an eligible SOC 2020 occupation at or above the salary and skill thresholds, and it leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 continuous years. Wesbridge Associates advises applicants and sponsors on Certificates of Sponsorship, salary compliance, dependant applications, extensions and settlement.

Who qualifies

You need (a) a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer holding a Skilled Worker sponsor licence, (b) a job at RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) or above in an eligible SOC 2020 occupation listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations, (c) a salary that meets the highest of: the route's general salary threshold (currently £38,700 for most applicants), the going rate for the specific SOC code, and £15.88 per hour; discount routes reduce the general threshold (new entrant / PhD in a relevant subject / Immigration Salary List / Health and Care Worker), (d) English at CEFR B1 across reading, writing, speaking and listening, and (e) £1,270 personal savings held for 28 consecutive days (waived if the sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS). Suitability, criminal record certificates (for roles in Appendix FIN) and TB testing (for nationals of listed countries) also apply.

Salary and going rates

Every eligible SOC code has a published going rate in Appendix Skilled Occupations Table 1 (24/7 hour reference). Your salary is calculated on a maximum 48-hour week regardless of how many hours you actually work; overtime, allowances, on-call and bonus payments generally do not count. Discount routes: new entrants (under 26, recent graduates, working towards professional qualifications) can be paid 70% of the going rate down to a £30,960 floor for up to 4 years; PhD holders in subjects relevant to the role can pay 90% of the general threshold, or 80% if the PhD is STEM; Immigration Salary List roles get a 20% general-threshold discount; Health and Care Worker occupations have their own reduced thresholds and NHS Agenda for Change rates apply where relevant.

How it works with Wesbridge

Step 1 — job and SOC check: we confirm the role sits in an eligible SOC code and that salary meets the higher of general threshold, going rate and £15.88/hour, applying any discount. Step 2 — sponsor and CoS: we review the sponsor's licence status and draft or vet the CoS narrative and salary breakdown. Step 3 — application: online form, English evidence or nationality/degree-taught exemption, savings evidence, TB test where required, £284-£1,083 Home Office fee (based on length and route), £1,035/year IHS (£776 for under-18s and students; £624 Health and Care equivalents where relevant), and Immigration Skills Charge paid by the sponsor (£1,000/year large sponsor, £364/year small/charity — waived for Health and Care Worker). Step 4 — biometrics and decision (standard 3 weeks out-of-country, 8 weeks in-country; priority 5 working days available for most cases). Step 5 — extension after up to 5 years and ILR at 5 years subject to salary at ILR-level going rate, 180-day rolling absence rule, Life in the UK and English at CEFR B1.

Change of employer, role and dependants

You cannot change sponsor without a new Certificate of Sponsorship and a new visa application (permission to start work runs from the grant date of the new visa, though a change-of-employment can be lodged before your current leave ends). Promotions and role changes within the same SOC code and sponsor generally require only a change-of-circumstances report by the sponsor; a change of SOC code or of duties requires a new CoS and application. Dependants (partner and children under 18) can accompany or join you, work in any role, study, and their time in line counts for ILR alongside yours.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch to Skilled Worker from another visa in-country?

Yes, from most routes including Student, Graduate, Health and Care Worker, spouse/partner and Global Talent — provided you hold a valid CoS, meet the salary and English requirements and are not on visitor or short-term study leave. Visitors and short-term students must apply from outside the UK.

What if my salary drops or I go on unpaid leave?

Sponsors must report material salary drops via the Sponsorship Management System within 10 working days. Short periods of statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental or sick leave are permitted at statutory rates. Prolonged unpaid absences, unauthorised salary reductions or moves below the going rate can lead to curtailment and jeopardise ILR eligibility.

Does time on Skilled Worker count towards British citizenship?

Indirectly. Skilled Worker time counts towards ILR after 5 years; you can then apply to naturalise as British 12 months after ILR (immediately if married to a British citizen), subject to 450/90-day absence caps in the 5 (or 3) years before naturalisation and good character.

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