TL;DR: From 4 April 2024, the minimum salary for the UK Skilled Worker Visa rises to £38,700 annually, with the ‘discounted’ rate for new entrants and some roles increasing to £30,960. The occupation-specific ‘going rates’ also increase significantly. Sponsors and applicants must ensure salaries meet the new thresholds for applications and extensions.
Introduction: Major Salary Adjustments for UK Work Visas
In a significant policy shift affecting the UK’s primary economic migration route, the Home Office has confirmed substantial increases to the salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker Visa, effective from 4 April 2024. This change represents one of the most impactful adjustments to the visa’s financial requirements since its inception under the points-based system, moving away from the previous general minimum of £26,200. The revised rules are designed to align migrant worker salaries more closely with domestic pay levels and are a core part of broader immigration reforms announced by the government. For sponsors and prospective workers, understanding these new baseline and occupation-specific salary requirements is now critical for successful visa applications and ongoing sponsor compliance. The Skilled Worker Visa pathway remains central to UK business recruitment but now operates under markedly higher financial benchmarks.
What is the Skilled Worker Visa?
The Skilled Worker Visa is the UK’s main immigration route for employers to recruit overseas talent in eligible skilled occupations. It requires sponsorship from a licensed UK employer, a job offer in a qualifying role, and meeting specific points criteria, including English language proficiency and salary thresholds. Applicants must be paid at least the general minimum salary or the higher occupation-specific ‘going rate’, whichever is greater. The visa is pivotal for sectors facing skills shortages and allows individuals to live and work in the UK, often with a path to settlement.
Detailed Breakdown of the New Salary Thresholds
The April 2024 changes introduce two primary, increased salary benchmarks that all Skilled Worker Visa applications must satisfy.
The New General Minimum Threshold
The headline change is the increase of the general minimum salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700 per year. This figure represents the absolute baseline; an application cannot be approved if the offered salary is below this amount, unless the applicant qualifies for a discounted rate. This 48% increase applies to the majority of Skilled Worker Visa applicants and is intended to raise the average salary of migrant workers. Sponsors must review all current and planned recruitment to ensure salaries meet this new standard for any Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned from 4 April onwards.
The new general minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker Visa is £38,700 per annum, effective for applications from 4 April 2024.
The Discounted Rate for New Entrants and Specified Roles
A discounted minimum salary threshold remains for certain applicants, but this rate has also been increased. The new discounted rate is £30,960 per year, rising from the previous £20,960. This rate applies to individuals classified as “new entrants” to the labour market, such as those under 26, switching from a Student Visa, or in postdoctoral positions in STEM occupations. It also applies to jobs listed in the Immigration Rules where a discounted rate is specified. While this offers some relief compared to the general threshold, it still represents a significant 47.5% increase, impacting graduate recruitment and early-career roles.
Increases to Occupation-Specific “Going Rates”
Beyond the general minima, each eligible occupation has an individual “going rate” salary, typically based on median UK pay for that role. These rates have also been substantially updated. In many sectors, the new going rates have increased by 20-30% or more. Applicants must be paid at least 100% of the new going rate for their occupation code, or 70% if they qualify as a new entrant. Sponsors must consult the updated 2024 going rate tables on GOV.uk to verify the exact new requirement for each job they sponsor. Failure to pay the updated going rate, even if the salary meets the general £38,700 threshold, will result in a visa refusal.
Impact on Existing Workers and Visa Extensions
The new salary thresholds apply not only to new applicants but also to existing Skilled Worker Visa holders seeking to extend their stay, change employer, or apply for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain). When extending a visa, the worker must be paid at least the new applicable rate (general minimum or going rate) for their role at the time of the extension application. This means employers must plan for salary reviews for current sponsored staff whose visas will expire after 4 April 2024 to ensure they remain compliant and the worker can secure an extension. There is no grandfathering provision protecting workers on lower salaries under the old rules.
Why Do These Salary Threshold Changes Matter?
The changes materially alter the accessibility and cost of the Skilled Worker Visa route for UK businesses and global talent. For sponsors, the higher salary requirements increase the direct cost of hiring overseas workers and may limit the pool of candidates they can consider, particularly for mid-level roles. For applicants, it raises the bar for qualifying for a UK work visa, making it essential to secure roles that meet the new financial benchmarks. The adjustments also shift the competitive landscape, potentially making the UK a less attractive destination for skilled migrants compared to other countries with lower salary thresholds, unless the offered roles are highly compensated. The changes are a direct response to political objectives to reduce net migration and ensure migrant salaries are not depressed relative to domestic workers.
Implications for Sponsors & Employers
Licensed sponsors must undertake urgent reviews of their recruitment practices and payroll for sponsored employees. Key actions include: updating internal salary benchmarks for all sponsored roles to align with the new £38,700 minimum and 2024 going rates; conducting salary reviews for current employees whose future visa extensions depend on meeting the new thresholds; and ensuring any Certificates of Sponsorship issued from 4 April 2024 reference salaries that comply. Failure to do so risks visa refusals for new hires and extensions, which can impact business operations and sponsor compliance records. The changes may also necessitate a review of recruitment strategies, with some sponsors potentially focusing more on domestic talent or roles where the salary increase is manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do the new salary rules apply to Health and Care Visa workers?
A: No, the Health and Care Visa, which uses the Skilled Worker Visa framework, is exempt from the new £38,700 general threshold. Workers in eligible health and care occupations must still meet the occupation-specific going rates, which have been updated, but the general minimum increase does not apply to them.
Q: What happens if a Certificate of Sponsorship was issued before 4 April but the application is submitted after?
A: The salary requirement is assessed at the point of application. If a CoS with a salary below the new threshold was issued before 4 April 2024, but the visa application is submitted after that date, it will be assessed under the new, higher salary rules and is likely to be refused. Sponsors should ensure any CoS used post-4 April references a compliant salary.
Q: How can sponsors find the new going rates for specific jobs?
A: The Home Office has published updated “Skilled Worker visa: going rates” tables for 2024 on the official GOV.uk website. Sponsors must search for the relevant occupation code (e.g., 2136 Programmers and software developers) to find the new median salary rate that applies from April.
Q: Are there any exceptions to the new salary thresholds for shortage occupations?
A: The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) has been abolished and replaced with the Immigration Salary List (ISL). Roles on the ISL benefit from a reduced going rate requirement of 80% (instead of 100%) for non-new entrants, and 60% (instead of 70%) for new entrants. However, they are not exempt from the general minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or £30,960 for new entrants.
Q: What is the salary requirement for settlement (ILR) under the Skilled Worker route now?
A: For settlement applications, the Skilled Worker must be paid at least the general minimum threshold (£38,700) or the going rate for their job, whichever is higher, at the time of the ILR application. This mirrors the requirement for extension applications.
Key Takeaways
- The general minimum salary for the Skilled Worker Visa increases to £38,700 per year from 4 April 2024.
- The discounted rate for new entrants and certain roles increases to £30,960 per year.
- Occupation-specific “going rates” have also been significantly increased and must be checked via the 2024 tables.
- The new thresholds apply to all visa applications, extensions, and settlement cases submitted after 4 April 2024.
- Sponsors must urgently audit salaries for current and future sponsored workers to ensure compliance.
Conclusion
The April 2024 salary threshold increases mark a substantial recalibration of the UK Skilled Worker Visa, raising the financial criteria for both new and existing migrants. For sponsors, this necessitates a strategic review of international recruitment costs and compliance procedures. For individuals, it underscores the importance of securing job offers that meet the updated benchmarks. These changes are now live, and all parties involved in the skilled migration route must operate within this new framework. Staying informed through official Home Office guidance is essential for navigating the updated requirements successfully.