UK Immigration: The latest salary requirement for Skilled Workers

In July 2025, significant changes were made to the UK Immigration Rules concerning work visas, particularly affecting the list of eligible occupations and the salary requirement.

Approximately 120 occupations are no longer eligible for new skilled worker applications. Additionally, the salary rates tables have been expanded to at least 11 tables, each applying to different categories of workers.

As a result, sponsors must stay informed of these updates if they intend to recruit new migrant workers or offer further sponsorship to existing workers.

These new changes do not affect existing workers until their next work visa application. They may continue work and be paid according to existing sponsorship.

Salary requirement

Salary of migrant Skilled Workers must meet both the general rate and the going rate for their specific occupation, which effectively means to meet the higher one.

For salary requirement purposes, workers are divided into two main groups:

Group 1: Workers sponsored after 04/04/2024. This includes:

• New workers, such as those who are applying from overseas to come to the UK, individuals in the UK who are switching from other visas to work visa, except Health & Care ASHE salary job (see Group 2 below)
• Workers who were granted Skilled Worker visa under the Immigration Rules in place on or after 04/04/2024, and now are making a new skilled worker application (visa extension, or switching sponsor)

The general rate for this group is £41,700 per year.

For the going rate for specific occupations refer to table 1 and table 1a of Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations.

Both general and going rates must be met.

Rates at discount: Workers may be paid at discounted rates under certain conditions.

Group 2: Sponsored workers before 04/04/2024 & Health and Care ASHE salary jobs. This group includes:

• Workers who were granted Skilled Worker visa under immigration rules in place before 04/04/2024 and continue to be on a skilled worker since then, and now are making new applications (visa extension or switching sponsors)
•  Individuals being sponsored for a Health and Care ASHE salary job, regardless of whether they are a new worker or applying from overseas or switching inside the UK. There are 10 occupations included in the list:

–      1171 Health services and public health managers and directors

–      1231 Health care practice managers

–      1232 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors

–      2113 Biochemists and biomedical scientists

–      2114 Physical scientists

–      3111 Laboratory technicians

–      3211 Dispensing opticians

–      3212 Pharmaceutical technicians

–      6135 Care workers and home carers

–      6136 Senior care workers

Generally, lower salary requirements apply to Group 2 workers.

The general rate for this group is £31,300 per year.

The going rate for specific occupations are set out in table 2, table 2aa and table 2a (same sponsor) of Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations.

Both general and going rates must be met.

Rates at discount: same as Group 1, workers in Group 2 may be paid at discounted rates under certain conditions.

Additional Group: Certain Health and Education Occupations in table 3 and table 3a. Typical occupations include:

–      medical practitioners

–      nurses

–      midwives

–      school teachers

–      social workers

The general rate for this group is £25,000 per year.

The going rates are set out in table 3/3a, referring to table 4 and 5 based on bands and roles.

 With constant changes to occupation eligibility and salary requirements under the Skilled Worker route, the rules have become increasingly complex. It is strongly recommended that both sponsors and visa applicants seek professional immigration advice before assigning sponsorship or submitting an application to avoid costly mistakes and potential refusals.

Employers should conduct thorough checks to ensure they are using the correct salary tables for their sponsored workers, taking into account when the worker was first sponsored and the specific occupation code. Similarly, applicants should verify their eligibility under the current rules and confirm that their salary meets both the general and going rate requirements applicable to their situation.

Failure to meet the correct salary thresholds or using the wrong calculation method can result in visa refusals, which may impact both the applicant’s immigration history and the sponsor’s compliance record. Given the significant financial and operational implications of these changes, professional guidance can help navigate the complexities and ensure full compliance with the updated Immigration Rules.