April 2024 salary uplift: the big change
The post-April-2024 Skilled Worker regime that applies to all 2026 applications:
1. Salary floor: GBP 26,200 jumped to GBP 38,700 on 4 April 2024 - a 48% uplift.
The change followed the Migration Advisory Committee's December 2023 recommendation that the floor reflect the median full-time UK salary rather than the 25th percentile. Most online guides written before April 2024 still quote the old GBP 26,200 figure.
2. Going rate stack: the SOC-code going rates (calculated from ONS ASHE 25th percentile) also rose proportionally.
For most professional occupations the going rate now sits above GBP 38,700, so the SOC rate is the binding constraint. For care workers, primary teachers and some allied health roles the floor is binding.
3. Shortage occupation list contracted significantly. The post-April-2024 list dropped from ~30 occupations to ~10, and the 20% going-rate discount it offered was reduced.
Many roles previously on the SOL now sit on the standard list at GBP 38,700.
Worked example: A back-end developer (SOC 2136, going rate approximately GBP 49,400) on a job offer of GBP 45,000.
- Pre-April 2024 rules: floor GBP 26,200, going rate at 80% shortage = GBP 39,520. Offer of GBP 45,000 clears.
- 2026 rules: floor GBP 38,700, going rate GBP 49,400 (no SOL discount). Offer of GBP 45,000 FAILS - short by GBP 4,400.
That is GBP 4,400 of negotiation pressure that did not exist before the change. Employers used to GBP 45K offers for international engineers have to budget more or find a new entrant or PhD-STEM hire.
One thing that did NOT change: the route to ILR remains 5 years. A 10-year proposal was floated in 2024 but not implemented.
Five Skilled Worker routes and how to pick yours
Within the Skilled Worker umbrella there are five distinct routes, each with its own salary floor, going-rate discount and fee:
1. STANDARD SKILLED WORKER
- Salary floor: GBP 38,700 or going rate at 100%, whichever higher
- Visa fee: GBP 769 (3 years) or GBP 1,519 (5 years)
- Most common route; full IHS applies
2. NEW ENTRANT (under 26 OR switching from Student visa)
- Salary floor: GBP 30,960 or 80% of going rate, whichever higher
- Visa fee: GBP 769 (3 years)
- Maximum 4 years on the new-entrant rate, then must move to standard threshold
3. PHD-STEM OCCUPATION
- Salary floor: GBP 30,960 or 60% of going rate, whichever higher
- Most generous going-rate discount; PhD must be relevant to the SOC code
- Applies to roles in SOC codes covering science, technology, engineering, mathematics
4. SHORTAGE OCCUPATION (limited list)
- Salary floor: GBP 30,960 or 80% of going rate, whichever higher
- Visa fee: GBP 551 (lower fee)
- Post-April-2024 list contracted to ~10 SOC codes from ~30
5. HEALTH AND CARE VISA
- Salary floor: GBP 23,200 or 70% of going rate, whichever higher
- Visa fee: GBP 284 (3 years)
- IHS: fully exempt
- Eligible SOC codes only: nurses, doctors, paramedics, social workers, senior carers, allied health
Note: an applicant cannot freely choose routes; the SOC code of the job and personal circumstances determine eligibility. A senior care worker can ONLY apply via Health and Care visa; a software engineer can ONLY apply via standard or new-entrant or PhD-STEM (not Health and Care).
| Route | Salary floor | Going rate % | Visa fee 3yr | IHS exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Skilled Worker | £38,700 | 100% | £769 | No |
| New entrant (under 26) | £30,960 | 80% | £769 | No |
| PhD-STEM occupation | £30,960 | 60% | £769 | No |
| Shortage occupation (limited) | £30,960 | 80% | £551 | No |
| Health and Care visa | £23,200 | 70% | £284 | Yes |
Full cost stack: from visa to ILR
The total Home Office bill spans three phases over the 5-year route to ILR:
1. INITIAL APPLICATION (year 0)
- Visa fee: GBP 769 standard 3 years, GBP 284 Health and Care
- IHS: GBP 1,035 per adult per year + GBP 776 per child per year, paid upfront for full visa length
- Biometric: GBP 19.20 per applicant
- Optional priority (GBP 500) or super-priority (GBP 1,000) for faster decisions
2. EXTENSION (year 3)
- Visa fee: GBP 1,019 per applicant for further 2 years
- IHS: another 2 years worth at the prevailing rate
- Same English and salary thresholds tested at extension
3. ILR APPLICATION (year 5)
- Application fee: GBP 3,029 per applicant
- Life in the UK test: GBP 50
- Biometric included in fee
- Continuous residence verified (no more than 180 days outside UK in any rolling 12-month period)
Worked example: family of 4, standard Skilled Worker, 5-year ILR pathway
- Initial visa fees: GBP 769 × 4 = GBP 3,076
- Initial IHS: 2 adults × GBP 1,035 × 3 = GBP 6,210; 2 children × GBP 776 × 3 = GBP 4,656. Total = GBP 10,866
- Extension at year 3: GBP 1,019 × 4 = GBP 4,076 visa + 2 × GBP 2,070 + 2 × GBP 1,552 = GBP 7,244 IHS. Total extension = GBP 11,320
- ILR application: GBP 3,029 × 4 = GBP 12,116
- Biometric over 3 phases: ~GBP 76.80
- Total over 5 years: approximately GBP 39,378
Comparable family on Health and Care visa: same visa structure but IHS is zero across all 5 years, saving approximately GBP 18,110. Health and Care 5-year ILR path total: approximately GBP 21,268.
Sponsor licence, CoS, and what changed in April 2024
The administrative spine of the Skilled Worker visa is the sponsor licence and the Certificate of Sponsorship. Both moved in April 2024.
The sponsor licence: granted to UK employers by the Home Office after a compliance check covering HR systems, key personnel and genuine trading status. Fees jumped to GBP 536 (small/charity) or GBP 1,476 (medium/large) in October 2023 and remained there into 2026. The licence is valid for 4 years and can be renewed.
The CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship): an electronic record tying a specific job offer to a specific worker, including SOC code, salary, hours and start date. CoS assignment costs GBP 239 per certificate (paid by sponsor). The migrant references the CoS number in their visa application within 3 months of assignment.
Key changes since April 2024
- Defined and undefined CoS merged for in-country applicants: switching employer no longer requires a defined slot.
- No cooling-off period between sponsors; you can leave employer A on Monday and have a new CoS with employer B by Friday.
- Sponsor compliance audits intensified: random visits, payroll record checks, attendance monitoring.
- Immigration Skills Charge unchanged at GBP 364/year (small/charity) or GBP 1,000/year (medium/large), paid by the sponsor.
What this means in practice: an employer wanting to hire a sponsored worker today needs (1) a current sponsor licence (8-week processing if applying fresh), (2) a CoS assigned to the worker, (3) a salary that meets the route threshold AND the SOC going rate. Without any of these the visa cannot be granted. If you intend to file your own UK tax return as a contractor / self-employed person, note that the Skilled Worker route requires PAYE employment with a sponsoring employer; self-employment income does not count toward the threshold.
Dependants, ILR and the English requirement
Three administrative areas often overlooked in initial cost estimates:
1. DEPENDANT APPLICATIONS
Spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners (2+ years cohabitation) plus children under 18 can join as dependants. Each pays separate visa fee + IHS. Dependants can work without restriction including in roles below the Skilled Worker threshold. Children born in the UK to a Skilled Worker can be added to the application.
Example: a senior nurse on the Health and Care visa earning GBP 38,000 brings a partner (also a nurse) and 2 children. Partner can work in any role from arrival. Combined family income often exceeds the principal applicant's salary.
2. ROUTE TO ILR
Five years of continuous lawful Skilled Worker residence (including Health and Care visa time) qualifies for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Requirements:
- No more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period across the 5 years
- Salary at or above the applicable threshold at the time of ILR application
- Sponsor still active (or replaced via Change of Employment)
- Life in the UK test pass (24/24 questions in 45 minutes, GBP 50, valid for life)
- English at B1 CEFR (same standard as initial application)
After ILR, citizenship is available after a further 12 months of UK residence (5+1 model). To plan your post-visa savings, see our UK ISA allowance guide on tax-efficient savings.
3. ENGLISH REQUIREMENT EVIDENCE
Required at B1 CEFR for initial visa AND ILR. Accepted proofs in order of cost:
- Nationality of majority-English-speaking country (free) - UK, USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland and others
- UK degree taught in English (free) - copy of degree certificate
- Overseas degree taught in English, verified by Ecctis (GBP 250)
- IELTS for UKVI (~GBP 200, valid 2 years) - overall 4.0, no skill below 4.0
- Pearson PTE Academic UKVI (~GBP 200) - or Trinity ISE I (~GBP 150)
Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi nationals and others typically use IELTS for UKVI unless they hold a degree taught in English.
Run the math for your situation
Use our UK Skilled Worker Visa Calculator to plug in salary, route, dependants and visa length, then see total Home Office cost over the 5-year ILR pathway.