This relates to Minimum Requirements for Salary Skilled Worker Visa UK 2023. The UK Skilled Worker Visa is an essential route for skilled workers seeking employment in the United Kingdom. One of the critical aspects of this visa is meeting the salary requirements set out by the Home Office. This comprehensive guide will delve into the specifics of the salary requirements for the UK Skilled Worker Visa, including the minimum salary threshold, going rates for different occupations, and the minimum hourly rate.
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Table of Contents
1. Understanding the Salary Threshold
UK Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary Threshold
The UK Skilled Worker Visa salary threshold is £25,600 or the going rate for the specific occupation, whichever is higher. However, tradeable points options can reduce this threshold to as low as £20,480, depending on factors such as holding a relevant PhD, working in a shortage occupation, or being a new entrant to the job market.
The general threshold applies to all occupation codes and is not adjusted for part-time work. For applicants working more than 48 hours a week, only the salary for the first 48 hours is considered.
Tradeable Points Options and Skilled Worker Salary UK
Tradeable points options enable applicants to score points based on their salary, qualifications, and occupation. These options can lower the minimum salary threshold, allowing skilled workers with lower salaries to qualify for the visa if they meet other requirements.
New Entrants to the Job Market
New entrants to the job market are subject to different, generally lower, salary requirements. To qualify as a new entrant, applicants must be under 26, switching from a student visa, or working in a postdoctoral position.
Determining the Appropriate Salary Skilled Worker Visa
Applicants must calculate their salary based on guaranteed basic gross pay, excluding benefits, allowances, and other payments. Salary sacrifice schemes and transitional arrangements for Tier 2 (General) migrants are exceptions, allowing certain additional payments to be included in the calculation.
The Going Rate for Skilled Worker Salary UK
The going rate refers to the minimum salary for specific occupation codes, as listed in the Appendix Skilled Occupations. Applicants must be paid at least the full going rate or a percentage of it (70%, 80%, or 90%), depending on the tradeable points option selected. However, certain occupations listed in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations do not allow for reduced going rates.
Skilled Worker Salary UK: Minimum Hourly Rate
From 6 April 2021, the minimum hourly rate for Skilled Worker Visa applicants is set at £10.10. This rate applies to all occupations in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and must be met even if the going rate for the occupation is lower. The £10.10 minimum hourly rate does not apply to occupations in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations or settlement applications under the UK Skilled Worker route. A transitional arrangement is also in place for Tier 2 (General) migrants and Skilled Workers granted permission under the Rules in place before 6 April 2021.
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2. PhD Qualification Skilled Worker Salary UK
UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold for PhD Qualification
An applicant meets the UK Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary Requirements under Option B if they have PhD in a subject relevant to the job and the salary equals or exceeds £23,040 per year and 90% of the going rate for the occupation code. Moreover, the sponsor pays a minimum rate of £10.10 per hour, even if this is higher than the going rate.
If UK Skilled Worker Visa applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job (Option B), then the minimum salary for the Job must equal or exceed £23,040 per year and 90% of the going rate for the occupation code. Moreover, the applicants must also be paid a minimum rate of £10.10 per hour, even if this is higher than the going rate.
Eligible Occupations
Not all occupations are eligible for tradeable points for a relevant PhD qualification. Therefore, an Occupation marked as “YES” for “Eligible for PhD points (SW)?” column in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations is eligible for tradeable points for a relevant PhD qualification. However, for awarding 10-Points for PhD, the sponsor needs to provide a credible explanation of how the qualification is relevant to the job.
Please note, the occupation codes listed as being eligible for PhD points are all those where the first two digits are “11”, “21”, “22”, “23”, “24” or “31”. (Occupation codes beginning with “12” are not eligible for PhD points.)
PhD awarded by a UK institution
If an applicant has a PhD qualification awarded by a recognised UK institution, then they need to provide a copy of their certificate. However, if the certificate is not available then they may furnish an academic reference, along with an explanation why the certificate is unavailable. Acceptable reasons for the certificate not being available could include the PhD certificate not having been issued yet, or the university being unable to replace a lost or damaged certificate.
PhD awarded by an Overseas Institution
If an applicant has a PhD qualification awarded by a recognised overseas institution, then Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) must have verified it as genuine and equivalent to a UK PhD. Accordingly, the sponsor needs to state the Ecctis reference number on the certificate of sponsorship (CoS).
Salary Threshold for Relevant STEM PhD Qualification
An applicant meets the UK Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary Requirements under Option C if they have PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and the salary equals or exceeds £20,480 per year and 80% of the going rate for the occupation code. Moreover, the sponsor pays a minimum rate of £10.10 per hour, even if this is higher than the going rate.
Under tradeable points option C, the sponsor must provide a credible explanation as to why the qualification in question is in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) subject.
Scoring Tradeable Points for PhD Qualification
Option B is different from other tradeable points options. Accordingly, an applicant needs to score 10 points for salary requirements and 10 points for a relevant PhD qualification. This means applicants may score 0, 10 or 20 points under option B.
Option C is like other tradeable points options. Accordingly, an applicant needs to meet both the salary and qualification requirements to score 20 points.
Please note, as per procedure, if an applicant’s qualification does not meet the requirements of STEM subject, but all the other qualification requirements are met, then the applicant may score 10 tradeable points for the qualification under option B, rather than 0 tradeable points under option C. Moreover, if the applicant scores 10 tradeable points for salary, then they will have the required 20 tradeable points.
3. Shortage Occupations Salary Guide
UK Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary Requirements for Shortage Occupations
An applicant meets the UK Skilled Worker Visa minimum salary requirements under Option D if their job is on the shortage occupation list and their salary equals or exceeds £20,480 per year and 80% of the going rate for the occupation code. Additionally, the sponsor must pay a minimum rate of £10.10 per hour, even if this is higher than the going rate.
Please note that shortage occupations are listed in the Appendix Shortage Occupation List. However, for some occupation codes, jobs are only on the shortage occupation list if one or both of the following apply:
- They meet additional criteria (which may include certain jobs, experience, salary, and/or other requirements)
- The job is based in a specific nation (or nations) of the UK
The sponsor must confirm in the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that the job is in a shortage occupation. If there are additional criteria in the Appendix Shortage Occupation List, then applicants also need to meet these additional criteria. Moreover, where relevant, the Immigration Officer (Home Office) typically uses the “working at” address to determine which UK nation the job is based in.
Unlike under Tier 2 (General), there is no minimum number of weekly hours for shortage occupations in the Skilled Worker route, provided the relevant general salary threshold requirements are met and the going rate salary requirements are met when pro-rated.
Top-up Application Fee
Skilled Worker application fees are lower for applicants with a job in a shortage occupation. If an applicant has paid the lower fee but cannot score points for a job in a shortage occupation, the Immigration Officer can contact the applicant and advise them:
- They cannot score points for a job in a shortage occupation
- If they wish to be considered for other tradeable points, they will need to pay a top-up to the (non-shortage) Skilled Worker fee
- If no top-up is paid, they will not be considered for other tradeable points
Conversely, if an applicant has paid the higher fee but is scoring points for a job in a shortage occupation, the Immigration Officer will arrange for the fee difference to be refunded.
What if the Jobs are removed from the Shortage Occupation List?
If the applicant was last granted permission for a job in a shortage occupation—either under Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker—and the job is no longer included in the Appendix Shortage Occupation List for the relevant UK nation, the applicant may still score tradeable points for a job in a shortage occupation. They must be applying to continue working in the same job for the same sponsor. However, if they are applying to work for a different sponsor, they will need to score tradeable points in another way.
Please note that, from 6 April 2021, chefs have been removed from the Shortage Occupation List.
4. New Entrants Salary Threshold
UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold for New Entrants
A “new entrant” refers to an individual entering the labor market or someone near the beginning of their career. The term does not imply that the applicant is applying for their first Skilled Worker visa or entering the UK for the first time. Sponsors must provide the necessary information to confirm that the applicant is a new entrant.
An applicant meets the UK Skilled Worker Visa minimum salary requirements under Option E if they are a new entrant to the labor market, their salary equals or exceeds £20,480 per year, and they earn at least 70% of the going rate for their occupation code. Additionally, the sponsor must pay a minimum rate of £10.10 per hour, even if this is higher than the going rate.
For the Skilled Worker visa, applicants can be considered new entrants for a maximum of four years. This period includes time spent in any Tier 2 route, the Graduate route, or as a Skilled Worker, whether the permission was granted continuously or not.
If the applicant applies for more than four years or granting the application would result in more than four years of permission in total (continuous or non-continuous) as a Tier 2 migrant and/or Skilled Worker, they cannot score tradeable points as a new entrant. They will need to score tradeable points in another way.
The Immigration Officer may not grant applicants a shorter permission than they are being sponsored for to meet the new entrant requirements. However, the Immigration Officer may contact the sponsor and offer them the opportunity to revise the dates on the Certificate of Sponsorship, allowing the applicant to qualify as a new entrant. If the sponsor agrees, the Immigration Skills Charge and Immigration Health Charge may need to be recalculated.
5. Tradeable Points for Salary
How Tradeable Points Option for Skilled Worker Salary UK Works?
As per the UK Skilled Worker Visa application procedure, applicants and sponsors need to provide information relating to tradeable points. Therefore, it is possible for applicants to score tradeable points in more than one way (although applicants cannot mix and match different tradeable options). However, this does not mean, the Home Office/Immigration Officer, necessarily need to consider every option fully in every application.
Accordingly, the Home Office/Immigration usually first considers the mandatory points for sponsorship and a skilled job. Then considers whether the occupation code is in Table 1 or Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations (as this will affect the options which are available). Next, the Home Office considers salary, then (in the case of occupations in Table 1) any other information which could attract tradeable points.
Have the Sponsorship and Skilled Job Requirements Met?
All the tradeable points options rely on the applicant having a valid certificate of sponsorship (CoS) and a genuine job which meets the skills threshold. Therefore, a Skilled Worker Visa applicant does not get tradeable points if they are not able to score the 20 mandatory points for sponsorship and/or the 20 mandatory points for a job at an appropriate skill level.
Occupations in Table 1 (Tradeable Points Options A to E)
Most occupation codes eligible for the Skilled Worker route are listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. Tradeable points options A to E apply to these occupations. If the occupation is listed in Table 1, then the Immigration Officer assess the application for all the tradeable points options until they find one where the applicant can be awarded 20 points, or until they have exhausted all the options and the application falls for refusal.
Nevertheless, usually the UK Skilled Worker visa applications are first assessed for salary (which applies to all tradeable points options).
Shortage Occupation List
If a sponsor has not stated the job is a shortage occupation, but they have selected an occupation code which is on the shortage occupation list, even then the Immigration Officer will consider whether the job should be treated as a shortage occupation.
If only some jobs within the occupation are listed in Appendix Shortage Occupation List, and it is unclear from the job description whether the applicant’s job is included, then the Immigration Officer may seek further information from the sponsor. However, the Immigration Officer may not contact the sponsor if there is nothing in the current application to indicate an applicant may meet the requirements of a tradeable points option or if they score the required 20 tradeable points in another way.
Moreover, if tradeable points cannot be awarded under any of options A to E, then the Immigration Officer may consider option F (and award 0 tradeable points under it, as the job is not in an eligible occupation).
Health or Education Occupations in Table 2 (Tradeable Points Option F)
Some health and education occupation codes are listed in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The going rates for these occupations are taken from national pay scales and no discounts to the going rates are available. If an applicant is being sponsored in an occupation code in Table 2, they can only score tradeable points based on option F.
An applicant meets the UK Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary Requirements under Option F if their Job is in a listed health or education occupation and their salary equals or exceeds £20,480 per year and the going rate for the occupation code. There is no minimum rate requirement of £10.10 per hour for Option F.
The Immigration Officer may not need to assess other tradeable points options. However, the refusal letter may state that the applicant is not eligible under the other options because of their occupation code.
6. Salary Inclusions
What to Include in Skilled Worker Salary UK?
According to paragraphs SW 14.1 to SW 14.2 of Appendix Skilled Worker, applicants can only include guaranteed basic gross pay as salary. Other types of pay and benefits cannot be included in the salary calculation for scoring 20 tradeable points to meet the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker Visa UK.
Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as:
- pay that cannot be guaranteed due to fluctuating job hours
- additional pay, like shift, overtime or bonus pay (even if guaranteed)
- employer pension and employer national insurance contributions
- allowances, like accommodation or cost of living allowances
- in-kind benefits, like equity shares, health insurance, school or university fees, company cars, or food
- one-off payments, like ‘golden hellos’
- payments related to immigration costs, like the fee or Immigration Health Charge
- payments to cover business expenses, including (but not limited to) travel to and from the applicant’s country of residence, equipment, clothing, travel, or subsistence
Salary Sacrifice Scheme
If an applicant participates in a salary sacrifice scheme, the amount given up as part of the scheme can be included when meeting the minimum salary requirements for the UK Skilled Worker Visa.
Transitional Arrangement for Tier 2 (General) Migrants
Paragraph SW 14.5(a) outlines a transitional arrangement for Tier 2 (General) migrants. These migrants can include allowances when calculating the minimum salary requirement for a UK Skilled Worker Visa if the following conditions are met:
- Tier 2 General migrants are applying to extend with the same sponsor
- The date of the UK Skilled Worker visa application is before 1 December 2026
- The allowances are guaranteed
- The employer will pay the allowances for the duration of the applicant’s permission (applicants cannot include and pro-rate one-off bonuses)
- The allowances would be paid to a local settled worker in similar circumstances (such as London weighting)
If a sponsor has listed these types of allowances but the transitional arrangement does not apply, and the sponsor is unaware of the rules, the Immigration Officer (Home Office) may contact the sponsor to amend the salary and allowances package—only if this could alter the decision on the UK Skilled Worker visa application.
7. Going Rate Guide
The Going Rate for Skilled Worker Salary UK
For the UK Skilled Worker visa, the going rate refers to the minimum salary that applies to a specific occupation code. The Appendix Skilled Occupations provides details of the going rates for Skilled Worker visa applications. Depending on the tradeable points option, Skilled Worker visa applicants must be paid either the full going rate or 70%, 80%, or 90% of the going rate.
However, these reductions are not allowed for applicants sponsored in occupation codes listed in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations, such as Medical Practitioners, Psychologists, Pharmacists, etc. Going rates should be pro-rated based on the weekly working hours stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Going Rates on a 39-Hour Week
The going rates in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations are based on a 39-hour week. Table 1 shows hourly rates in brackets. To avoid rounding errors, sponsors may pro-rate the going rate based on the annual figure, rather than the hourly figure. They can do this by dividing the annual going rate by 39, then multiplying by the weekly hours. For example, if the annual going rate is £36,000 and the applicant is sponsored to work a 26-hour week, the pro-rating calculation would be: £36,000 ÷ 39 x 26 = £24,000.
Pro-Rating of Going Rates for Jobs in Table 2
The going rates in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations are based on a 40-hour week (doctors), a 37.5-hour week (NHS Agenda for Change occupations), or the definition of a full-time worker (teaching occupations). Therefore, the pro-rating calculation must be adjusted accordingly. For instance, dividing by 37.5 rather than by 39. For teaching occupations (where weekly working hours are not consistent throughout the year, due to term dates), the sponsor may confirm what proportion of a full-time equivalent (FTE) the applicant is, and pro-rate the going rate accordingly.
Adjustment for Full Weekly Hours
The applicant’s full weekly hours must be included when checking their salary against the going rate, even if they work more than 48 hours a week. For example, an applicant who works 60 hours a week in an occupation code with a going rate of £39,000 must be paid £60,000 (£39,000 ÷ 39 x 60), not £48,000 (£39,000 ÷ 39 x 48).
If the applicant’s salary is less than the pro-rated going rate, and they are being sponsored in an occupation code listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations, then it is essential to calculate what percentage of the going rate they are being paid. This is so the applicant can determine which (if any) tradeable points options they may be eligible for.
Example – Tradeable Points Options for Skilled Worker Salary UK
An applicant’s salary is £28,000, including £2,000 allowances. Their sponsor has stated they will work 52 hours a week.
- Salary: The allowances cannot be included, so only £26,000 salary can be considered.
- General Threshold: For the general threshold, only the first 48 hours a week can be included (£26,000 ÷ 52 x 48 = £24,000). Therefore, the applicant does not meet the £25,600 general threshold under Option A. However, the applicant may still score tradeable points from options that include the £23,040, £20,800, or £20,480 general thresholds.
- Going Rate: The going rate for the occupation code is £21,000 for a 39-hour week. For the going rate, all the weekly hours must be included when pro-rating. The pro-rated going rate is therefore £21,000 ÷ 39 x 52 = £28,000. The applicant’s salary of £26,000 is less than this, so it is important to calculate the percentage of the going rate: £26,000 ÷ £28,000 x 100 = 93% (rounding up).
Since the applicant is only being paid 93% of the going rate, they cannot score tradeable points from options that require them to be paid the full going rate. However, the applicant may still be able to score tradeable points from options that include 70%, 80%, or 90% of the going rate.
Transitional Arrangement for PhD-Level Roles
The going rates for three PhD-level occupations (2113 Physical scientists, 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified, and 2311 Higher education teaching professionals) have increased significantly, due to a change in the salary source used. Paragraph SW 14.5(c) sets out a transitional arrangement for Tier 2 (General) migrants who continue to be sponsored in these occupations, to exempt them from these higher going rates when they apply to extend their permission or settle under the Skilled Worker Rules. The previous going rates will continue to apply in these cases, for applications made before 1 December 2026.
The going rates under this transitional arrangement are as follows:
| Occupation Code | Going rate – option A |
|---|---|
| 2113 Physical Scientists | £29,000 (£13.94 per hour) |
| 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified | £29,000 (£13.94 per hour) |
| 2311 Higher education teaching professionals | £33,000 (£15.87 per hour) |
These going rates are based on a 40-hour working week and need to be pro-rated by sponsors for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours.
This will not affect applications from those new to these occupations. Accordingly, the Home Office may assess applicants who were not previously sponsored in Tier 2 (General) in these occupation codes against the going rates in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.
8. Minimum Hourly Rate Guide
Calculating Hourly Rate for Skilled Worker Visa Salary UK
From 6 April 2021, the New Skilled Worker Visa Rules require applicants to be paid a minimum rate of £10.10 per hour, even if this is higher than the going rate. As with the going rate, the applicant’s weekly hours must be included. Sponsors cannot claim overtime as supplementary employment to justify paying a lower rate, as overtime would still be considered part of the job the applicant is being sponsored for.
For example, an applicant is sponsored to work 42 hours a week as a senior care worker for a salary of £21,000. The applicant is claiming 20 points under option D for a job in a shortage occupation. Their pay exceeds the reduced general threshold of £20,480 and equates to £9.62 per hour. This is higher than the 80% of the going rate they need under option D, but lower than the £10.10 minimum hourly rate. Accordingly, the applicant may not be able to score 20 tradeable points for UK Skilled Worker visa minimum salary requirements.
Applicability of Minimum Hourly Rates for Skilled Worker Salary UK
The £10.10 rate applies to all occupations in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations (tradeable points Options A to E). It does not apply to occupations in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations, where national pay scales are used to identify the going rates (tradeable points Option F).
Paragraph SW 14.6 sets out a transitional arrangement for Tier 2 (General) migrants and Skilled Workers granted permission under the Rules in place before 6 April 2021. Their pay does not need to meet the £10.10 rate if they have had continuous permission on these routes since then. All other salary requirements continue to apply.
Moreover, the £10.10 rate does not apply to settlement applications under the UK Skilled Worker route.
Summary
In summary, the minimum hourly rate of £10.10 for Skilled Worker Visa UK is an essential requirement for applicants with occupations listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. This minimum hourly rate ensures that applicants are compensated fairly and in accordance with the UK’s labor regulations. However, this rate does not apply to occupations listed in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and settlement applications under the UK Skilled Worker route. Additionally, transitional arrangements are in place for Tier 2 (General) migrants and Skilled Workers granted permission under the Rules before 6 April 2021.
9. Scoring Tradeable Points
Implications for UK Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary Requirements
If the applicant is (or was) a Tier 2 (General) migrant, then consideration of transitional arrangement at paragraph SW 14.5(b) applies (this is different from the transitional arrangement at paragraph SW 14.5(a), mentioned in the “What to include” section above). Accordingly, under the transitional arrangement at paragraph SW 14.5(b), an applicant may score 20 points for UK Skilled Worker visa minimum salary threshold if they meet all the following conditions:
- date of application is before 24 May 2023
- applicant had Tier 2 (General) permission based on a CoS assigned to them before 24 November 2016 and has had continuous permission under the Tier 2 (General) and/or Skilled Worker routes ever since
- salary meets a general threshold of £20,800
- salary meets the full pro-rated going rate
- applicant is also being awarded the 20 mandatory points for sponsorship under SW 5.7. and the 20 mandatory points for a job at the appropriate skill level under SW 6.4
If the transitional arrangement does not apply, then the applicant needs to score 20-tradeable points as per the requirements of Table 1 or Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations as detailed below:
| Salary | Possible Outcome |
|---|---|
| At least: – £25,600; and – £10.10 per hour; and – the full pro-rated going rate | The applicant scores 20 points for salary alone (Option A). Therefore, there is no need to consider other tradeable points options. |
| At least: – £23,040; and – £10.10 per hour; and – 90% of the pro-rated going rate. | If the applicant has a relevant PhD then can score 10 points for salary (option B) If the job is in a shortage occupation then can score 20 points for salary (option D) If the applicant is a new entrant then can score 20 points for salary (option E) |
| At least: – £20,480; and – £10.10 per hour; and – 80% of the pro-rated going rate. | If the applicant has a relevant STEM PhD then can score 20 points (option C) If the job is in a shortage occupation then can score 20 points (option D) If the applicant is a a new entrant then can score 20 points (option E) |
| At least: – £20,480; and – £10.10 per hour; and – 70% of the pro-rated going rate. | If the applicant is a new entrant then can score 20 points (option E) |
| Less than the above | If the applicant cannot score 20 tradeable points, then UK skilled worker visa application will be refused under option F due to the job not being in an eligible occupation as Option relates to Table 2 |
| Salary | Possible Outcome |
|---|---|
| At least: – £20,480; and – the full pro-rated going rate. | For a job listed in health or education occupation the applicant will get 20 points for salary (option F). There is no need to consider other tradeable points options |
| Less than the above | – if the applicant is sponsored as a nurse or midwife, their salary may be temporarily (for up to 8 months) less than £20,480 per year, but only – if the conditions set out in paragraph SW 13.4. to SW 13.5. are met the applicant cannot score tradeable points in other circumstances |
10. Conclusion
Final Thoughts on UK Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary
To successfully apply for a UK Skilled Worker visa, applicants must meet specific salary requirements, including the minimum hourly rate of £10.10 for occupations in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations (tradeable points Options A to E). The minimum hourly rate does not apply to occupations listed in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations, which use national pay scales to determine the going rates (tradeable points Option F).
The salary considered for meeting the minimum salary threshold for a Skilled Worker visa must include guaranteed basic gross pay, excluding other pay and benefits such as overtime, bonuses, allowances, and in-kind benefits.
The going rate for an occupation plays a crucial role in determining whether an applicant meets the salary requirements for a Skilled Worker visa. Pro-rating the going rate based on the applicant’s weekly working hours is necessary to ensure accurate calculations.
Transitional arrangements are in place for Tier 2 (General) migrants and Skilled Workers granted permission under the Rules before 6 April 2021, exempting them from the £10.10 minimum hourly rate requirement. However, all other salary requirements continue to apply.
In conclusion, applicants must carefully assess their salary against the UK Skilled Worker visa requirements and the going rates for their specific occupation codes to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria for a successful application.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Common Queries Regarding Skilled Worker Salary UK
What is the minimum salary threshold for a UK skilled worker visa?
The UK skilled worker visa minimum salary threshold is £25,600 or the going rate for the specific occupation, whichever is higher. However, this threshold may be reduced for certain tradeable points options, such as new entrants or shortage occupations.
How are tradeable points calculated for the skilled worker visa salary requirements?
Tradeable points are calculated based on a combination of factors, such as the applicant’s salary, job type, qualifications, and age. Different options offer varying amounts of points, which applicants must score to meet the eligibility criteria.
What are the criteria for being considered a new entrant in the UK Skilled Worker Visa application?
New entrants are typically individuals under the age of 26, those switching from a Student Visa, or those in a postdoctoral position or a professional training program. New entrants are allowed to meet a lower salary threshold compared to experienced workers.
Can allowances and benefits be included in the salary calculation for the UK skilled worker visa?
Only guaranteed basic gross pay can be included in the salary calculation. Benefits such as overtime pay, bonuses, allowances, and in-kind benefits cannot be included in the salary calculation.
How is the going rate determined for skilled worker visa applications?
The going rate for a specific occupation is provided in the Appendix Skilled Occupations, which lists the minimum salary requirements for each occupation code. Applicants must be paid either the full going rate or a percentage of it, depending on the tradeable points option they choose.
What is the minimum hourly rate for a skilled worker visa in the UK?
The minimum hourly rate for a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK is £10.10. This rate applies to all occupations listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and does not apply to occupations in Table 2, where national pay scales are used.
Are there any transitional arrangements for Tier 2 (General) migrants in the new skilled worker visa rules?
Yes, transitional arrangements are in place for Tier 2 (General) migrants who are applying for extensions or settlement under the Skilled Worker Visa rules. These arrangements may allow them to include allowances in their salary calculations or be exempt from higher going rates in specific cases.