NE Times
UK News

Higher salaries and tougher checks: the new reality for Skilled Worker visas

The standard salary floor now sits at £41,700, the skill bar has risen to graduate level, and employers must meet pay requirements in every pay period — not just on average.

Eleanor Whitfield

Writer ·

7 min read
An office worker reviewing employment paperwork at a desk in a UK workplace
An office worker reviewing employment paperwork at a desk in a UK workplace · Illustrative section image

  • Standard minimum salary now £41,700 or the going rate, whichever is higher
  • Skill threshold raised to graduate level (RQF Level 6)
  • New pay-period compliance test from 8 April 2026
  • Changes flow from the 2025 immigration white paper

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The NE Times is an independent news and analysis publisher. Our articles combine factual reporting with clearly-written, impartial analysis. Content is for general information and does not constitute professional advice. Disclaimer.

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