In 2025 the UK changed the Skilled Worker visa salary rules twice: first the absolute floor on 9 April 2025, then the general minimum on 22 July 2025. This guide explains both, and the figures that apply now.
The April 2025 salary floor
From 9 April 2025, the absolute minimum salary floor rose from £23,200 (£11.90 an hour) to £25,000 (£12.82 an hour). At that point the general Skilled Worker threshold stayed at £38,700. The £25,000 floor applied to roles that pay below the general minimum, including care workers and senior care workers, new entrants, roles on the Immigration Salary List (which had replaced the Shortage Occupation List), and certain health and education roles. Health and education salaries continued to follow national pay scales.
What happened next: the 22 July 2025 changes
The April 2025 floor was quickly overtaken. On 22 July 2025 the government:
- raised the general Skilled Worker minimum from £38,700 to £41,700 a year;
- set the new entrant minimum at £33,400;
- raised the minimum skill level to graduate level (RQF6), removing around 180 lower-skilled occupations from the route;
- closed the care worker and senior care worker routes to new overseas applicants, leaving in-country sponsorship only, until 22 July 2028.
So in 2026 the figures that apply are £41,700 general, £33,400 new entrant, and a £25,000 absolute floor, with each role's going rate on top. Check an offer with our minimum salary calculator.
Who is affected
The thresholds apply to new applicants, in-country switchers, extensions and changes of employer from the relevant dates. People who already held a visa and stayed with the same employer were not affected at the point of change, but should check their salary against the current floor before any extension.
What employers should do
Before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, check the salary against the higher of £41,700 and the role's going rate, and confirm the role is still eligible under RQF6. Keep records in your Sponsor Management System. If you have workers coming up for extension, review their pay now. Our team can run the visa process and keep your compliance in order.
How Borderless helps
We help employers plan salaries, get a sponsor licence and stay compliant. Get in touch.
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