The UK Skilled Worker visa remains open in 2026, but the route is considerably stricter than it was before July 2025.
Most new applicants need a job at RQF Level 6 or above, sponsorship from a Home Office-approved employer, the required salary and B2-level English.
The standard salary requirement is normally at least £41,700 per year or the applicable going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
Lower thresholds can apply to qualifying new entrants, applicants with relevant PhDs, Immigration Salary List roles and some workers covered by transitional arrangements.
The main requirements in 2026 include:
- Approved Sponsor: The applicant needs an eligible job with a Home Office-licensed sponsor.
- Certificate Of Sponsorship: The employer must assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship before the visa application.
- Skill Level: Most new jobs need to be at RQF Level 6 or above.
- Salary: The standard threshold is £41,700, although different salary options apply in qualifying circumstances.
- English: Most new Skilled Worker applicants need English at CEFR Level B2.
- Points: Applicants must score 70 points.
- Financial Support: Applicants normally need at least £1,270 available unless an exemption or sponsor certification applies.
Applicants should check the current Skilled Worker eligibility guidance before relying on a particular salary, occupation code or concession, as immigration rules can change.
Last Updated: 24 August 2026
What Are The Latest Skilled Worker Visa Announcements And Updates In 2026?
Several changes introduced during 2025 and 2026 now operate together, meaning employers and applicants need to distinguish rules already in force from recommendations and future reforms.
Key Government Announcements And Changes Already In Force
One of the biggest 2026 changes took effect on 8 January 2026, when the English-language requirement for most new Skilled Worker applicants increased from CEFR B1 to B2.
Existing Skilled Workers who were granted permission under the previous rules can generally continue using B1 when extending or updating their Skilled Worker permission.
Further changes took effect for Certificates of Sponsorship assigned from 8 April 2026. The salary rules now include more specific pay-period requirements.
Employers must ensure that workers are paid at the required level in each relevant pay period rather than relying only on an annual salary figure.
A Statement of Changes published on 9 July 2026 also amended parts of Appendix Skilled Worker, including the way certain transitional deadlines are linked to when a Certificate of Sponsorship is issued.
Relevant provisions took effect from 3 August 2026.
Temporary Shortage List Developments In 2026
The Temporary Shortage List remains important for some occupations below the normal RQF Level 6 threshold.
On 23 July 2026, the Migration Advisory Committee published its final Stage 2 review. Of the occupations supported by Jobs Plans and assessed during the review, the MAC recommended that 28 occupations receive 18 months of TSL access.
However, a MAC recommendation does not itself change the Immigration Rules. The occupations currently available through the TSL remain those included in the live Appendix Skilled Worker until the Government formally changes the rules.
Under the current provisions, an occupation on the existing TSL can qualify where the relevant Certificate of Sponsorship is issued before 31 December 2026.
Ongoing And Future Skilled Worker Visa Plans
Further immigration reform is still developing.
The Government has consulted on an earned settlement model that could substantially change how long some migrants need to wait before qualifying for settlement.
However, the current Skilled Worker settlement rules still generally provide a five-year qualifying route where the requirements are met. The proposed longer default settlement period should therefore not be treated as a current Skilled Worker rule.
One confirmed future change is the increase in the English requirement for settlement from B1 to B2, which is due to apply to relevant settlement applications from 26 March 2027.
What Is The Difference Between Skilled Worker Visa Changes In 2025 And 2026?
| Area | 2025 Rules And Changes | 2026 Rules And Updates |
| Skill Level | From 22 July 2025, most new sponsored jobs moved from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6 | RQF Level 6 remains the normal requirement, with listed and transitional exceptions |
| Salary Threshold | Standard threshold increased from £38,700 to £41,700 on 22 July 2025 | £41,700 remains the standard general threshold, subject to going rates and alternative salary options |
| English Requirement | B1 generally applied | B2 applies to most new Skilled Worker applicants from 8 January 2026 |
| Temporary Shortage List | Interim TSL introduced for selected RQF Level 3 to 5 jobs | MAC completed its Stage 2 review and recommended 28 occupations for future access |
| Care Workers | Overseas entry clearance for care and senior care workers closed from 22 July 2025 | Restricted in-country arrangements continue, including a transition running to 22 July 2028 in specified cases |
| Dependants | New restrictions introduced for lower-skilled and TSL workers | Restrictions remain, with protection for certain workers already in qualifying employment before key cut-off dates |
| Salary Compliance | New £41,700 framework and going rates introduced | Pay-period compliance rules strengthened from April 2026 |
The core July 2025 reforms therefore remain in place. The main difference in 2026 is that the system has added tougher English requirements, stronger salary monitoring and further development of the Temporary Shortage List.
What Are The Current Skilled Worker Visa Requirements In 2026?
| Requirement | Current Rule In 2026 |
| Approved Sponsor | Applicant must have an eligible job with a Home Office-approved employer |
| Certificate Of Sponsorship | A valid CoS must be assigned for the sponsored job |
| Eligible Occupation | The job must have an eligible SOC 2020 occupation code |
| Skill Level | Normally RQF Level 6 or above, with specified exceptions |
| Salary | Usually at least £41,700 or the applicable going rate, whichever is higher |
| English Language | Normally CEFR B2 for new applicants |
| Points Required | 70 points |
| Financial Requirement | Normally £1,270 unless an exemption or sponsor certification applies |
These requirements work together. Meeting the £41,700 threshold, for example, does not automatically make a job eligible if its occupation code or skill level does not satisfy the Skilled Worker rules.
What Is The Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold In 2026?
The standard Skilled Worker salary threshold remains £41,700 per year for most applicants whose Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned under the current rules.
Applicants must normally satisfy both the applicable general salary threshold and the required percentage of the going rate for their occupation.
Standard £41,700 Salary Threshold
Under the standard salary option, an applicant must normally receive:
- At Least £41,700 Per Year
- At Least 100% Of The Applicable Going Rate
If an occupation has a going rate of £46,000, an offer of £42,000 would therefore normally be insufficient even though it exceeds £41,700.
Lower Salary Options For Eligible Applicants
The rules contain several alternative salary options.
| Applicant Circumstance | General Threshold | Going Rate Requirement |
| Standard Salary | £41,700 | 100% |
| Relevant PhD | £37,500 | 90% |
| Relevant STEM PhD | £33,400 | 80% |
| Immigration Salary List | £33,400 | 100% |
| New Entrant | £33,400 | 70% |
These reductions are not available simply because an applicant wants to accept a lower salary. Each option has separate eligibility conditions.
New Entrant Salary Rules
A qualifying new entrant can generally use a £33,400 general threshold and 70% of the applicable going rate.
New entrant status can apply in several situations, including certain applicants under 26, qualifying Graduate or Student route applicants, people working towards professional qualifications and some postdoctoral roles.
There is also a time limit. Permission as a Skilled Worker, Tier 2 worker and Graduate counted towards new entrant status generally cannot exceed a combined four years where the applicant relies on this concession.
Transitional Salary Rules
Different thresholds can apply to certain workers who were already on the Skilled Worker route before 4 April 2024 and have maintained continuous permission.
Depending on the applicable option, current transitional general thresholds can include £31,300, £28,200 and £25,000, together with the relevant percentage of the occupation’s going rate.
These transitional salary provisions are currently available for qualifying applications made before 4 April 2030.
How Do Skilled Worker Salary And Going Rate Rules Work In 2026?
General Salary Threshold Vs Going Rate
The general salary threshold and occupational going rate are two separate tests.
For a standard application, the employer normally needs to pay whichever requirement produces the higher salary. Going rates vary between occupations and are published against SOC 2020 codes.
For the general Options A to E, where the relevant percentage of the going rate would produce an hourly figure below £17.13, £17.13 per hour generally becomes the applicable going-rate floor.
The going rate is also adjusted according to the hours the worker will actually work.
From April 2026, salary compliance is also assessed more closely across pay periods.
The worker must receive at least the going rate for every hour worked in the relevant pay period, while additional three-month, 12-week or 17-week calculations can apply depending on how frequently or unevenly the worker is paid.
What Is The RQF Level 6 Requirement For Skilled Worker Visas?
Which Jobs Meet RQF Level 6?
Since 22 July 2025, most new Skilled Worker jobs have needed to be at RQF Level 6 or above, broadly corresponding to graduate-level skill.
This does not automatically mean the applicant must personally hold a bachelor’s degree. The requirement relates principally to the skill level assigned to the occupation.
Individual occupations may still have their own qualification, registration or professional requirements.
The Skilled Worker system uses four-digit SOC 2020 occupation codes. The Office for National Statistics SOC 2020 classification provides the wider UK occupational classification framework and information on how jobs are grouped by skill and work performed.
What Happens To RQF Level 3 To 5 Jobs?
A medium-skilled job below RQF Level 6 may still qualify where:
- The Job Is On The Immigration Salary List
- The Job Is On The Temporary Shortage List
- The Worker Qualifies Under A Transitional Provision
- A Specific Time-Limited Exception Applies
Workers should therefore check their exact SOC code rather than assuming that every job below degree level is automatically excluded.
How Does The Temporary Shortage List Work In 2026?
Eligible TSL Jobs, Restrictions, Dependants And End Date
The Temporary Shortage List allows selected RQF Level 3 to 5 occupations to remain accessible through the Skilled Worker route despite the general move to RQF Level 6.
The current list includes specified roles across areas such as logistics, engineering, construction, IT and technical occupations.
Examples include logistics managers, engineering technicians, electrical and electronics technicians, IT operations technicians and IT user support technicians.
Important restrictions apply:
- TSL Status Does Not Automatically Provide A Salary Discount
- New TSL Workers Generally Cannot Bring Dependants
- The Job Must Appear On The Current Immigration Rules
- The Certificate Of Sponsorship Must Meet The Applicable Cut-Off Date
Under the present Appendix Skilled Worker, existing TSL eligibility is tied to a Certificate of Sponsorship issued before 31 December 2026.
The MAC’s July 2026 recommendation for 28 occupations to receive 18-month access is an important future development, but employers should not treat those recommendations as implemented until the Immigration Rules are formally amended.
Does The Immigration Salary List Still Apply In 2026?
Yes. The Immigration Salary List has not yet disappeared and continues to operate alongside the Temporary Shortage List.
Immigration Salary List Vs Temporary Shortage List
The two lists serve different purposes.
The Immigration Salary List can provide a lower general salary threshold and reduced application fees for qualifying jobs.
The TSL primarily provides time-limited access to certain medium-skilled occupations that would otherwise fall below the normal RQF Level 6 requirement.
Being on the TSL alone does not provide the Immigration Salary List salary concession.
Salary And Eligibility Rules For Listed Jobs
For eligible standard Skilled Worker occupations on the Immigration Salary List, the general threshold can be £33,400, but the worker must normally still receive the full applicable going rate.
Many current ISL entries have a 31 December 2026 removal date, although some occupations have different transitional dates. Care workers and senior care workers, for example, have restricted arrangements linked to 22 July 2028.
What Is The Skilled Worker English Requirement In 2026?
B2 English Requirement And How To Prove Eligibility
Most people making a new Skilled Worker application from 8 January 2026 need to demonstrate English at CEFR Level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Applicants who already had Skilled Worker permission before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating that permission can generally continue to meet the B1 requirement.
English can be demonstrated through several routes depending on the applicant’s circumstances, including:
- An Approved Secure English Language Test
- An Eligible UK Qualification
- A Qualifying Degree Taught In English
- Previous Evidence Accepted In An Eligible Immigration Application
Where a degree was awarded outside the UK and the applicant needs to rely on it for English or qualification evidence, the Ecctis Qualification and Language Service can assess overseas qualifications for relevant UK immigration applications.
How Do The 2026 Rules Affect Health And Care Workers?
Care Worker Sponsorship And Transitional Rules
The rules for care workers and senior care workers changed significantly in July 2025.
New overseas entry-clearance applications for occupations 6135 Care Workers And Home Carers and 6136 Senior Care Workers are no longer permitted through this route.
Limited in-country sponsorship remains available. A person switching into one of these roles generally needs to already be legally working for the sponsoring employer for at least three months and make the relevant application before 22 July 2028.
Existing Skilled Workers already sponsored in eligible care occupations can also benefit from separate continuity provisions.
For jobs in England, an employer sponsoring care workers or senior care workers must also meet the applicable Care Quality Commission registration requirements.
Eligible Healthcare Roles And Salary Requirements
The restrictions on care workers do not mean the Health and Care Worker route has closed.
Eligible doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, healthcare managers, scientists and other qualifying health professionals can still be sponsored where their occupation and employer meet the requirements.
Salary rules vary considerably by occupation.
Some eligible health and education jobs are assessed against national pay scales and can use a £25,000 general threshold, while certain Health and Care ASHE salary occupations use other thresholds, including £31,300 under the relevant salary option.
The applicable going rate must also be satisfied.
Eligible Health and Care Worker applicants also benefit from lower visa application fees and do not normally pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
How Does The Skilled Worker Points-Based System Work In 2026?
Applicants still need 70 points to qualify.
| Requirement | Points | Status |
| Job Offer And Valid Sponsorship | 20 | Mandatory |
| Job At The Appropriate Skill Level | 20 | Mandatory |
| English-Language Requirement | 10 | Mandatory |
| Salary Under An Eligible Points Option | 20 | Tradeable Salary Requirement |
| Total Required | 70 |
The phrase “tradeable points” can be confusing. A Skilled Worker still needs the full 20 salary points.
Factors such as a relevant PhD, STEM PhD, Immigration Salary List status or new entrant status can change which salary option the applicant qualifies under rather than simply providing unrestricted extra points on top of an insufficient salary.
How Much Does A Skilled Worker Visa Cost In 2026?
Visa Fees, Immigration Health Surcharge, Maintenance And Dependant Costs
Current standard Skilled Worker fees vary according to where the application is made and the length of the visa.
| Cost | 2026 Amount |
| Outside UK, Up To 3 Years | £819 |
| Outside UK, More Than 3 Years | £1,618 |
| Inside UK, Up To 3 Years | £943 |
| Inside UK, More Than 3 Years | £1,865 |
| ISL Job, Up To 3 Years | £628 |
| ISL Job, More Than 3 Years | £1,235 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Usually £1,035 Per Year |
| Main Applicant Maintenance | Usually £1,270 |
The £1,270 maintenance amount normally needs to have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption or an eligible sponsor certifies maintenance.
Where dependants are permitted, additional maintenance is normally:
- Partner: £285
- First Child: £315
- Each Additional Child: £200
Health and Care Worker applications use separate lower fees of £324 for up to three years and £628 for more than three years, with eligible applicants exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
What Documents Are Required For A Skilled Worker Visa?
The exact documents depend on the applicant’s circumstances, but applicants commonly need:
- Certificate Of Sponsorship Reference Number
- Valid Passport Or Other Identity Document
- Proof Of English-Language Ability
- Job Title And Annual Salary Details
- SOC 2020 Occupation Code
- Employer Name And Sponsor Licence Number
- Financial Evidence Where Required
- Tuberculosis Test Result Where Required
- Criminal Record Certificate For Certain Occupations
- ATAS Certificate Where Applicable
- Qualification Evidence Where Required
- Certified Translation For Documents Not In English Or Welsh
Applicants working in areas such as healthcare, education, therapy and social services can face additional criminal-record certificate requirements.
How To Apply For A Skilled Worker Visa In 2026?
- Get An Eligible Sponsored Job: Secure an offer from a Home Office-approved employer.
- Receive A Certificate Of Sponsorship: The employer assigns a CoS containing the role, salary and sponsorship information.
- Check Salary And Occupation Eligibility: Confirm the SOC code, required skill level, salary threshold and going rate.
- Prepare Documents And Apply Online: Submit the appropriate entry clearance, switching, extension or update application.
- Complete Identity Checks: Applicants may need to verify their identity digitally or provide biometric information depending on the application process.
The appropriate application route differs depending on whether the person is applying from outside the UK, switching from another visa or extending existing Skilled Worker permission.
What Transitional Rules Apply To Existing Skilled Workers?
The July 2025 reforms did not remove every existing Skilled Worker from the route. Several protections remain for workers whose sponsorship or immigration history predates the major changes.
Workers Sponsored Before The Major Rule Changes
A person who was already on the Skilled Worker route can potentially benefit from different skill or salary rules when extending or changing employment.
For example, certain workers continuously holding Skilled Worker permission from before 4 April 2024 can access transitional salary provisions.
Some workers in jobs below RQF Level 6 who were sponsored before the July 2025 skill-level change can also continue under specific transitional arrangements.
This means an existing worker should not assume that the £41,700 standard threshold or RQF Level 6 test automatically applies to them in exactly the same way as it applies to a first-time applicant.
Conclusion
The Skilled Worker visa remains a major route for overseas professionals coming to work in the UK, but the requirements in 2026 are more restrictive than those that applied before July 2025.
Most new applicants now need an RQF Level 6 job, B2 English, sponsorship from an approved employer and a salary that satisfies both the applicable general threshold and occupation-specific going rate.
The standard threshold remains £41,700, although lower salary options continue for qualifying applicants.
The Temporary Shortage List and Immigration Salary List preserve access for certain occupations, while care workers, medium-skilled employees and existing visa holders are subject to detailed transitional rules.
Further developments are also likely as the Government considers the MAC’s July 2026 TSL recommendations and continues its wider settlement reforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Minimum Salary For A Skilled Worker Visa In 2026?
The standard general threshold is £41,700 per year, but the applicant must normally also meet the applicable going rate. Lower thresholds are available under specific salary options.
Is The Skilled Worker Salary Threshold Still £41,700?
Yes. As of August 2026, £41,700 remains the standard general salary threshold for most Skilled Worker applications, although qualifying applicants can use alternative thresholds.
Do Skilled Worker Applicants Need B2 English In 2026?
Most new applicants need CEFR B2 English following the change introduced on 8 January 2026.
Certain existing Skilled Workers granted permission under the earlier rules can continue using B1 when extending or updating their visa.
Which Jobs Qualify For A Skilled Worker Visa In 2026?
Most new jobs must be in an eligible occupation at RQF Level 6 or above. Some medium-skilled occupations can still qualify through the Immigration Salary List, Temporary Shortage List or transitional provisions.
Can RQF Level 3 To 5 Jobs Still Be Sponsored?
Yes, but only in restricted circumstances. A medium-skilled job may qualify if it is on an eligible list or the worker benefits from a specific transitional provision.
Can Skilled Workers Bring Dependants To The UK?
Many Skilled Workers in eligible higher-skilled roles can bring a qualifying partner and children. Restrictions apply to TSL, medium-skilled and care worker roles, although some existing workers benefit from transitional protection.
Can Care Workers Still Get A Skilled Worker Visa In 2026?
New overseas entry-clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers are closed.
Restricted in-country applications remain possible for qualifying workers, including certain switching applications made before 22 July 2028.
