What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2024?

From April 2024, the general Skilled Worker salary threshold increased to £38,700 per year, up from £26,200. New entrant rates (recent graduates, those switching from student visa) are set at £30,960. Specific occupation-based thresholds (the 'going rate') may be higher — you must meet whichever is higher: the general threshold or the occupation-specific rate.

Can I bring my family on a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes. Your partner (spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner of 2+ years) and dependent children under 18 can accompany you or join you later. Each dependant pays their own visa application fee and NHS Surcharge. Your salary must meet the financial requirement and the Home Office may assess whether you can adequately support your family.

How long does a UK visa application take?

Standard processing for a Skilled Worker visa is typically 3 weeks (15 working days) from outside the UK. Priority processing (£500 extra) takes 5 working days. Super Priority (£1,000 extra) delivers a decision the next working day. Biometric appointment availability varies by country — apply as early as possible.

Do I need to take the Life in the UK test?

Yes, if you are applying for ILR or British citizenship. The test covers British history, values, culture, and society. It consists of 24 questions drawn from the official handbook ('Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents'), and you need 75% (18/24) to pass. The fee is £50 per attempt; you can retake if you fail.

Can I become self-employed on a Skilled Worker visa?

No. The Skilled Worker visa ties you to a licensed sponsor employer. You can do supplementary self-employment in certain cases, but you cannot become primarily self-employed. If you want to run your own business, you should look at the Innovator Founder visa, the Global Talent visa, or the Graduate visa (which allows self-employment). Switching visa categories is possible from within the UK in most cases.

Expat Topics

D7, digital nomad, golden visa & more

💰

Cost of Living

Monthly budgets from €1,200 to €4,000+

🏥

Healthcare

Public, private & expat health insurance

🏠

Housing

Rent prices, best areas & lease tips

💼

Work & Business

Permits, remote work & freelancing rules

✈️

Moving Guide

Step-by-step relocation checklist

📚

Education

International schools & universities

🌆

Daily Life

Transport, food & expat communities

🌅

Lifestyle

Climate, culture & quality of living

📈

Investing

Property, stocks, tax & wealth building

View all resources →

Rankings Compare Blog

🛂

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Visa & Residency

The UK operates a points-based immigration system since 2021. The Skilled Worker visa is the primary route for most expats, while the Global Talent, Graduate, and Innovator Founder visas cater to high achievers and entrepreneurs..

£38,700/yr

Skilled Worker Salary Threshold

General roles from April 2024

£719–£1,420

Skilled Worker Visa Fee

Up to 3 years / over 3 years

£1,035/yr

NHS Surcharge

Per person, paid upfront

5 years

ILR Requirement

Continuous lawful residence

6 years total

British Citizenship

5 yr ILR + 1 yr naturalisation

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏙️London 🏰Edinburgh 🐝Manchester

🛂Visa 🏥Healthcare 💰Finance 🏠Housing 💼Working 🌆Daily Life ✈️Moving 📚Education 🌅Lifestyle 📈Investing

Overview

Key Takeaways

Requires a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor at an eligible occupation code (RQF level 3+)
ILR application fee: £2,885 per person (2024/25); requires Life in the UK test (£50) and English requirement
Endorsed by designated bodies: Tech Nation (digital technology), UKRI (academia/research), British Academy, Royal Society, Arts Council England, or BFI
Graduate visa requires completion of a degree from a licensed student sponsor; fee £715; no job offer required
Spouse/Partner visa requires a minimum income of £29,000 from June 2024 (rising to £38,700 by 2025) for the sponsor

Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa is the principal immigration route for non-UK nationals offered a job by a licensed UK sponsor. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) in December 2020 and removed the Resident Labour Market Test requirement.

Requires a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor at an eligible occupation code (RQF level 3+)
Minimum salary threshold increased to £38,700/year for most roles from April 2024 (previously £26,200)
Shortage occupation list roles attract a 20% salary discount below the threshold — currently under review by MAC
English language requirement: B1 level (CEFR) via an approved Secure English Language Test or a degree taught in English
Application fee: £719 for up to 3 years, £1,420 for over 3 years (outside UK); NHS Surcharge of £1,035/person/year paid upfront
Granted initially for up to 5 years; extendable; no cap on numbers
Partner and children under 18 can come as dependants — each paying visa fee + NHS surcharge

Indefinite Leave to Remain and Citizenship

After five continuous years on a qualifying visa, most expats become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — the UK's form of permanent residency. ILR holders can then apply for British citizenship after one further year.

ILR application fee: £2,885 per person (2024/25); requires Life in the UK test (£50) and English requirement
Life in the UK test covers British history, values, and society — 24 questions, 45 minutes, 75% pass mark
Absences from the UK must not exceed 180 days in any 12-month period during the 5-year qualifying period
Naturalisation as British citizen requires 12 months' ILR or 3 years' ILR for spouses; fee £1,500
British passport (visa-free access to 187 countries) typically issued within 3 weeks of approval
Dual citizenship is permitted — the UK does not require you to renounce your existing nationality

Global Talent Visa

The Global Talent visa is for internationally recognised leaders or emerging talent in academia, research, arts, culture, and digital technology. It does not require a job offer and offers fast-track settlement.

Endorsed by designated bodies: Tech Nation (digital technology), UKRI (academia/research), British Academy, Royal Society, Arts Council England, or BFI
No minimum salary requirement and no requirement for a sponsoring employer
Tech Nation endorsement pathway has two routes: Exceptional Talent (established leaders) and Exceptional Promise (emerging talent)
Accelerated ILR after 3 years for Exceptional Talent holders; 5 years for Exceptional Promise
Endorsed applicants can switch employers or become self-employed without needing a new visa
Application fee: £716 (endorsement) + £167 (visa application)

Graduate Visa and Innovator Founder Visa

The Graduate visa allows international students to remain in the UK for 2 years after completing a UK degree (3 years for PhD graduates), with full work rights. The Innovator Founder visa targets entrepreneurs with innovative, viable, scalable business ideas.

Graduate visa requires completion of a degree from a licensed student sponsor; fee £715; no job offer required
Full work rights during the Graduate visa — any job, any employer, any salary level
Graduate visa cannot be extended; holders must switch to another visa (e.g. Skilled Worker) before expiry
Innovator Founder visa requires endorsement from an approved body and a genuine, original business idea
Innovator Founder visa: no minimum investment requirement; 3-year visa; ILR after 3 years if business milestones met
UK has committed to attracting 100,000 international students annually; Graduate route actively marketed

Family and Other Visas

The UK offers family reunion routes for partners, spouses, and children of British citizens and settled persons, alongside Youth Mobility Schemes for citizens of partner countries.

Spouse/Partner visa requires a minimum income of £29,000 from June 2024 (rising to £38,700 by 2025) for the sponsor
Partner visa grants 2.5-year leave; extendable for further 2.5 years; ILR after 5 years total
Youth Mobility Scheme (Tier 5): aged 18–30, up to 2 years in UK — available to Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, Japanese, South Koreans, and others
BN(O) Visa for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) passport holders: 5-year route to ILR
Ukraine Schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme): temporary protection for Ukrainian nationals
Visitor visa (up to 6 months): no work permitted; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) required from 2025 for most nationalities

FAQs