Table Of Contents:
- Skilled Worker Visa Extension Applications
- Rise in Salary Threshold on Skilled Worker Route
- Changes in Going Rates
- Increase in Salary Threshold for Jobs on Appendix Global Business Mobility routes
- Increase in Salary Thresholds for Jobs on Appendix Scale-Up Worker Route
- Care Workers Being Remove from Eligible Occupations List from 22 July 2025
- Impact of New Salary Thresholds on Employers
- What You Should Know
The general salary threshold for occupations on the skilled worker route, along with the Global Business and Scale UP route, will increase from 22 July 2025. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION RULES (HC 997), released on 1 July 2025, states the exact changes in the salary threshold for occupations on the skilled worker route. This means CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) issued on or after 22 July 2025 will need to meet the new salary threshold for employing skilled workers.
Skilled Worker Visa Extension Applications
Skilled workers extending their skilled worker visa or changing their sponsor after 22 July 2025 will need to meet the new salary threshold, as there is no transition period arrangement for them. Applications for Skilled worker visa extensions will need to satisfy the new increased thresholds, unless their application relies on a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) issued before 22 July 2025.
If a skilled worker is applying for an extension where their CoS was assigned before 22 July 2025, their application can still be judged against the earlier, lower salary threshold.
Rise in Salary Threshold on Skilled Worker Route
The changes in Appendix Skilled Worker route Paragraph SW 4.4 are the following:
Option A – General threshold rises to £41,700 per year from £38,700 per year which is an increase of £3,000.
Option B – The salary threshold rises to £37,500 per year from £34,830 per year (an increase of £2,670).
Option C, D, and E – The salary threshold rises to £33,400 per year from £30,960 per year (an increase of £2,440).
Option F – The salary threshold for applicants increase to £31,300 per year from £29,000 per year (an increase of £2,300).
Option G – The salary threshold moves to £28,200 per year from £26,100 per year (an increase of £2,100).
Changes in Going Rates
Each occupation code has its own specific “going rate”, and the “going rate” for a particular occupation can be higher, even if the general salary threshold is met. When applying for a UK skilled worker visa, you must be paid at least the salary that is equal to or exceeds both (a) the general salary threshold and (b) the going rate for your job.
Each occupation-code-specific going rate in Appendix Skilled Occupations is being updated in line with the ASHE (Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings) 2024.
As per the increased thresholds, sponsors must now pay the sponsored workers the updated median ASHE figure or a minimum of £17.13 per hour, whichever is higher. Where that £17.13 per hour test produces a higher amount than the stated 90 %, 80 % or 70 % discount, the £17.13 value is deemed to meet the discount.
Sponsors can only count the first 48 working hours per week toward meeting these thresholds.
So, the new salary threshold requirements effective from 22 July 2025 are the following:
Option A – New Requirement – The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:
- £41,700 per year; and
- the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.
Option B – New Requirement – The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £37,500 per year; and
- 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.
Option C – New Requirement – The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £33,400 per year; and
- 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.
Option D – New Requirement – The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £33,400 per year; and
- the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code
Option E – New Requirement – The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £33,400 per year and
- 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.
- Option F – New Requirement – The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:
- £31,300 per year; and
- the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.
Option G – New Requirement – The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:
- £28,200 per year; and
- 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.
Increase in Salary Threshold for Jobs on Appendix Global Business Mobility routes
From 22 July 2025, the salary threshold for jobs on Global Business Mobility routes will rise to £52,500 per year from the existing £48,500 per year.
Increase in Salary Thresholds for Jobs on Appendix Scale-Up Worker Route
From 22 July 2025, the salary threshold for roles on Global Business Mobility routes will rise to £39,100 per year from existing £36,300 per year.
Care Workers Being Remove from Eligible Occupations List from 22 July 2025
Applications for entry clearance for Care Workers – 6135 and Senior Care Worker – 6136 will be ended from 22 July 2025.
However, there will be transition period until 22 July 2028 during which employees will be able to switch in-country into these codes, but only where they have already worked for their sponsoring provider for a minimum of three months.
From all shortage lists Care worker and Senior Care Worker roles will disappear completely after July 2028.
Impact of New Salary Thresholds on Employers
Employers will instantly feel the impact of the increased salary threshold as they will immediately have to increase headline pay offers, for example, increasing the general salary threshold under option A from £38,700 to £41,700. Employers who will issue certificates of sponsorships on or after 22 July 2025 will need to review salaries before quoting them on the CoS across the options under paragraph SW 4.4 and budget for the necessary salary hike.
Job roles that have so far cleared the older salary threshold may now fall short. Therefore, sponsors must uplift the salary levels; otherwise, they will not be eligible to assign certificates of sponsorship for vacancies under the skilled worker route.
What You Should Know?
The new salary threshold for the skilled worker route will come into effect on 22 July 2025. If you are an employer, you have little time to review these changes and make required adjustments in order to comply with the new Appendix Skilled Worker rules.
From 22 July 2025, every Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship you will assign, every skilled worker extension you will support, and every skilled worker to ILR application you will endorse will be assessed against the new salary thresholds and going rates. Therefore, you need to act swiftly to retain your sponsor licence and your employees’ right to remain in the UK.
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