Skilled Worker visa in 2026: the £41,700 threshold, who qualifies at £33,400, what it costs and how to bring family

Skilled Worker is the UK’s main work visa: it lets you come to the country to work for an approved employer. In 2026 it is a construction of five mandatory elements: a sponsoring employer, a certificate of sponsorship, an eligible occupation, a minimum salary and English. Below are all the thresholds and prices under the current GOV.UK rules — including two changes people most often miss: English has been raised to B2 for new applicants, and “medium skilled” occupations have lost both the visa itself (outside the exception lists) and the right to bring family.

What does a Skilled Worker visa consist of?

Five conditions, all mandatory: a job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office (a sponsor); a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) describing the role; an occupation on the eligible list; a salary at or above the minimum for your occupation; and proven English. Job first, visa second — with no offer there is nothing to apply with.

What salary do you need in 2026?

The minimum is whichever is higher: £41,700 a year or the “going rate” for your occupation in the Home Office table. GOV.UK’s own example: you are offered £42,000, but your job’s going rate is £45,000 — you do not meet the requirement. Every 4-digit occupation code has its own going rate. Healthcare and education jobs are assessed differently, against national pay scales.

Who can be paid less than £41,700?

The discounts are real. The floor drops to £33,400 (and 70% of the going rate) if you are under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or training towards a regulated profession — or if your job is on the immigration salary list (which also cuts the application fee). A relevant STEM PhD gets you 80% of the going rate at the same £33,400 floor; a non-STEM PhD — 90% and a floor of £37,500. One catch for the young route: your total stay is capped at 4 years, including time on a Graduate visa.

Which occupations qualify?

Every occupation has a 4-digit code; your employer will tell you yours, and you check it against the eligibility table. “Higher skilled” codes all qualify. “Medium skilled” ones only qualify via the immigration salary list or the temporary shortage list — the skill bar was raised on 22 July 2025. The line runs in unexpected places: bricklayers, roofers and carpenters qualify; construction labourers do not. Anyone whose first certificate predates 22 July 2025 extends under the old rules.

What is a sponsor and a certificate of sponsorship?

A sponsor is an employer holding a Home Office licence; the list of approved employers is public, and it is worth checking a future employer before the interview. A company without a licence can apply for one — but that is its process and its cost. The CoS is an electronic certificate with your role’s details; you cannot apply without it.

What level of English do you need?

From 8 January 2026 new applicants need level B2 (it used to be B1) — reading, writing, speaking and understanding. Four ways to prove it: a UK school qualification (GCSE, A Level), a degree from a UK institution, a degree taught in English elsewhere (confirmed via Ecctis), or a SELT exam with an approved provider. Anyone who held a Skilled Worker visa before 8 January 2026 extends at the old B1 and does not retake the test.

How much does the visa cost?

The fee applying from abroad: £819 for up to 3 years, £1,618 for longer. From inside the UK (extending or switching): £943 and £1,865. Immigration salary list jobs pay less: £628 and £1,235. On top comes the healthcare surcharge (IHS): £1,035 for every year of the visa. GOV.UK’s example: a 2-year visa from abroad is £819 + £2,070 surcharge = £2,889 per person.

How much money must you show?

At least £1,270, held in your account for 28 days in a row; day 28 must fall within 31 days of applying. Exemptions: you have already lived in the UK legally for 12 months — or your employer covers your first month (up to £1,270) and certifies it on the CoS.

Can you bring your family?

Yes: a spouse or partner and children under 18 apply separately as dependants; their visas end when yours does. You need more money in the account: £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child — on top of your £1,270. Two recent restrictions: care workers sponsored after 11 March 2024, and “medium skilled” occupations sponsored after 22 July 2025, cannot bring new dependants — the exceptions are mostly for children born in the UK. On what happens with documents after arrival, see our guide to eVisa and the 31 December deadline.

How long does the visa last, and what about settlement?

The visa runs for up to 5 years and can be extended as many times as you keep meeting the conditions. After 5 years you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) — we covered how it works in a separate guide: ILR and citizenship.

What happens when you change jobs or employers?

You cannot change employer — and in some cases even your role within the company — without updating the visa: the new application goes in before you start the new job, at the “inside the UK” fee rates. Keep that in mind in negotiations: a job move on this visa is never just a new contract.

How do you tell in a minute whether you qualify?

Four questions. Do you have an offer from a company on the sponsor list? Is your occupation in the eligibility table (ask your employer for the code)? Is the salary at least £41,700 or your job’s going rate — or do you fit a discount down to £33,400? Can you afford the costs — the fee plus £1,035 a year of IHS for every family member? Four yeses — start collecting documents. For salaries, taxes and job hunting, see our guide: working in England — what jobs pay and what you take home.