Sponsoring someone on a UK Skilled Worker visa now requires a graduate-level role and a salary of at least £41,700, or the going rate for the occupation if that is higher. The skill threshold rose to RQF Level 6 on 22 July 2025, removing well over a hundred occupations from the eligible list. English language requirements rose from B1 to B2 on 8 January 2026, and the Immigration Skills Charge increased by around 32% in December 2025.
If your last sponsorship was before mid-2025, most of what you know has changed. Last updated September 2026.
| Requirement | Position in 2026 |
|---|---|
| General salary threshold | £41,700, or the going rate if higher |
| Skill level | RQF Level 6, degree level or equivalent |
| English language | CEFR B2, raised from B1 in January 2026 |
| Sponsor licence | Required before you can issue a CoS |
| Salary compliance | Checked per pay period since April 2026 |
| Lower thresholds | New entrants, PhD holders, shortage roles |
What changed, and when
A run of changes in quick succession, which is why older guidance is unreliable.
- 22 July 2025. Skill threshold raised to RQF Level 6. General salary threshold raised from £38,700 to £41,700. Overseas recruitment for care worker roles closed.
- 16 December 2025. Immigration Skills Charge increased by around 32%.
- 8 January 2026. English language requirement raised from CEFR B1 to B2 for new applicants.
- 8 April 2026. The Home Office began checking salary compliance across individual pay periods rather than annual totals.
Proposals to extend the settlement route from five years to ten have been announced but, as of mid-2026, the implementing rules had not been published. Treat that as pending rather than in force.
What is the salary threshold?
£41,700 a year in general, but that figure alone will not tell you whether a role qualifies.
Every occupation has a published going rate, derived from national earnings data. You must pay the higher of the two. For well-paid professions the going rate sits above £41,700 and becomes the operative number. For lower-paying roles the general threshold takes over.
Reduced thresholds apply in defined circumstances, including new entrants, PhD holders and some shortage occupations, generally in the £33,400 to £37,500 range depending on the category.
Since April 2026 the Home Office checks compliance per pay period, not just against the annual total. A role that averages out correctly across the year but dips below in a given month is now a compliance problem. Keep records showing how each salary was calculated.
What is the RQF Level 6 requirement?
The sponsored role must sit at degree level or equivalent. This is the change that caught most employers out, because it is about the job rather than the candidate's qualifications.
Well over a hundred occupation codes were removed from the standard route when it took effect. A role you sponsored successfully in 2024 may simply no longer be eligible.
There is an exception. The Temporary Shortage List covers certain occupations at RQF Levels 3 to 5, with a lower salary floor of £25,000 subject to the going rate. Two conditions attach: workers on these roles cannot bring dependants, and the list runs until at least 31 December 2026 with codes removable earlier.
If you are relying on the Temporary Shortage List, monitor it. Building a hiring plan on a route with an expiry date and no dependants is a decision to make deliberately rather than by default.
How does the sponsorship process work?
1. Get a sponsor licence
You cannot sponsor anyone without one. Applications require evidence that your organisation is genuine, operating lawfully in the UK, and capable of meeting sponsor duties.
2. Match the role to the right occupation code
Every role maps to a Standard Occupational Classification code, and that code determines both the skill level and the going rate.
Incorrect coding is among the most common reasons the Home Office revokes sponsor licences. If the classification is not obvious, take advice rather than guessing.
3. Confirm salary against both figures
The general threshold and the occupation's going rate. Whichever is higher applies.
4. Issue a Certificate of Sponsorship
You assign a CoS through the sponsorship management system, stating the job title, salary and start date. The candidate needs its reference number to apply.
5. The candidate applies
Online, with passport, CoS reference, proof of English at B2, financial evidence and any required medical certification.
6. Biometrics and decision
Biometric enrolment at a visa application centre, then a decision from UK Visas and Immigration. Processing times vary, so avoid committing to a start date before approval.
What does sponsorship cost the employer?
More than the visa fee, and the total is frequently underestimated.
Sponsor licence fees, the Certificate of Sponsorship fee, and the Immigration Skills Charge, which rose around 32% in December 2025 and is paid per year of sponsorship. For a five-year visa a large sponsor faces several thousand pounds in skills charges alone, before salary.
Budget for the full period rather than the first year.
What are the other routes?
Skilled Worker is the main sponsored route, but not the only one.
Global Talent. For individuals endorsed as leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts or digital technology. No sponsorship required, and the holder can change employer freely.
Global Business Mobility. Replaced the old Intra-Company Transfer route in 2022. Covers senior or specialist workers transferring into a UK branch, and several related categories.
Graduate. For those completing a UK degree. Note this is reducing from two years to 18 months from 1 January 2027.
Seasonal Worker. Temporary roles in specified sectors.
Always confirm the current position on GOV.UK, since these routes change frequently.
What if the role does not qualify?
This is now a common outcome rather than an edge case, given the RQF Level 6 change.
If the person cannot be sponsored into the UK, you can often employ them in their own country instead. An Employer of Record becomes the legal employer where they live, handling contracts, payroll, tax and compliance, with no visa, no sponsor licence and no skills charge.
It is not a substitute where the role genuinely requires someone in the UK. Where it does not, it is faster, cheaper and unaffected by immigration rule changes.
Employment requirements by country are in CountryPedia, and the wider UK employment picture is in the Employment Rights Act 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
£41,700 per year in general, or the published going rate for the occupation if that is higher. Lower thresholds apply to new entrants, PhD holders and certain shortage occupations.
What is the RQF Level 6 requirement?
Since 22 July 2025, sponsored roles must generally be at degree level or equivalent. Well over a hundred occupations were removed from the eligible list as a result. Some roles at RQF Levels 3 to 5 remain sponsorable through the Temporary Shortage List.
Do employees need a sponsor to work in the UK?
For the Skilled Worker route, yes. The employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and issue a Certificate of Sponsorship. The Global Talent route does not require sponsorship.
What English level is required?
CEFR B2 for new applicants since 8 January 2026, raised from B1. B2 tests reading, writing, speaking and listening, so candidates strong in one area but weak in another may not pass. Test early.
How much does it cost an employer to sponsor someone?
Sponsor licence fees, the Certificate of Sponsorship fee, and the Immigration Skills Charge, which increased by around 32% in December 2025 and is charged per year of sponsorship. Budget across the full visa period rather than the first year.
Can we hire someone without sponsoring them?
If the role does not require them to be in the UK, yes. An Employer of Record employs them in their own country, which removes the visa requirement entirely along with the sponsor licence and skills charge.
