There has been a significant change in the minimum salary threshold for various UK work visas effective from 22 July 2025. The main route where a marked change in salary threshold has been applied is the UK Skilled Worker visa. Some are for employees of overseas businesses looking to come to the UK to establish their first branch or wholly owned subsidiary here. Some UK work visas include temporary or seasonal workers. Apart from these, there are some other UK work visas as well.
For some work visas, especially the Skilled Worker visa, the applicants must be paid a minimum annual salary by their employer. Minimum salary threshold means the employer in the UK who is sponsoring an overseas worker must offer at least this amount of annual salary.
The UK work visa system is part of the broader UK immigration system. This system categories work visas based on the purpose of the applicant’s stay in the UK, such as work, study, visit, or family.
These work visas generally fall under the Points-Based System (PBS), which assesses applicants on the basis of factors such as skill and salary threshold, and the nature of the job offer.
You should choose the correct work visa depending on current your circumstances and future plans. Choosing the wrong work visa can be costly for you, both financially and personally. It can also restrict your employment prospects in the UK, limit your ability to bring family members here, or delay the path to settlement.
As mentioned above, there are multiple UK work visas, and many of them have a minimum salary threshold requirement. In the recent STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION RULES (HC 997) presented to Parliament pursuant to section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971 minimum salary threshold, especially for skilled worker visas, has been increased across the category.
In this article, we are going to discuss the minimum salary threshold for UK work visas in 2025.
The Minimum salary threshold has been increased for new applications for skilled worker visa on or after 22 July 2025. Key changes include:
• Option A - General salary threshold rises from £38,700 per year to £41,700 per year. So, the new salary must meet or exceed £41,700 and the full going rate for the occupation code.
• Option B – If the applicant has a PhD relevant to the job, their required minimum salary level has been increased from £34,830 to £37,500 per year or the “90 % of going-rate” – whichever is higher.
• Option C - If the applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to their job, the required minimum salary has been increased from 30,960 to 33,400 per year. So, the new salary requirement is 33,400 or 80% of the going rate – whichever is higher.
• Option D – If the applicant’s job is listed on ISL (Immigration Salary List), the required minimum salary threshold has been increased from 30,960 to 33,400 per year. So, the new salary requirement is 33,400 or the full going rate – whichever is higher
• Option E - if the applicant is a new entrant in the UK labour market, the required minimum salary threshold has been increased from 30,960 to 33,400 per year. So, the new salary requirement is 33,400 or 70% of the going rate – whichever is higher
• Option F – Those who applied and were sponsored for a UK skilled worker visa before 4 April 2024 and have applied to extend or change of employment on or after 22 July 2025. They are required to meet the new minimum salary threshold of £31,300 instead of the previous threshold of £29,000.
• Option G – Those with a PhD degree relevant to the job, who applied and were sponsored for a UK skilled worker visa before 4 April 2024 and applied to extend or change of employment on or after 22 July 2025. They are now required to meet the new minimum salary threshold of £28,200 instead of the previous threshold of £26,100. So, the new salary requirement is £28,200 or 90% of the going rate – whichever is higher
Applicants extending their skilled worker leave or changing sponsor on or after 22 July 2025 will need to meet the new minimum salary thresholds after 22 July 2025, regardless of when they were assigned a CoS.
• Option K – If you are being sponsored for a job in a listed health or education occupation and your annual salary threshold is set to £25,000.
Transitional Period for Options H, I, and J
However, the transitional period is available under options H, I, and J. This means those who applied and were sponsored for a UK skilled worker visa before 4 April 2024 and now want to apply to extend or change of employment, and meet one of the following, will continue to have the older minimum salary threshold of £33,400 or the older going rates – whichever is higher.
• PhD degree in a STEM subject relevant to the job; or
• Their job is listed on the ISL (Immigration Salary List); or
• They were a new entrant to the UK labour market.
No change in the minimum salary level for skilled workers under these options has been announced.
The Global Business Mobility category comprises five different visas designed for overseas businesses looking to send their employees to the UK for temporary work or assignment in the UK.
These five visas under the Global Business Mobility route are:
From 22 July 2025:
• For Senior or Specialist Workers and UK Expansion Workers, their sponsor must pay them 52,500 or the full going rate for the occupation– whichever is higher.
• For Graduate Trainees, their sponsor must pay them £27,300 or 70% of the going rate for the occupation– whichever is higher.
The sponsored phase salary threshold increases from £36,300 to £39,100. This new threshold of £39,100 applies to all future salary assessments in both the sponsored and unsponsored phases for applications made on or after 22 July 2025. The previous lower threshold has been preserved only for applications made before 22 July 2025.
The minimum salary threshold that you will usually need to be paid in 2025 is at least £25000 per year, or the lower ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.
Please note that, new CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) for Care Workers in occupation code 6135 and Senior Care Worker in occupation code 6136 cannot be issued from 22 July 2025. New applications for these two occupations have been closed from this date.
Any transitional sponsorship of Care Workers in SOC 6135 and Senior Care Workers in SOC 6136 from 22 July 2025 must offer a minimum salary of £25,000 per year or the full going rate - whichever is higher.
After the significant changes in the minimum salary threshold for UK work visas in 2025, employers should review their sponsorship and recruitment strategies. These changes affecting the employers in the UK mean they need to plan ahead, meet the new higher salary thresholds, and engage with their sectors to secure long-term access to international talent.
If your business is affected by the changes to the UK work visas route, or you need support with sponsoring overseas workers and workforce planning, you can get in touch with us.
On the other hand, overseas workers looking to work in the UK also need to review their visa options to avoid disruption.
If you would like further advice on an application for a UK work visa or if your business needs to sponsor overseas workers, please contact our team at +44 (0) 20 3411 1261 for expert guidance on these updates and how they may affect overseas workers and your organization.
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