The salary requirements for the UK Skilled Worker visa are a significant hurdle for many applicants. The standard threshold is high, requiring a salary of at least £41,700 per year or the specific ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher. However, the UK’s immigration system includes several important concessions that allow you to qualify with a lower salary if you meet specific criteria. This is known as the ‘tradeable points’ system.
Understanding if you can benefit from these concessions is a complex but crucial part of your application strategy. Our team of specialist immigration advisors are experts in the tradeable points system. We will conduct a detailed assessment of your qualifications, age, and job offer to determine if you can qualify for a Skilled Worker visa on a lower salary, opening up a pathway to a UK career that might otherwise seem out of reach.
The Foundation: The Lower Salary Threshold
To even be considered under the tradeable points system, your salary must meet a baseline minimum. Even if you qualify for a discount, your sponsored salary must be at least £33,400 per year. If your salary is below this, you will not be eligible for the Skilled Worker route.
Four Main Pathways to Qualifying with a Lower Salary
If your salary is £33,400 or higher but does not meet the high standard rate for your job, you may still be eligible if you fall into one of the following four categories.
Pathway 1: Your Job is on the Immigration Salary List (ISL)
The Immigration Salary List (formerly the Shortage Occupation List) identifies jobs where there is a recognised skills shortage in the UK.
- What is the benefit? If your job’s occupation code is on the ISL, the general salary threshold you must meet is lower. You must be paid at least £33,400 per year or the standard going rate for the job, whichever is higher.
- Lower Visa Fees: Sponsoring a job on the ISL also comes with a lower visa application fee, providing a cost saving for you or your employer.
- How to check: You must view the official Immigration Salary List to see if your specific occupation code is included. It is essential to check that the role is listed for the part of the UK where you will be working (e.g., England, Scotland, etc.).
Pathway 2: You are a ‘New Entrant’ to the Labour Market
This concession is designed to help younger applicants and recent graduates begin their careers in the UK. You are considered a ‘new entrant’ if you meet certain criteria, such as:
- You are under 26 years old on the date you apply.
- You are switching from a Student visa, having recently completed a degree-level course in the UK.
- You are switching from a Graduate visa.
- You are working towards a recognised professional qualification or registration in a regulated profession.
- What is the benefit? As a new entrant, you can be paid 70% of the standard going rate for your job, as long as your salary is at least £33,400 per year.
- Important Limitation: If you are sponsored under the new entrant provisions, your total stay in the UK on a Skilled Worker and/or Graduate visa cannot exceed 4 years.
Pathway 3: You Have a Relevant PhD Qualification
Your high-level academic qualifications can allow for a lower salary.
- If you have a relevant STEM PhD: You can be paid 80% of the standard going rate for your job, provided your salary is at least £33,400 per year.
- If you have a relevant non-STEM PhD: You can be paid 90% of the standard going rate for your job, provided your salary is at least £37,500 per year.
- How to qualify: You must be able to prove your PhD is genuine (if from overseas, this requires an Ecctis assessment) and that it is relevant to the job you are being sponsored for. Your employer must confirm its relevance on your Certificate of Sponsorship. You must also check that your job’s occupation code is on the list of jobs eligible for a PhD salary discount.
Pathway 4: You Have a Postdoctoral Position
This is a specific concession for researchers in certain scientific and higher education roles.
- What is the benefit? If you are sponsored for a postdoctoral position in an eligible occupation code (such as chemical scientist, biological scientist, or higher education teaching professional), you can be paid 70% of the job’s standard going rate.
- Eligible Occupation Codes: You must check that your job falls into one of the specific occupation codes listed in the immigration rules to qualify.
- Important Limitation: As with the new entrant route, your total stay in the UK on this basis is limited to 4 years.
Let Our Experts Navigate the Complexity for You
The tradeable points system is one of the most complex areas of UK immigration law. A misinterpretation of the rules can lead to a visa refusal, wasting time and money. Our specialist immigration advisors live and breathe these rules. We will:
- Conduct a full assessment of your profile against all tradeable points criteria.
- Calculate the precise salary you need to be paid based on your specific circumstances.
- Advise you and your sponsor on the best and most appropriate route for your application.
- Ensure your Certificate of Sponsorship correctly reflects the tradeable points you are claiming.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.