The UK Skilled Worker visa is still one of the most searched work routes for Indian professionals, but the rules have changed a lot since 2024. The salary floor is higher, many mid-level jobs no longer qualify, and the English requirement is stricter. This guide explains the UK Skilled Worker visa 2026 rules from the official GOV.UK pages: the minimum salary, the cost, the English level, the job list, family members and how long it takes.
Quick answer
According to GOV.UK, a Skilled Worker visa lets you come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) work visa. The visa can last up to 5 years before you need to extend it, you can extend as many times as you like while you still meet the rules, and after 5 years you may be able to apply to settle permanently. Always read the latest settlement guidance before you plan around this, because settlement rules are a policy area that the UK government changes from time to time.
You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply. Your employer then assigns a certificate of sponsorship, which is an electronic record with a reference number you enter in your visa application.
GOV.UK says the minimum salary is whichever is the highest of GBP 41,700 per year and the going rate for the type of work you will be doing. Each occupation code has its own annual going rate, which is listed in the official going rates table. If the going rate for your job is higher than GBP 41,700, you need the higher figure.
| Situation | Minimum salary |
|---|---|
| Standard rate | Higher of GBP 41,700 or the going rate for the job |
| Job on the immigration salary list | At least GBP 33,400, and still at least the standard going rate for the job |
| Under 26, recent graduate or in professional training | At least GBP 33,400 and at least 70% of the standard going rate |
| Relevant STEM PhD | At least GBP 33,400 and at least 80% of the standard going rate |
| Relevant non-STEM PhD | At least GBP 37,500 and at least 90% of the standard going rate |
If you qualify for a lower rate because you are under 26, studying or a recent graduate, GOV.UK says your total stay in the UK cannot be more than 4 years, including any time you spent on a Graduate visa. Healthcare and education jobs that follow national pay scales have separate salary rules.
Watch out
Medium-skilled jobs are no longer open to most applicants. GOV.UK says that if your occupation code is listed as “medium skilled”, you can apply only if the job is on the immigration salary list or the temporary shortage list (or you are extending and got your first certificate of sponsorship before 22 July 2025). Check your code before you accept an offer.
GOV.UK lists three costs you must plan for: the application fee, the healthcare surcharge and personal savings.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee from outside the UK, up to 3 years | GBP 819 per person |
| Application fee from outside the UK, more than 3 years | GBP 1,618 per person |
| Immigration salary list job, up to 3 years | GBP 628 per person |
| Immigration salary list job, more than 3 years | GBP 1,235 per person |
| Healthcare surcharge | Usually GBP 1,035 per year of stay, per person |
| Maintenance funds | At least GBP 1,270, held for 28 days in a row, unless your employer covers it on the CoS |
For example, GOV.UK shows a 2-year visa from outside the UK at the standard fee as GBP 819 plus GBP 1,035 for each year of stay, which is GBP 2,889 in total at the time of applying. Applying from inside the UK to extend, switch or update costs more: GBP 943 for up to 3 years and GBP 1,865 for more than 3 years at the standard rate. Your partner and children pay the same fee for the same length of time.
Pro tip
The money for the maintenance requirement must be available for 28 days in a row, and day 28 must fall within 31 days of your application. Plan the bank balance a month before you apply, or ask your employer to certify maintenance on the CoS.
GOV.UK says you can prove your English by having a UK school qualification, a degree from a UK institution, a degree from an institution outside the UK that was taught in English (assessed by Ecctis, which gives you a code), or by passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) with an approved provider. The level you must reach is B2 on the CEFR scale for new applicants and for people switching from a different visa. If you held the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating, B1 is enough.
Indian applicants usually take an approved test. Our team can help you plan your preparation with IELTS coaching in Hyderabad, but confirm with the test provider that you are booking a UK-approved SELT, because not every IELTS version is accepted for UK visas.
Your partner and children can apply as dependants, each with a separate application. A partner must be married or in a recognised civil partnership, or have lived with you in a relationship for at least 2 years. Children must be under 18 and live with you, unless they are in full-time education away from home. The first person in the family to apply can get a family linking code to connect the applications.
The dependant rules are stricter for care workers and for medium-skilled jobs. If your job is listed as medium skilled, GOV.UK says your partner and children can join you only in limited cases, for example if you have been continually employed on a Skilled Worker visa in a medium-skilled job since before 22 July 2025. Read the official guidance for your exact occupation code before you resign from your current job.
| Route | Best for | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| UK Skilled Worker | Professionals with a UK job offer at a licensed sponsor | Salary floor GBP 41,700 or the going rate |
| Germany Blue Card or skilled worker | Degree holders with a German job offer | See our Germany work visa guide |
| Canada employer-specific work permit | Workers whose employer obtains an LMIA | See our Canada LMIA guide |
Not sure which country suits your profile? Start with our free immigration eligibility assessment, or read our complete guide to applying for a work visa.
GOV.UK says it is the higher of GBP 41,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation code. Lower thresholds of GBP 33,400 or GBP 37,500 apply only in specific cases such as the immigration salary list, new entrants and PhD holders.
The standard application fee from outside the UK is GBP 819 for up to 3 years or GBP 1,618 for more than 3 years, plus the healthcare surcharge of usually GBP 1,035 per year and proof of GBP 1,270 in savings unless your employer covers it.
New applicants need level B2 on the CEFR scale. You can prove it with a UK degree, a degree taught in English with an Ecctis code, a UK school qualification or an approved SELT.
No. You need a confirmed job offer from an approved employer and a certificate of sponsorship before you can apply.
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK, and within 8 weeks from inside the UK, once you have applied, proved your identity and provided documents.
Yes, partners and children under 18 can apply as dependants, but the rules are stricter for care workers and medium-skilled jobs. Check the official dependant rules for your occupation code.
Facts on this page were checked against the official sources listed at the end on 7 November 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change often, so confirm the current figure on the official site before you apply.
Have a UK job offer or want to know if your profile fits the Skilled Worker route? Book a free consultation or call +91 95055 15154.
