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- The minimum general salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship increased to £41,700 from July 22, 2025, replacing the earlier £38,700 figure. Employers must pay either this amount or the occupation's "going rate," whichever is higher.
- Sponsored jobs must require an RQF Level 6 qualification or equivalent (bachelor's degree or above). Medium-skilled roles below this level are only eligible if on the Temporary Shortage Occupation List.
- Budget planning must account for increased salary costs along with rising visa fees, Immigration Skills Charge, and sponsor license fees. These changes necessitate a careful review of pay scales to maintain compliance.
- Employers should audit roles for RQF eligibility and SOC codes, update HR systems for visa tracking, and train HR teams on new visa rules to avoid refusals and sponsor license risks.
Skilled Worker Visa 2025: £38,700+ Salary & RQF Level 6+ Requirements for HR Budget Planning
In 2025, the UK Government has significantly updated the Skilled Worker visa requirements, impacting employer-sponsored immigration costs and HR budget planning. Employers hiring international talent through this visa must now meet a minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or more for most roles and ensure the job requires a qualification at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 6 or higher, equivalent to bachelor’s degree level or above. Understanding these changes is essential for HR and global mobility managers in mid-sized organizations to plan recruitment budgets and compliance strategies effectively.
Salary Thresholds for Skilled Worker Visa
As of July 2025, most Skilled Worker visa applicants must be paid a minimum of £38,700 annually, marking a substantial increase from the previous threshold of £26,200. This threshold applies to general roles, while specific lower thresholds exist for PhD holders (£34,830) and shortage occupations or new entrant roles (£30,960), though the 20% discount for shortage roles has been removed. Employers must budget for these higher salary levels to comply with the new immigration rules and avoid application refusals. These salary levels reflect a government strategy to attract higher-skilled roles to the UK labor market and prioritize more specialized talent for migration.
RQF Level 6 Requirement and Job Eligibility
The Skilled Worker visa now requires that sponsored jobs meet the RQF Level 6 skill threshold, effective from July 22, 2025. This corresponds to a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification level. Jobs below this level, typically medium-skilled roles, are only eligible if they appear on the Temporary Shortage Occupation List. This change ensures that only professionals with significant skills and qualifications can be sponsored, influencing the type of roles HR departments can fill with overseas talent through this visa route. HR teams need to audit job roles and SOC codes carefully to confirm RQF level eligibility before sponsoring candidates.
Budget Planning for Employers and HR Teams
HR and global mobility managers should revise their recruitment and compensation budgets to accommodate the new £38,700+ salary threshold, which may rise to around £41,700 depending on occupation-specific going rates effective late 2025. Additional costs include visa application fees, sponsor license costs, and the Immigration Skills Charge, which also increased substantially in 2025. Employers should conduct thorough workforce audits to identify current sponsored roles, update pay scales, and ensure compliance with the new rules. Investing in HR training for immigration compliance and updating internal systems to track visa eligibility and salary requirements is crucial to avoid costly errors and disruption in global talent acquisition.
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