Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa

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Salary requirements

You need to be paid at least a minimum salary if you hold a T2, Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa. How much you must be paid depends on your visa.

You’ll usually need to be paid at least whichever is the higher out of the following:

  • £38,700 per year
  • the ‘standard going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Example

Your salary is £40,000 per year, but the standard going rate for the job you’ll be doing is £45,000. You do not meet the usual salary requirements for this visa.

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

When the salary requirements are different

The salary requirements are different if:

  • you work in healthcare or education
  • your job is on the Immigration Salary List
  • you got a certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker (or equivalent) visa before 4 April 2024 and have held Skilled Worker visas since then
  • you have an International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa
  • you have a T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa

If you work in healthcare or education

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales. You must be paid whichever is higher out of the following:

  • £23,200 per year
  • the ‘going rate’ based on national pay scales for the type of work you’ll be doing

Check your going rate in the table of national pay scales for either:

Ask your employer if you’re not sure what your role or pay band is. These going rates apply whether you’re working in the public or private sector.

If your job in healthcare has different salary requirements

If you’re on a Health and Care Worker visa and your job is in one of the occupation codes with different salary requirements, you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following:

  • £29,000 per year 
  • £23,200 per year if your job is on the Immigration Salary List (or it was at the time you applied)
  • the ‘lower going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

If your job is on the Immigration Salary List

If you do not meet the usual salary requirements, and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible.

If you’re on a Skilled Worker visa and your job is on the Immigration Salary List (or it was at the time you applied), you must be paid at least either:

  • £30,960 per year
  • the ‘standard going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

If you got a certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker (or equivalent) visa before 4 April 2024 

If you have continually held one or more Skilled Worker visas since then, you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following:

  • £29,000 per year
  • £23,200 per year if your job is on the Immigration Salary List, (or it was at the time you applied)
  • the ‘lower going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

There are also different salary requirements if you were sponsored for a Tier 2 (General) visa in one of the following occupation codes:

  • 2111 Chemical scientists
  • 2112 Biological scientists and biochemists
  • 2113 Physical scientists
  • 2114 Social and humanities scientists
  • 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified
  • 2150 Research and development managers
  • 2311 Higher education teaching professionals

In this case, you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following:

  • £23,200 per year
  • the different going rate for the type of work you’ll be doing

Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

If you have an International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

You must be paid £35,800 or more a year.

When working out your salary, you can only count earnings:

  • from your main job that you’re sponsored for
  • for up to 48 hours a week, if you’re paid hourly

If you have a T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa

You must be paid at least the same as UK workers in the same role, and meet national minimum wage requirements.

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