When can you be paid less on the Skilled Worker Visa?
The current salary requirement for an applicant applying for the Skilled Worker Visa is £41,700.
However, there are circumstances where an applicant can be paid less than the current £41,700 threshold.
Whether you are a Sponsor looking to hire a Skilled Worker, or an applicant who will apply for the visa but your salary is less than the £41,700 threshold, this blog post may help determine if you are eligible for a lower salary for the UK Skilled Worker Visa.
If you or the visa applicant is a recent graduate, in professional training or is under 26.
This means that an applicant can be paid 70% of the going rate, and at least £33,700 per year (whichever is higher) if any of the following applies.
Please note that only one of the below criteria must be met in order to qualify.
You / the applicant is 26 or younger at the time of the application.
You / the applicant is on a Student visa, or was in the last 2 years. The most recent UK Visa does not have to have been a Student visa, can also be a Visit Visa
You / the applicant is on a Graduate visa, or was in the last 2 years. The most recent UK Visa does not have to have been a Graduate visa, can also be a Visit Visa
If you are working towards registration/chartered status in the job you're being sponsored for
If you will be working towards a recognised qualification in a UK regulated profession
You can check the discounted going rate of your SOC Code to see how much an applicant can be paid if the above applies, here:
Please note: an applicant cannot stay longer than 4 years on a discounted salary, this includes time spent on the Graduate Visa.
If you or the applicant’s job is on the Immigration Salary List
If your job is on the Immigration Salary List, a Skilled Worker Visa applicant will have lower salary requirements. They must be paid a minimum of £33,400. However, the applicant must still be paid the standard going rate of the job title. The going rates can be checked here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-going-rates-for-eligible-occupations
The Immigration salary list can be checked here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list
If you or the visa applicant has a PhD that is relevant to the job
80 to 90% of the going rate can be paid, if the applicant has a PhD that is relevant to the job.
Please note that you must have a PhD that is relevant to the job, the PhD must have be a UK PhD or be an overseas equivalent verified by Ecctis.
If you or the visa applicant has a postdoctoral position in science or high education
An applicant may be paid 70% of the going rate if they will be working in a postdoctoral position in the following roles:
2111: chemical scientists
2112: biological scientists
2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
2114: physical scientists
2115: social and humanities scientists
2119: natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified
2162: other researchers, unspecified discipline
2311: higher education teaching professionals
Similar to the new entrant salary discount, an applicant cannot stay longer than 4 years on a discounted salary, this includes time spent on the Graduate Visa.
To find out more or to get help with your Skilled Worker Visa salary rules, contact an Immigration Advisor here