Skilled worker visa salary threshold to rise from 4 April

The minimum salary requirement for a UK skilled worker visa will rise from £26,200 to £38,700 from 4 April, the government has confirmed.

The 48% rise was announced by the Home Secretary last year and faced major backlash from the hospitality industry over concerns it could lead to staff shortages.

Around 95% of the 8,500 visas issued to skilled chefs and managers in 2022 would fall short of the higher salary threshold, UKHospitality has warned.

The increase comes as part of a package of wider changes to the UK’s legal migration system, which the Home Office said would come into force “within weeks”.

Other government measures include the removal of the 20% going rate discount for occupations on the shortage occupation list, which will be replaced by a new immigration salary list from early April.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will advise government on which occupations should be temporarily added to the new list ahead of 14 March.

In October 2023, the MAC did not recommend any hospitality roles be added to the shortage occupation list, but suggested experienced sommeliers with more than three years' full time-experience should be eligible for skilled worker visas.

The minimum income requirement threshold for family visas will also rise in stages from 11 April, starting at £29,000. This figure will rise to £38,700 by early 2025.

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