UK Skilled Worker visa salary requirements will change in spring 2027 under measures announced in the October 28, 2026 Budget. Occupation-specific thresholds will fall to the 25th percentile of wages, while the general salary requirement will be updated and discounts revised.
The United Kingdom will introduce new Skilled Worker visa salary requirements in spring 2027, changing how employers calculate minimum pay for overseas employees. The reforms were announced in the UK Budget presented by HM Treasury on October 28, 2026.
The changes aim to make skilled international recruitment more accessible across Britain while retaining salary requirements for employer-sponsored workers.
UK Skilled Worker salary threshold to change
Under the reforms, occupation-specific minimum salary thresholds will fall from the median wage to the 25th percentile of earnings for each eligible occupation.
This means the minimum pay associated with certain sponsored jobs could decrease. However, applicants must also meet the applicable general salary requirement, so the changes will not automatically lower the minimum salary for every Skilled Worker visa.
The government has not yet announced the final occupation-specific salary figures for 2027.
General visa salary requirement to be updated
The general Skilled Worker salary threshold will be revised using 2026 earnings data. Salary requirements will subsequently be updated annually using the latest wage information from the UK's Office for National Statistics.
The revised approach follows recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee, which advises the government on migration and labor-market policies.
Employers sponsoring international professionals will need to assess both the general salary threshold and the relevant occupational requirement when determining eligibility.
New entrant and PhD salary discounts
The government will simplify salary concessions currently available to international students, recent graduates and individuals undertaking professional training.
These concessions will be replaced with a single new-entrant discount. The separate salary discount for workers holding relevant PhD qualifications will be removed.
Further guidance is expected to explain the revised discount level and how the changes will apply to eligible applicants.
What the changes mean for overseas workers
The salary reforms could affect international professionals, including Indian workers seeking sponsored employment in the UK.
Lower occupation-specific thresholds may expand recruitment opportunities in some professions, although eligibility will continue to depend on the applicable general salary requirement and other visa conditions.
The government plans to introduce the reforms in spring 2027. Final salary tables and implementation guidance will determine how employers and applicants must apply the new rules.
