UK Releases New Salary Requirements For Skilled Worker Visas Starting January 1
- The United Kingdom has announced an increase in the salary requirements for the Skilled Worker visa route
- The changes mean that Nigerians looking to relocate to the UK for work will have to secure high-paying jobs
- The UK government has provided an explanation as more Nigerians express interest in relocating abroad
Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of experience covering Tech, Energy, Stocks, Investments, and Economy.
The United Kingdom is introducing new salary requirements for workers who want to enter the country starting January 1, 2025.
The government explained that these salary adjustments aimed to prioritise highly skilled and well-compensated professionals.
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New salary requirements for UK visa
The UK government said in a statement that starting January 1, 2025, the minimum salary requirement for most Skilled Worker Visa applicants will rise from £26,200 to £38,700, representing a 48% increase.
The threshold for applicants with a relevant PhD would climb from £23,800 to £34,830, while those with a STEM PhD would face a new minimum of £30,960, up from £20,960.
Meanwhile, the salary requirement for jobs on the shortage occupation list and new workforce entrants will also rise to £30,960.
These changes, which include salary increases as high as 82% for certain categories, aimed to align immigration with median salary levels and ensure only the most qualified individuals can access the UK’s Skilled Worker visa programme.
A government spokesperson quoted in the statement said:
“The raised thresholds reflect our commitment to attracting the best talent while safeguarding opportunities for domestic workers."
Expected impact of the changes
Punch reports that the new salary review is set to affect a wide range of sectors, including technology, healthcare, and engineering.
This will make it more challenging for Nigerians to secure a skilled worker visa without a high-paying job offer.
For employers, the increased salary requirements will result in higher costs when sponsoring foreign workers.
Companies may need to adjust their budgets to comply with the new rules, but they will likely benefit from a more qualified workforce.
The removal of a 20% discount previously applied to shortage occupation roles further tightens eligibility, Vanguard reports.
Winners for new UK visa requirements
International observers, including the DAAD Scholarship, have noted that while these changes pose challenges for prospective workers, they also present opportunities for those in high-demand professions.
Workers in fields such as software development, engineering, and healthcare must now secure job offers that meet the new salary benchmarks to qualify for a visa.
UK implements new visa application fees for Nigerians
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the UK has released the list of companies authorised to sponsor foreign workers under the worker and temporary worker immigration pathways, which has been updated.
According to a statement by the country's government, foreign workers can only be sponsored by authorised businesses, and applicants must fulfil certain conditions to be eligible for a skilled worker visa.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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