Skilled Worker Settlement Salary Requirements: Your 2025 Guide to ILR
Planning to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) on your Skilled Worker visa? The salary requirements can seem overwhelming, especially with the changes that took effect on 4 April 2024. As an immigration professional, I've created this step-by-step guide to help you navigate these requirements with confidence.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
The April 2024 changes significantly altered the landscape for Skilled Worker visa holders seeking settlement. Understanding which rules apply to your specific situation isn't just helpful—it's essential for a successful ILR application. Getting this wrong could mean delays, refusals, or unexpected financial requirements.
The Four-Step Assessment Process
Step 1: Verify Your Sponsor Status
Before anything else, confirm that your current employer remains a licensed Skilled Worker sponsor. Without this fundamental requirement, settlement simply isn't possible. You can check this on the government's register of licensed sponsors.
Step 2: Identify Your Critical Date
The date your Skilled Worker visa was first granted determines which salary framework applies to you. This isn't about renewals or extensions—it's specifically about that initial grant date.
If your visa was granted on or after 4 April 2024, you'll follow the new, higher thresholds outlined in Step 3.
If your visa was granted before 4 April 2024, you may benefit from transitional arrangements detailed in Step 4.
Step 3: Post-April 2024 Visa Holders
For those granted visas from April 2024 onwards, your salary requirement depends on whether your job appears on the Immigration Salary List:
- Jobs on the Immigration Salary List: Minimum £33,400 per year or the going rate, whichever is higher
- Standard jobs: Minimum £41,700 per year or the going rate, whichever is higher
Step 4: Pre-April 2024 Visa Holders (The Good News)
If your visa was granted before April 2024, you're generally protected by more favorable transitional arrangements:
Standard roles: £31,300 minimum, plus the going rate for your occupation
Immigration Salary List positions (or previously shortage occupations): £25,000 minimum, plus the going rate
Health and education roles: £25,000 minimum or national pay scale rates, whichever is higher
Specific research and academic positions: £25,000 minimum for certain scientific and teaching roles originally sponsored under Tier 2 (General)
Flowchart for ILR Salary Requirements for Skilled Worker
The Dual Requirement Reality
Here's what many people miss: you must satisfy both requirements simultaneously—the general salary threshold for your category AND the specific going rate for your occupation code. The going rates are detailed in the Home Office's Appendix Skilled Occupations, and they vary significantly between job types and sectors.
Practical Next Steps
- Document your visa grant date from your original decision letter
- Identify your SOC occupation code and corresponding going rate
- Calculate both requirements to determine your actual minimum salary
- Review your current salary against both thresholds
- Plan accordingly if adjustments are needed
The Strategic Advantage
Understanding these requirements early gives you time to negotiate salary adjustments with your employer if necessary. Remember, your employer has invested significantly in your sponsorship journey—they're typically motivated to help you achieve settlement when approached professionally and with adequate notice.
Looking Ahead
The immigration landscape continues to evolve, but these salary requirements represent the current framework for Skilled Worker settlement applications. While the thresholds may seem challenging, many visa holders find that their natural career progression often aligns with these requirements by the time they're eligible for ILR.
Have questions about your specific situation? Immigration law is complex, and individual circumstances can significantly impact your requirements. Consider consulting with a qualified immigration adviser to ensure you're on the right track for your settlement application.