UK Raises Salary Requirement for Work Visas: What It Means for International Students
📰 What’s the News?
The UK government raised the minimum salary requirement for international graduates (and other foreign workers) applying for a Skilled Worker visa — which is the main visa route for staying and working in the UK long-term.
🔺 Old Salary Threshold: £26,200 per year
🔺 New Salary Threshold: £38,700 per year
That’s a 47% increase — a major jump.
💥 Why Was This Change Made?
The UK government wants to:
- Reduce net migration
- Encourage employers to hire local workers
- Prevent abuse of the visa system (such as underpaying migrant workers)
They believe only highly skilled, well-paid migrants should stay long-term.
Impact on International Students:
- Harder to Qualify for Work Visas
- Most entry-level jobs after graduation — especially in fields like marketing, education, social work, journalism, hospitality — pay below £38,700.
- International students often start careers at junior levels, so they now don’t meet the new salary threshold.
- This could force more graduates to leave the UK when their Graduate Visa (post-study visa) ends.
- Less Value for UK Education
- Students from countries like Pakistan often invest heavily to study in the UK.
- If they can’t stay and work due to high salary requirements, the return on their investment drops.
- Families might reconsider sending students abroad under these tougher conditions.
- Pressure on Graduate Job Market
- Graduates will compete harder for fewer high-paying jobs.
- Only big companies in sectors like tech, finance, or engineering regularly offer salaries above £38,700.
- Smaller firms or public-sector jobs may not sponsor visas anymore.
- Fewer Pathways to Permanent Residency
- The Skilled Worker visa is the main route to settlement (ILR).
- If students can’t qualify, they lose their chance to stay permanently in the UK.
- Mental & Financial Stress
- Many students now face uncertainty about their future after graduating.
- It adds pressure during their studies to secure jobs fast, and in competitive sectors.
✅ In Summary
Change | Impact |
Salary threshold now £38,700 | Harder to qualify for work visas |
Lower-paying industries affected | Fewer sponsorship opportunities |
Less attractive for international students | May reduce UK university applications from countries like Pakistan |
More students may leave after Graduate Visa | Shorter stays and lower return on investment |