Those who aspire to work in the UK will now have to earn significantly more money to earn a visa. The move comes as part of the Rishi Sunak government, which plans to limit the number of migrants in the country.
The UK reported 7,45,000 migrants in the country in 2022, which Prime Minister Sunak said was “far too high”. Skilled work visa grants to India saw an increase of 63% from 13,380 in 2021-22 to 21,837 in 2022-23, the latest statistics show.
SO, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM SALARY A UK VISA APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE?
As most people will have to apply for the work visa through points-based system (PBS), they will now need a job with a higher salary. They have to earn at least £38,700 than the previous £26,200, which is an increase of nearly 50%.
Though the new norm does not apply to healthcare workers, teachers and those in the social sector, but overseas workers cannot bring dependents with them.
Around 70,000 people came to the UK on family visas in the year ending June 2023. Though the minimum level to qualify for the family visa was already increased to £38,700 from the previous £18,600, but the government reduced it to the new minimum of £29,000 after warning that the new rules were “separating families”.
Sunak said the amount will be raised in the future first to £34,500 and then £38,700. The higher threshold will be “reached in early 2025,” he confirmed.
The Home Office, however, said anyone renewing the existing family visa will not have to meet the new salary requirement.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SKILLED WORKER VISA
Roles will be as per the SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) 2020, instead of SOC 2010. This will result in changes to the occupation code number for some roles.
The data used to set these salaries will also change from the 25th percentile of the 2021 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data to the median (50th percentile) of the 2023 ASHE data. This change means that for some roles, the minimum salary threshold will be significantly above £38,700.
For example, in the job category of chief executives and senior officials, the minimum salary now would be £84,000 from the £59,300. Financial managers and directors now need to earn at least £70,000 to apply for the work visa.
The Home Office has, however, confirmed that it is retaining ‘new entrant’ salary discounts for those applying for a skilled work visa in certain cases. The new entrant discount reduces the Skilled Worker minimum salary threshold to the higher of £30,960 per year or 70% of the going rate for the applicable SOC 2020 occupation code.
HOW DOES THE POINTS-BASED SYSTEM WORK?
Applicants need 70 points to qualify for a skilled worker visa. They get 50 points for having a job offer above a minimum skill level, and speaking English. The remaining 20 points can be attained from a higher salary or working in a sector with job shortages or PhD.
The standard fee for a skilled visa is between £719 and £1,500. Applicants will have to pay a healthcare surcharge every year of their stay, which is now £1,035, up from £624.
WHAT QUALIFIES IN THE ‘SHORTAGE OCCUPATION’ LIST?
The list includes healthcare workers, pharmacists, graphic designers, construction workers and vets. These jobs have a lower salary threshold, making it easier for applicants to gain points.
The Home Office has confirmed substantial reduction of the number of occupation codes appearing in the Immigration Salary List (previously known as the Shortage Occupation List), and the removal of the 20% reduction in minimum salary levels for those still on the list, and updated roles and consolidated some occupation codes to reflect the changes between SOC 2010 and SOC 2020.
INDIANS TOP NATIONALITY FOR SKILLED WORK
According to the Home Office, Indian nationals were the top nationality for visas for the ‘work’ category, representing 33% of grants, and were, by far, the top nationality for both the ‘Skilled Worker’ and ‘Skilled Worker – Health and Care’ visas.
“A total of 92,951 Graduate route extensions were granted to previous students in the year ending March 2023. Indian nationals represented the largest group of students granted leave to remain on the Graduate route, representing 41% of grants,” it said.
In the healthcare visa category, Indians registered a 105% hike from 14,485 to 29,726. “There were 138,532 sponsored study visa grants to Indian nationals in year ending March 2023, an increase of 53,429 (+63 per cent) compared to year ending March 2022 and the largest number of study visas granted to any nationality. Grants to study for Indian nationals have risen markedly since year ending March 2019 and are now around seven times higher,” the Home Office analysis noted.
The UK has barred most international students except for PhD level students to bring their family including children and elderly parents. The data shows Nigeria had the highest number of dependents (66,796) of sponsored study visa holders in the year ending March 2023. Indian nationals had the second highest number of dependents, increasing from 22,598 to 42,381.
WHAT ELSE IS IN THE STORE IN 2024?
One big change is the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, which will affect the travel plans of millions of businessmen and tourists.
Visitors and people transiting through the UK who do not currently need a visa to visit the UK for business or tourism will need to obtain an ETA before travelling to the UK. Once it is fully implemented, the new ETA travel requirement will apply to visitors to the UK from all round the world, including the EU, US, Canada, and Australia.
Remember, an ETA allows you to travel to the UK but is not a permit to enter the UK nor live or work in the UK. It is an online travel authorisation that is similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) scheme for visitors to the US.
From 1 February 2024, nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and UAE travelling to the UK on or after February 22, 2024 can apply for the ETA before travel. The scheme is currently open for Qatar nationals travelling to the UK.
For nationals of all these countries other than Jordan, the ETA replaces the existing Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) system, which exempts citizens of those countries from needing to apply for a visit visa.
The ETA fee is £10 per person. Everyone travelling needs to apply for an ETA, including babies and children, but adults can apply on behalf of children. The fee is non-refundable. Applicants will get the decision by email in three working days of submitting the form.