UK Skilled Worker Visa Points Calculator 2026

UK Skilled Worker Visa — Key Requirements 2026

The UK Skilled Worker visa uses a points-based system. You need 70 points to be eligible. 50 points are mandatory (job offer + skill level + English). The remaining 20 come from salary.

Salary Thresholds — Source Directly From GOV.UK

The exact minimum salary depends on your occupation's SOC code and whether you qualify for a reduced rate (some health and education roles, new entrants, or roles on a shortage list). Because these figures are reviewed and changed by the Home Office periodically, we deliberately do not hardcode a single number here. Use the official tool below to find your role's exact current threshold:

→ GOV.UK: Find your occupation's exact salary threshold

English Language Requirements

You must prove English at B1 level or above (CEFR). This can be done through: a UKVI-approved English test (IELTS, PTE, etc.), a degree taught in English, or being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

There Is No Separate "PR Points" System — Here's How UK Settlement Actually Works

Unlike Australia or Canada, the UK doesn't run a second points test for permanent residence (called Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR). The 70-point system above only decides whether you're eligible for the Skilled Worker visa itself. Settlement has historically worked on time served, not points: after 5 years of continuous lawful residence on a Skilled Worker visa, maintaining your sponsored job and salary, passing the Life in the UK test, and meeting B1 English, you become eligible to apply for ILR.

This is changing. The UK Government's 2025 Immigration White Paper proposed a new "Earned Settlement" model that would extend the standard qualifying period from 5 to 10 years for most routes (up to 15 years for medium-skilled roles), while allowing reductions for factors like higher earnings — something closer to a points-like framework across four "pillars": residence, integration, contribution, and character. A public consultation on these changes closed in February 2026 with over 200,000 responses. As of this page's last review, no change to the Immigration Rules has yet taken effect and the 5-year route remains in force — but this is expected to change later in 2026. Always check GOV.UK directly before relying on either the old or proposed new timeline.

Because settlement rules are actively being rewritten, treat any "5 years" or "10 years" figure you see — including on this page — as provisional. This is a genuinely moving target in 2026.

How This Score Is Calculated

We total four components, each worth a fixed number of points under the published Skilled Worker points table: a confirmed job offer from an approved sponsor (20 points), the role being at RQF Level 3 or above (20 points), meeting the English language requirement (10 points), and meeting the salary threshold you enter (20 points). The first three are pass/fail. Salary points are awarded if your offered salary meets or exceeds the threshold you provide.

Worked Example

A software engineer (SOC 2136) with a confirmed job offer at RQF Level 6, B2 English, offered £45,000/year against the standard £41,700 threshold: mandatory points = 50, salary points = 20 (since £45,000 ≥ £41,700), total = 70 points → eligible. If the same offer were £38,000 against the same £41,700 threshold, salary points = 0, total = 50 points → not eligible on salary. Note: the applicant must also meet the specific going rate for SOC 2136 — if higher than £41,700, that rate applies.

Assumptions

• You have already identified a UK Home Office licensed sponsor willing to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship.
• The salary threshold you enter is the correct, current figure for your specific SOC code (we do not auto-fill this — see the GOV.UK link above).
• "Going rate" and minimum salary are treated as a single threshold for simplicity; in practice the Home Office assesses both the general threshold and the going rate for your specific occupation.

Limitations

• This tool does not check sponsor licence validity, Certificate of Sponsorship allocation, or criminal record/health requirements.
• It does not cover every occupation-specific salary exception (e.g. specific NHS pay scales, PhD-level roles, new entrant discounts).
• Immigration Rules change periodically — see the "Rules Updated" date above and always cross-check with GOV.UK before applying or paying any fees.

This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always confirm current rules with the official source linked above or a licensed immigration adviser before making decisions. Page last reviewed July 1, 2026.