UK Tightens Work Visa Rules, With Exceptions for Some Students
The United Kingdom has raised the minimum salary requirement for the skilled worker visa from £18,600 to £38,700, according to international media reports on Friday.
This new threshold will apply to applications submitted after April 4, 2024. However, lower salary requirements will still apply to applications submitted before April 4, 2030. For individuals under 26, students, recent graduates, or those undergoing professional training, the salary requirement is set at 70 percent of the job’s lower market rate, with a minimum salary of £23,200 per year.
The UK government has defended the new visa policy as a measure to reduce immigration and protect British workers from being undercut by cheaper foreign labor. Home Secretary James Cleverly stressed the need to stop the influx of cheap foreign labor, stating that immigration is unsustainable and unfair as it undermines British workers.
The immigration system will be reoriented to attract the most skilled individuals necessary for the economy while reducing overall numbers, he added.
