The United Kingdom could soon make it easier for foreign professionals to secure work visas after a new review recommended lowering salary requirements for several immigration routes.
The proposals were put forward by the UK’s independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which advises the government on migration policies. The recommendations aim to help employers fill critical labour shortages while maintaining fair wage standards across sectors.
If adopted by the government, the changes could open more employment opportunities for skilled workers from countries such as Nigeria and India, where interest in relocating to the UK remains high.
Key Recommendations
One of the committee’s key recommendations is a reduction in occupation-specific salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker visa route. Rather than using the current median earnings benchmark, the MAC proposed setting salary requirements at the 25th percentile of earnings for each occupation.
The change would lower the minimum salaries employers must offer for many sponsored positions, making it easier for businesses to recruit overseas talent.
However, the committee advised retaining the overall Skilled Worker salary threshold at £41,700. It also presented an alternative option of £48,400 for government consideration.
The proposed adjustments are expected to benefit sectors facing persistent recruitment challenges, including information technology, engineering, healthcare, construction, and education.
The MAC also recommended introducing a single salary threshold of £33,400 for new entrants under the Skilled Worker route. This measure is intended to support younger professionals and recent graduates by allowing them to access UK employment opportunities without requiring salaries typically associated with experienced workers.
In another significant proposal, the committee suggested abolishing salary discounts currently granted to applicants with PhD qualifications. Where salary concessions for postdoctoral workers remain necessary, the MAC recommended a single threshold of £41,700 that would apply for up to four years.
The review also covers Global Business Mobility routes used by multinational companies to transfer employees into the UK.
For Senior or Specialist Workers and UK Expansion Workers, the committee proposed aligning both general and occupation-specific salary requirements with median earnings for eligible occupations. Graduate Trainees would be subject to a single salary threshold of £33,400, while occupation-specific salary requirements would be removed entirely.
Additionally, the MAC recommended a minimum salary threshold of £30,900 for occupations listed on the Temporary Shortage List. Although these jobs may continue to receive immigration support, employers would still be expected to offer salaries consistent with prevailing market rates.
The latest recommendations come shortly after the UK government increased visa application fees across multiple categories for applicants outside the country.
Under the revised fee structure, short-term visitor visas valid for up to six months increased from £127 to £135. Two-year visitor visas rose from £475 to £506, while five-year and ten-year visas now cost £903 and £1,128 respectively.
The fee increases also affected transit, student, family migration, and other visa categories, adding to the overall cost of relocating to the UK.
The UK government is yet to announce whether it will adopt the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendations.
