UK immigration,
finally made simple.

From April 2024, the general minimum salary for most Skilled Worker roles is £38,700 per year, or the going rate for your specific occupation code — whichever is higher. Some roles on the Immigration Salary List may qualify at a lower threshold (80% of the going rate, minimum £30,960). Salary requirements can change — always check the current figures on gov.uk before applying. → SettlrUK always cites the live gov.uk source when answering salary questions.

For most routes including Skilled Worker, you need 5 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK. During that time you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period. You'll also need to pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English language requirement at the time of application. → SettlrUK can build you a personalised ILR timeline based on your entry date and absences.

Yes. After 5 continuous years on a Skilled Worker visa — or a combination of qualifying visas — you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). You must still meet the salary threshold at the time of application, pass the Life in the UK Test, and satisfy the English language requirement. A combination of qualifying routes (e.g. Tier 2 + Skilled Worker) counts toward the 5 years.

From April 2024, the minimum income requirement for a UK Family visa (spouse or partner route) is £29,000 per year. This threshold is being raised in stages by the Home Office — check gov.uk for the current figure before applying, as it may have increased since this page was last updated. The requirement applies to the UK-based sponsor's income. → SettlrUK always fetches the current figure from gov.uk before answering financial requirement questions.

Yes. In most cases you can switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK without leaving, provided you have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer with a valid sponsor licence. Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must be issued before your Student visa expires. Check your specific visa conditions, as some student visas carry restrictions.

You must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during your qualifying residence. Exceeding this limit can break your continuous residence and may reset your qualifying period entirely. The Home Office counts absences strictly — even a single day over the limit in any rolling 12-month window counts.

The Immigration Health Surcharge gives you access to NHS services during your stay. Most visa applicants pay £1,035 per year. Students and those on the Youth Mobility Scheme pay a reduced rate of £776 per year. The full surcharge for your entire visa length is paid upfront when you apply — so a 3-year Skilled Worker visa costs £3,105 in IHS alone.

UKVI aims to process most Skilled Worker applications within 3 weeks from outside the UK. Applications made from inside the UK typically take up to 8 weeks. Priority service (within 5 working days) and Super Priority service (next working day) are available for an additional fee if you need a faster decision. → Processing times can change. SettlrUK always links to the current UKVI processing times page.