Skilled worker visa salary threshold for ILR: do you need £25,600, £29,000, or £41,700?

If you've been on a skilled worker visa since 2021, you've watched the minimum salary threshold climb from £25,600 to £29,000 to £38,700 and now £41,700. Naturally, you're wondering: which number do I actually need to hit when I apply for ILR?

The answer depends on when your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) was issued and which transitional rules apply to you.

The short answer

For ILR (settlement), you must meet the salary threshold that applies at the time you apply for ILR. This is not the threshold that applied when you first got your visa. The Home Office checks your salary against the current rules on the date of your settlement application.

However, there are transitional provisions that may apply to you if you've been on the skilled worker route since before certain key dates.

The key dates and thresholds

Here's how the salary thresholds have changed:

Before April 2024: The general threshold was £25,600 (later raised to £26,200).

April 2024: The threshold jumped to £38,700 for new applicants. But if your CoS was issued before April 2024, you could still rely on a transitional rate of £29,000 for extensions.

July 2025: The threshold rose again to £41,700 for new applicants. The transitional rate for those with a CoS issued before April 2024 became £31,300.

What this means for ILR

Here's where it gets important: transitional salary discounts generally do not apply for settlement (ILR). When you apply for ILR, you typically need to meet the full going rate for your occupation or the general settlement threshold, whichever is higher.

For most people applying for ILR in 2026, this means you need to be earning at least £41,700 per year (or the going rate for your specific occupation code if that's higher).

This catches a lot of people off guard. You might have been extending your visa at £29,000 or £31,300 under transitional rules, but when you reach the 5-year mark and apply for ILR, the full rate kicks in.

What if your salary is below £41,700?

If your current salary is below the required threshold for ILR, you have a few options:

1. Ask your employer for a salary increase. This is the most straightforward path. Your employer knows you need sponsorship and settlement. Many are willing to adjust salaries to meet ILR requirements, especially if you've been with them for 5 years.

2. Check your occupation's going rate. The going rate for some occupations is actually lower than £41,700. If your job code has a lower going rate and you meet it, that may be sufficient. Check your SOC code against the current going rates tables on GOV.UK.

3. Check if your role is on the Immigration Salary List. Some ISL roles have lower thresholds, though this is being phased out by December 2026.

4. Consider timing. If the proposed "earned settlement" reforms are implemented, the rules may change again. However, waiting is risky because the proposed changes could also make settlement harder in other ways (such as extending the qualifying period).

The going rate matters too

Meeting the £41,700 general threshold is not enough on its own. You also need to meet the going rate for your specific occupation. The Home Office uses a "higher of" test: your salary must be at least £41,700 OR the going rate for your role, whichever is higher.

For some roles, the going rate is well above £41,700. For others, it's lower. Check the going rates tables for your SOC 2020 code on GOV.UK to see exactly what you need.

Important things to remember

• Only guaranteed base salary counts. Bonuses, overtime, and variable pay are generally not included.
• The Home Office checks your payslips against your claimed salary. Make sure they match consistently.
• You'll also need to pass the Life in the UK test and meet the English language requirement for ILR.
• The ILR application fee is £2,885 per person in 2026.
• You must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during your 5-year qualifying period.

Planning ahead

If your ILR is due in November 2026, start preparing now. Check your salary against the current thresholds, gather your documents, and make sure your travel history is clean.

If you need to pass the Life in the UK test as part of your ILR application, start practising early. Take our free mock test to see where you stand. It's 24 questions in the real exam format with instant results.