Extending your Skilled Worker visa as a New Entrant
- Amir Nikfekr
- May 4
- 6 min read
Under the Skilled Worker visa, applicants must be awarded 50 points to meet the eligibility requirements. This comprises 20 points for sponsorship, 20 points for a job at an appropriate skill level, and 10 points for English language skills at level B2. This post covers how the points system operations, what the eligibility is for 'New Entrants', and which circumstances a New Entrant can extend their permission.
Overview of Skilled Worker Points System
To satisfy the sponsorship element, an employer must normally offer a salary which meets the higher figure of either the general salary threshold of £41,700 or the 'going rate' of the occupation code for the role. This applies to the majority of applicants relying on Option A. Each occupation code has its own going rate. The general salary threshold was increased from £38,700 in July 2025.
Example: Alex is an IT specialist from Italy. He has found an employer in the UK who has a sponsor licence and is willing to offer him a position as an IT Project Manager. The 'going rate' for an IT Project Manager is currently £58,200. Although the general salary threshold is £41,700, his prospective employer must offer an annual salary of at least £58,200 to meet the salary requirements.
Example: Sarah is a probation officer from Nigeria. She has successfully applied for a role at a UK prison. The 'going rate' for probation officers is £35,700, which means her employer must offer an annual salary of at least £41,700 to meet the salary requirements.
Most applicants can rely on Options A - E to meet the salary requirements.
Option | Requirements | Points |
A | The applicant's salary equals or exceeds both: £41,700 per year and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
B | The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both: £37,500 per year and 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
C | The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both: £33,400 per year and 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
D | The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their job equals or exceeds both: £33,400 per year and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
E | The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both £33,400 per year and 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
Some applicants can rely on Options F - K if they are being sponsored for a Health and Care ASHE salary job. These options are also open to applicants who were first granted permission as a Skilled Worker before 4 April 2024 and who have had continuous permission as a Skilled Worker since thence.
F | The applicant's salary equals or exceeds both: £31,300 per year and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
G | The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both: £28,200 per year and 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
H | The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both: £25,000 per year and 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
I | The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both: £25,000 per year and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
J | The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both: £25,000 per year and 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code | 20 |
K | The applicant is being sponsored for a job in a listed health or education occupation and their salary equals or exceeds both: £25,000 per year and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code. | 20 |
What is a New Entrant?
Under Options E and J, new entrants can benefit a reduced salary threshold of either £33,400 or £25,000 and 70% of the going rate, but what exactly is a new entrant?
You may qualify as a new entrant if you meet just one of the following criteria:
You are under 26 on the date you make your application.
Your most recent permission, other than as a visitor, was under Tier 4 (General) or the Student route, and that permission is current or expired within the 2 years before the date of application.
Your most recent permission, other than as a visitor, was under the Graduate route, and that permission is current or expired within the 2 years before the date of application.
You are being sponsored for a post-doctoral position in one of the following SOC occupation codes:
2111 Chemical scientists
2112 Biological scientists
2113 Biochemists biomedical scientists
2114 Physical scientists
2115 Social-humanities scientists
2119 Natural-social science professionals not elsewhere classified
2162 Other researchers, unspecified discipline
2311 Higher education teaching professionals
You are working towards a recognised UK professional qualification in a UK-regulated profession.
You are working towards full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body for the job you are sponsored for.
Example: Veronica came to the UK as a student in 2024. After completing her studies, she switched to the Graduate route in 2025. She found a job opportunity with a licensed sponsor at the start of 2026 and applied to switch to the Skilled Worker route. Because Veronica's most recent permission is under the Graduate route, she may qualify as a new entrant under Option E provided the salary offered to her is at least £33,400 per year and 70% of the going rate for her SOC occupation code.
Example: Cecil has lived in the UK since the age of 19. He is now 23 years old and has recently completed his bachelor's degree. He wants to switch from the Student route to the Skilled Worker route having successfully applied for an eligible job. Provided the job meets the salary requirements, Cecil may qualify as a new entrant on the basis of being under 26 years old or because his current permission is as a student.
Is there a time-limit for New Entrants?
Yes. The maximum time an applicant can be a new entrant is 4 years. This includes time spent in the UK on any Tier 2/Student route, the Graduate route, or as a Skilled Worker.
Example: Nelson has been in the UK on the Graduate route since 1 January 2025. His sponsor offers him a position starting 1 June 2026 with an end date of 31 May 2028. Nelson can apply as a new entrant because his total permission as a Graduate (18 months) and Skilled Worker (2 years) would not exceed 4 years. If his work end date was 31 May 2029, Nelson would not be able to apply as a new entrant as his total permission as a Graduate (18 months) and Skilled Worker (3 years) would be more than the 4 year limit. Nelson must instead score points using a different option.
Can New Entrants extend their visa?
Yes, but only if they still qualify as a new entrant.
In many cases, an applicant who previously qualified as a new entrant will no longer be able to do so because some criteria will not apply to them.
A new entrant's most recent permission can no longer be under Tier 4 (General), Student, or Graduate. In other words, their most recent permission will be on the Skilled Worker route.
If they are over 26, they cannot rely on the age threshold.
Unless they are being sponsored for a post-doctoral role in an eligible SOC code, working towards a recognised UK professional qualification or full registration or chartered status with a relevant body, they will have no other criteria to meet in order to extend their new entrant status.
If an applicant cannot continue to qualify as a new entrant, they must score points using a different option.
If you are in the process of applying for an eligible job, have been assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship, or are unsure whether you meet the requirements as a New Entrant before applying for your Skilled Worker visa, contact us today for a consultation.
