You don't need to earn £41,700 straight out of university. The New Entrant salary threshold gives you 4 years to build your career in the UK.
After two or three years on the Graduate Route visa, the clock eventually ticks down. At some point you need a sponsor — a company willing to give you a Skilled Worker visa certificate. The question most Indian graduates face is: can I actually earn the salary required?
The answer, for most of you, is yes — and it's more achievable than you think. The UK has a specific New Entrant category that recognises you haven't had decades to build up your salary. This guide covers everything you need to know.
Both thresholds came into effect in April 2024 and represent a significant increase from previous years. The new entrant rate is 20% lower than the standard rate — a saving that can make the difference between qualifying and not qualifying, especially in the first year of your career.
You meet the New Entrant criteria if any one of the following applies to you:
The vast majority of Indian graduates reading this will qualify via the Student/Graduate visa route. As long as you are still on your Graduate Route visa when you apply for Skilled Worker, you are a New Entrant.
The New Entrant rate applies for a maximum of 4 cumulative years across all Skilled Worker visas. This is tracked by the Home Office — they add up all the time you've spent on Skilled Worker leave under New Entrant rules.
So if you get a 3-year Skilled Worker visa under New Entrant rules, you have 1 year of New Entrant eligibility remaining on your next visa. After the 4 years are exhausted, you must meet the full £41,700 threshold.
Below are the minimum salaries required under New Entrant rules for the most popular roles Indian graduates pursue. Note that the "going rate" for each occupation is set annually and these figures reflect 2026 rates.
| Job Role | SOC Code | Going Rate (New Entrant) | Typical UK Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | 2135 | £33,400 | £38,000–£50,000 |
| Data Scientist | 2425 | £33,400 | £35,000–£48,000 |
| Data Analyst | 2425 | £33,400 | £30,000–£42,000 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 2122 | £33,400 | £30,000–£40,000 |
| Civil Engineer | 2121 | £33,400 | £28,000–£38,000 |
| Financial Analyst | 3534 | £33,400 | £32,000–£45,000 |
| Management Consultant | 2424 | £36,400 | £38,000–£55,000 |
| Marketing Manager | 1132 | £33,400 | £28,000–£40,000 |
| Project Manager (IT) | 2424 | £33,400 | £35,000–£50,000 |
| Biomedical Scientist | 2211 | £33,400 | £28,000–£38,000 |
| Pharmacist | 2213 | £44,900 | £45,000–£55,000 |
| Nurse (Registered) | 2231 | £29,970 | £29,970–£36,483 |
| Architect | 2431 | £33,400 | £30,000–£42,000 |
| Quantity Surveyor | 2451 | £33,400 | £28,000–£40,000 |
| Accountant | 2421 | £33,400 | £28,000–£42,000 |
For the most current going rates, always check the Annex D of the Immigration Rules on gov.uk before applying — these are updated periodically.
This is the most critical step that many graduates overlook: not every company can give you a Skilled Worker visa. The company must hold a valid Sponsor Licence issued by the Home Office.
Go to gov.uk and search for "Register of Licensed Sponsors". Download the spreadsheet or use the online search tool. The register is updated every working day.
The spreadsheet has columns for company name, city, county, and sponsor type. Filter by your industry or city to find relevant companies. There are over 60,000 licensed sponsors in the UK.
Make sure the company is listed as a "Worker" sponsor (specifically "Skilled Worker"). Some companies only hold "Student" sponsor licences which won't help you.
Search the same company names on LinkedIn or Indeed. This tells you if they're actively hiring and what roles they post. Focus your applications on these confirmed sponsors.
At the offer stage, confirm they will provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Companies on the register CAN sponsor — it doesn't guarantee they WILL for your specific role. Ask directly.
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) — previously called the Shortage Occupation List — is a list of occupations where the UK has a recognised shortage of workers. If your occupation is on the ISL, you receive a 20% discount on the standard going rate.
As of 2026, the ISL includes roles such as nurses, social workers, and some specialist engineering positions. It no longer includes software developers as it once did. Check the current ISL on gov.uk before applying — it is reviewed by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and can change.
Immediately after your UK degree. No sponsor needed. You can work in any job at any salary, switch employers freely, and explore your options. Use this time to build your CV and find a sponsor.
When you find a sponsor willing to hire you, apply for Skilled Worker from within the UK. You do not need to leave. Apply before your Graduate Route visa expires. At this point the 4-year New Entrant clock starts.
Build your career. You can change employers (your new employer must also be a licensed sponsor and apply for a new CoS for you). Each year in the UK counts toward the 5-year ILR residency requirement.
After 5 years of continuous residence in the UK (Graduate Route + Skilled Worker time combined counts), you can apply for ILR. This gives you permanent residence rights with no visa renewals needed.
After 1 year on ILR (or 3 years if married to a British citizen), you can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen. Total timeline from arriving in the UK for your degree: approximately 8-10 years.
For the Skilled Worker visa, you must demonstrate English at B2 level on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). However, there are several exemptions that apply to most Indian graduates:
In practice, if you've completed a UK masters degree, you will almost certainly be exempt from taking an additional English test for your Skilled Worker application.
One of the significant benefits of the Skilled Worker visa over the Graduate Route is that your dependants (spouse and children under 18) can join you in the UK. They can live, work, and study in the UK without restrictions.
To bring dependants, your salary must be sufficient. In addition to the Skilled Worker threshold, you need to show you can financially support dependants — typically demonstrated through bank statements or your employment contract showing your salary.
| Fee Item | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee (3 years or less) | £827 |
| Visa application fee (over 3 years) | £1,636 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (per year) | £1,035/year |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (paid by employer) | £239 or £1,239 |
| Priority service (same-day or 5-day) | £500–£1,000 |
Most large employers will pay some or all of the employer-side costs (CoS fee, sometimes the visa fee too). This is negotiable — ask your employer during the offer stage. Some companies have policies to cover visa costs for sponsored hires.
Our advisors help Indian graduates understand exactly which visa route is right for them — Graduate Route, Skilled Worker, or other pathways. Book a free 15-minute consultation.
Yes. You apply from within the UK via the gov.uk online application. You do not need to leave and re-enter. This is one of the advantages of the Graduate Route — it is designed as a bridge to long-term sponsored work.
The register is updated daily. If you've searched and can't find them, ask your HR team for the exact company name on their sponsor licence — it may differ from the trading name. If they still can't be found, raise this with the Home Office before proceeding with the visa application.
If your employer's sponsor licence is revoked, the Home Office will notify you. You'll have 60 days to find a new sponsored job and change employers, or make alternative arrangements. This is rare but important to know about — it's one reason to prefer larger, established companies as sponsors.