A ‘new entrant’ means a new entrant to the labour market, in other words, someone who is near the start of their career and meets certain criteria. It does not mean an applicant who is making their first Skilled Worker visa application or entering the UK for the first time. If you apply for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant, you can be paid 70% of your job’s standard going rate or £33,400 gross per year, whichever is higher.
You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant for a maximum of four years. Any time already spent in the UK on a Graduate route visa will be counted towards the 4-year limit when switching from a Graduate route visa to a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant from inside the UK.
Free Immigration Advice Online for Skilled Worker Visa UK
Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can provide a free, one-off 5-minute immigration advice session regarding your application to switch to a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant. Ask a question online to our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our skilled worker visa solicitors concerning your application for switching to a skilled worker visa as a new entrant.
Who can apply for a Skilled Worker visa as a New Entrant?
A person can apply for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant in one of the following circumstances:
Applicants under the age of 26
An applicant can meet the new entrant criteria for a skilled worker visa application if they are under 26 on the date of application.
Post-doctoral position
An applicant can meet the new entrant criteria for the skilled worker visa application if the applicant is sponsored for a post-doctoral position in one of the following occupations:
- 2111 Chemical scientists
- 2112 Biological scientists
- 2113 Biochemists and
- biomedical scientists
- 2114 Physical scientists
- 2115 Social and humanities scientists
- 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified
- 2162 Other researchers, unspecified discipline
- 2311 Higher education teaching professionals
Applicant working towards a recognised professional qualification in a UK-regulated profession
An applicant can meet the new entrant criteria for the skilled worker visa application if the applicant is working towards a recognised professional qualification in a UK-regulated profession. You can check the list of regulated professions online. The applicant's sponsor/employer must confirm which recognised professional qualification the applicant is working towards – this must be a qualification accepted by the regulatory body for the profession.
Applicant working towards full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body
An applicant can meet the new entrant criteria for the skilled worker visa application if the applicant is working towards full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body for the job they are sponsored for. The sponsor must confirm who the relevant professional body is and that the applicant is working towards full registration or chartered status. You can check the list of chartered bodies from the Privy Council.
Applicant switching from a student visa to a Skilled Worker visa
An applicant can meet new entrant criteria for the skilled worker visa application if the applicant’s most recent permission, other than as a visitor, was under Tier 4 (General) or the Student route. The permission must either be current or have expired less than 2 years before the date of application.
In that permission (or previous) permission, the applicant must have been sponsored to study one of the following courses (not any other qualifications of an equivalent level):
- a UK bachelor’s degree
- a UK master’s degree
- a UK PhD or other doctoral qualification
- a Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- a Professional Graduate Diploma of Education
The applicant must have completed (or be applying no more than 3 months before they are expected to complete) the course. An exception applies to PhDs and other doctoral qualifications (from the applicant or their sponsor) confirming that the applicant has completed (or the date they are expected to complete) their course, or they have completed at least 24 months’ study in the UK towards a PhD or other doctoral qualification.
Switching from the Graduate route to a Skilled Worker visa
An applicant can meet the new entrant criteria for the skilled worker visa application if the applicant’s most recent permission, other than as a visitor, was under the Graduate route. The permission must either be current or have expired less than 2 years before the date of application. You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant for a maximum period of four years. Any time already spent in the UK on a Graduate route visa will be counted towards the 4-year limit when switching from a Graduate route visa to a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant from inside the UK.
4-year time limit when applying for a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant
Applicants may be new entrants for up to 4 years. The 4 years include time spent in any Tier 2 route, the Graduate route or as a Skilled Worker, whether or not that permission was for a continuous period. An applicant cannot be considered a new entrant for only part of the time they are applying.
If the applicant is applying for more than 4 years, or if granting the application would result in more than 4 years’ permission in total (whether continuous or not) as a Tier 2 migrant and/or as a Skilled Worker, they cannot score tradeable points as a new entrant. They will need to score tradeable points in another way.
Salary Requirement for Switching to a Skilled Worker as a New Entrant
The applicant can score 20 tradeable points under Option E as per the requirements of SW12.1 to 12.3 of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules if 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 as set out in Table 1 or Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.
How Can We Help With a Skilled Worker Visa as a New Entrant?
Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation for your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant on a fixed fee basis. Our skilled worker visa solicitors can legally represent you in your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant and carry out all the work on your application until a decision by the Home Office UKVI on your skilled worker visa application. The immigration casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors about your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant will entail the following:
Advice on requirements: Our skilled worker visa solicitors will advise you on the requirements you must meet to successfully apply for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant.
Documentary advice: Our skilled worker visa solicitors will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant.
Assessing documents: Our skilled worker visa lawyers will assess your documents to ensure that all materials you provide in support of your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant comply with the requirements of the immigration rules.
Completing the application form: Our skilled worker visa lawyers will complete the relevant application form for your skilled worker visa application as a new entrant.
Priority or Super Priority Service: If required, our skilled worker visa lawyers will submit your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant online through the Priority/Super Priority service to expedite the decision.
Booking an appointment with the application centre: After submitting your online application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant, our skilled worker visa lawyers will book an appointment with the application centre for you to enrol in biometrics.
Detailed Cover Letter: Our specialist team of skilled worker visa solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application for a Skilled Worker Visa as a new entrant, explaining all the relevant legal requirements for your application to be approved by UKVI.
Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our skilled worker visa lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant.
Follow-up work: Our skilled worker visa lawyers will conduct all necessary follow-up work until the Home Office UKVI has decided on your application to switch to a skilled worker visa.
Other Related Services
- Sponsor Licence Applications
- Entry Clearance for a Skilled Worker Visa UK
- Switching From a Student Visa To a Skilled Worker Visa UK
- Extension of a Skilled Worker Visa UK
- Updating Skilled Worker Visa UK
- ILR as a Skilled Worker
- Skilled Worker Dependants
- Administrative Review of UK Visa Refusal
Specialist Skilled Worker Visa Solicitors in the UK
Our committed team of skilled worker visa solicitors possesses in-depth expertise in UK immigration law, with a specific focus on the Skilled Worker Visa pathway. We are well-versed in the nuances of securing this visa and stay up to date with the latest regulations and requirements, providing precise guidance to our clients. Our immigration solicitors specialise in Skilled Worker Visa applications, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of managing such cases effectively. We provide prompt, accessible, and reliable fixed-fee immigration advice and legal assistance customised to meet the requirements of your UK Skilled Worker Visa application.
Premium Solicitors are specialist solicitors for skilled worker visa applications. The high quality of the services provided by our best team of fully qualified and experienced skilled worker visa solicitors is evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating earned by 99% of our clients.
Arshad Mahmood
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Tushita Scalzullo
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Nargis Khodadady
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Asad Malik
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Alina Rizvi
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Victoria Gbenoba
Specialist UK Immigration SolicitorOur team of skilled worker visa solicitors and lawyers is proficient in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Marathi, Farsi, Italian, and German, enabling us to communicate effectively with you regarding your immigration matters.
Schedule Your Consultation With Our Skilled Worker Visa Solicitors
Are you seeking expert immigration advice and consultation from our highly experienced and qualified team of skilled worker visa solicitors and lawyers in London? It's easy to secure an appointment with our dedicated xxx specialists. Our expert team of skilled worker visa solicitors and advisors can provide detailed immigration advice and consultation, face-to-face in our offices in London and Birmingham or virtually via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or Phone. Book your appointment today using the appointment booking link provided below:
Our immigration lawyers are ready to assist you with your UK visa and immigration matter. Book your appointment today for personalised guidance and support.
How Much Does a Skilled Worker Visa for the UK Cost?
The costs involved in the application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant are as detailed below:
Our Fixed Fees
Our fixed fee for your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant ranges from £800 + VAT to £1,200 + VAT. Our fixed fee will cover all our work on your application for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant, including advising on documents, checking your documents, completing the application form and submitting the application online, booking an appointment for biometrics enrolment, preparing a cover letter in support of the application, uploading all supporting documents to be considered in support of the application, and carrying out all other follow up work until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application.
Our agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of your case and the volume of work involved in your application. You will make an initial payment of half our fee when we start working on your matter, and the remaining half is due once we have fully prepared the application and it is ready for submission.
Home Office UKVI Fees
If you are applying to switch to a skilled worker visa from within the UK, the Home Office UKVI fees for the application depend on the duration of your intended stay:
- For stays up to 3 years, the fee is £885 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
- For stays exceeding 3 years, the fee is £1,751 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
Individuals whose occupations are listed on the shortage occupation list are eligible for reduced application fees for themselves and their families:
- The fee for each person applying is £590 for stays up to 3 years, and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year
- For stays exceeding 3 years, the fee is £1,160 per person and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the rate of £1035 per year.
FAQs - Skilled Worker Visa as a New Entrant
The following are the various Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about an application for a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant:
A new entrant is someone who qualifies for a reduced salary threshold under the UK Skilled Worker visa route. New entrants typically include recent graduates, people under 26, or those switching from specific UK visa categories such as a Student or Graduate visa.
Yes. You can switch to a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant from within the UK if you currently hold an eligible visa, such as a Student visa, Graduate visa, or certain other permitted routes, and you meet all Skilled Worker requirements.
As a new entrant, you can be paid a lower salary than the standard Skilled Worker threshold, provided:
- Your salary meets at least 70% of the going rate for the occupation code, and
- It meets the minimum new entrant salary threshold set by UKVI (subject to Home Office updates).
Salary rules are complex and role-specific, so professional advice from an expert team of skilled worker visa solicitors at Premium Solicitors is strongly recommended.
You may qualify for a skilled worker as a new entrant if you:
- Are under 26 years old at the date of application, or
- Are switching from a Student visa after completing a UK degree, or
- Are switching from a Graduate visa, or
- Are working towards professional qualifications or chartered status, or
- Have held a Skilled Worker visa for less than 4 years in total.
Yes. Many international students switch to a Skilled Worker visa as new entrants after completing their degree in the UK. You must usually have completed your course (or studied for the required minimum period) and have a valid job offer from a licensed sponsor.
Yes. Your job must be:
- At the required skill level for the Skilled Worker route, and
- Assigned the correct Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, and
- Offered by a Home Office-approved sponsor.
You can hold a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant for a maximum of 4 years in total. After this period, you must meet the full (experienced worker) salary threshold to extend your visa or continue on the Skilled Worker route.
Yes. Time spent in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa as a new entrant counts towards the 5-year continuous residence requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a skilled worker, provided all other ILR requirements are met.
Your employer can pay you less than the standard Skilled Worker salary threshold, but only within the limits allowed for new entrants. The salary must still:
- Meet the new entrant minimum, and
- Meet the required percentage of the going rate for the role.
No. The new entrant salary concession applies only to the main applicant. Your dependants must still meet the standard financial and eligibility requirements set by UKVI.
Documents required to apply for a skilled worker visa as a new entrant may vary depending on the applicant's personal circumstances. Typical documents may include:
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- Proof of current UK immigration status
- Evidence of salary and job role
- English language evidence (if required)
Yes. Premium Solicitors regularly assist clients with:
- Assessing new entrant eligibility
- Advising on salary and occupation code compliance
- Checking sponsor licence details
- Preparing and submitting Skilled Worker visa applications
- Advising on future extensions and ILR planning
We offer fixed-fee services, remote consultations, and expert UK immigration advice.
If you no longer qualify as a new entrant (for example, after 4 years), you must meet the experienced worker salary threshold to extend or continue on the Skilled Worker route. Early planning is crucial to avoid refusal.