UK · REVIEWED OCTOBER 2026
Move to the UK from India
UK work visas are tighter than they were. We check your job, salary and English against this month’s rules and tell you honestly whether a route is open.
- An honest yes, no or not yet on your profile
- Advice checked against this month’s rules
- Fees agreed in writing before work starts
Visas issued to our applicants
Serbia · Work visa (type D) · issued 16 April 2026
Serbia · Work visa (type D) · issued 16 April 2026
Serbia · Work visa (type D) · issued 16 April 2026
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The UK has made work migration harder over the past two years. A sponsored job must now be at degree level, pay at least £41,700, and you need upper-intermediate English. The UK has no points-tested PR visa like Canada or Australia. You go on a work, study or family visa and qualify for settlement after years of residence. For graduates in well-paid roles and for health professionals, it is still a strong option. For most others it is now closed.
What changed
- 22 July 2025. The skill level for sponsored jobs rose from A-level standard to degree level, removing more than a hundred occupations. The salary threshold rose to £41,700.
- July 2025. Overseas recruitment of care workers ended.
- 8 January 2026. English for Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual applicants rose from B1 to B2.
- Settlement. The government consulted on “earned settlement”: a standard ten years instead of five, with five years retained for higher earners and some public service workers. Check the current position before you plan around settlement.
The main routes
| Route | Job offer needed | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Yes, from a licensed sponsor | Graduates in degree-level jobs paying £41,700 or more |
| Health and Care Worker | Yes, from the NHS or an approved provider | Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. Lower salary threshold and no health surcharge |
| Global Talent | No | Leaders and emerging leaders in science, technology, arts and academia |
| Scale-up | Yes, from a fast-growing company | Skilled workers who want freedom to change jobs after six months |
| High Potential Individual | No | Recent graduates of top-ranked global universities |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | No | Indian graduates aged 18 to 30, by ballot, for two years |
| Student, then Graduate visa | No | People who can fund a UK degree and want post-study work |
| Innovator Founder | No, but an endorsed business plan | Entrepreneurs with an innovative, scalable business |
| Family visas | No | Spouses, partners and children of British citizens and settled residents |
Which route fits you?
You are a doctor, nurse or allied health professional. The Health and Care Worker visa is the clearest route. You need UK registration first.
You are a graduate professional with an offer at £41,700 or more. Skilled Worker.
You are under 26, or switching from a UK student visa. You may qualify at the lower new-entrant threshold of £33,400.
You are a recognised expert, researcher or founder. Global Talent or Innovator Founder, with no employer needed.
You are 18 to 30 with a degree. Enter the Young Professionals ballot. It costs nothing to enter.
You work in a trade or a role below degree level. The UK is largely closed to you now, apart from a short temporary shortage list.
Questions people ask us most
Does the UK have a PR visa like Canada?
No. You enter on a work, study or family visa and apply for settlement, called indefinite leave to remain, after the qualifying period.
What salary do I need for a UK work visa?
At least £41,700, or the going rate for your occupation if that is higher. £33,400 for new entrants and shortage-list roles.
What English level is needed?
B2 for new Skilled Worker applicants. In IELTS for UKVI terms, that is roughly 5.5 in each component.
Can I bring my family?
Skilled Worker, Health and Care, Global Talent and Scale-up visa holders can bring a partner and children. Most students cannot, unless on a research-level course.
How long until I can settle?
Five years on most work routes at present, three for some Global Talent holders. A longer standard has been proposed.
Find out if the UK is open to you
Tell us your occupation, salary expectation and qualifications. We will tell you which UK route, if any, fits.
In this section
Explore this section
Average Salary in the UK
The median full-time employee in the UK earns around GBP 39,000 a year before tax, on the most recent official survey.
India Young Professionals Scheme
Indian graduates aged 18 to 30 can live and work in the UK for two years through the Young Professionals Scheme.
UK Scale-up Visa
The UK Scale-up visa: six months with a fast-growing sponsor, then freedom to work for anyone. Eligibility, salary, B2 English and the route to…