What is the ILR salary threshold in 2026?

The ILR salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa holders in 2026 is the same as the salary requirement at the time your visa was granted. If you were granted your visa before the threshold increased, you are generally assessed against the threshold that applied when you first got your visa.

Does overtime count towards the ILR salary threshold?

Regular guaranteed overtime may count, but ad-hoc overtime generally does not. The salary threshold is based on your guaranteed basic salary as stated in your employment contract and certificate of sponsorship.

What if my salary dropped during the qualifying period?

Your salary must meet the relevant threshold at the time of your ILR application. Brief periods of reduced pay (such as during maternity leave or illness) may be treated sympathetically, but you should be earning at or above the threshold when you apply.

Is the ILR salary threshold the same as the visa salary threshold?

They are closely related but not always identical. The ILR assessment looks at whether you meet the salary requirement for your occupation at the time of application. Transitional arrangements may apply if the threshold changed during your qualifying period.

ILR Salary Threshold 2026: What You Need to Earn

The ILR salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa holders is based on the general salary threshold and the going rate for your specific occupation, whichever is higher. Transitional arrangements may apply if you started your qualifying period before recent threshold increases. Your salary must meet the requirement at the time of your ILR application.

How the Salary Threshold Works

The ILR salary threshold on the Skilled Worker route has two components:

General salary threshold: A minimum salary that applies to all Skilled Worker visa holders, regardless of occupation.
Going rate: The minimum salary for your specific occupation code (SOC code), as published by the Home Office. This varies by job.

You must meet whichever is higher. Check the GOV.UK going rates table for the current rate for your occupation.

Transitional Arrangements

The salary threshold has increased in recent years. If you started your Skilled Worker qualifying period before the increase, transitional arrangements may apply. The Home Office has published guidance on which threshold applies based on when your visa was first granted.

In general:

If your visa was granted before the threshold increase, you may be assessed against the old threshold.
If you extended your visa or changed sponsors after the increase, the new threshold may apply.

For the full picture of how thresholds have changed, see our income threshold timeline guide.

What Counts as Salary

The Home Office looks at your guaranteed annual salary. This includes:

Base salary: Your contracted annual salary as shown on payslips and your certificate of sponsorship.
Guaranteed allowances: Regular allowances that are contractually guaranteed (such as London weighting) may count.

The following generally do not count:

Overtime (unless contractually guaranteed)
Bonuses (even if regularly paid)
Tips or commissions
Benefits in kind (company car, health insurance)
Employer pension contributions

Salary Reductions During the Qualifying Period

Your salary must meet the threshold at the time of your ILR application. Brief reductions during the qualifying period may be acceptable in certain circumstances:

Maternity/parental leave: See our maternity and parental leave guide for how statutory pay is treated.
Sick leave: Short periods of statutory sick pay may be treated sympathetically.
Pay cuts: If your employer reduced your salary (for example, during economic difficulties), this could cause problems. You should ideally be back at or above the threshold before applying.

Self-Employment and the Salary Threshold

The salary threshold applies specifically to employed Skilled Worker visa holders. If you are self-employed, different rules apply depending on your ILR route. On the Skilled Worker route, you must be employed by your sponsor; self-employment is not permitted.

If you are on the spouse route, the financial requirement is different. See our spouse visa ILR guide for the income threshold on that route.

If You Do Not Meet the Threshold

If your salary is below the required threshold, your options include:

Negotiate a pay rise: Talk to your employer about increasing your salary to meet the threshold before you apply.
Change jobs: Move to a higher-paying role. If you change sponsors, ensure there is no gap in your sponsorship.
Wait: If thresholds may change or your salary may increase over time.
Consider the long residence route: If you have been in the UK for 10 years, the long residence route does not have a salary threshold.

For current ILR costs, see our ILR cost breakdown.