What salary is my sponsor required to pay me?

Your sponsor must pay at least the salary stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), and that figure must meet both the Skilled Worker salary rules and the going rate for your job. The going rate is the standard pay for your occupation code. Your sponsor cannot pay you less than what it promised the Home Office.

Can underpayment put my visa at risk?

Yes. If your pay drops below the level on your CoS or below the required threshold, your sponsor is breaching its duties. The Home Office can take action against the sponsor, which can affect your visa. Underpayment can also cause problems for your future extension or your ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) application.

Do I have the same employment rights as everyone else?

Yes. As a Skilled Worker visa holder, you have full UK employment rights. You are entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage, your contractual pay, paid holiday, and protection from unlawful deductions. Your immigration status does not reduce these rights.

Where can I report being underpaid?

You can contact ACAS for free, confidential advice on pay and employment disputes. For serious labour exploitation, you can report the employer to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). You can also raise an unlawful deduction of wages claim at an employment tribunal.

Will I get in trouble for reporting my own sponsor?

Raising a genuine concern about unpaid wages is your legal right, and the law protects you from being punished for it. The risk to your visa comes from the underpayment itself, not from reporting it. Get advice before you act so you understand your options and protect your position.

Sponsor Paying You Below Your Visa Salary: What to Do

Your sponsor must actually pay the salary on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), and that pay must meet the going rate for your job. Underpayment can risk your visa and your future extension or ILR. You keep full UK employment rights. This guide shows how to raise the problem and where to report it.

What your sponsor promised to pay

When your employer sponsored you, it gave you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The CoS states your salary. Your sponsor told the Home Office it would pay you that amount. It must keep that promise.

Your pay also has to meet two tests. It must meet the Skilled Worker salary threshold and the going rate for your job. The going rate is the standard pay for your SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code. In 2026 the general Skilled Worker threshold is £38,700, though some roles have different rules. Always check the current figures on GOV.UK.

What underpayment looks like

Underpayment is not always obvious. Watch for these signs:

Your payslip shows less than the salary on your CoS.
Your hours were cut, so your yearly pay fell below the required level.
Deductions are taken that bring your real pay below the threshold.
You are paid in cash or paid late, with no clear records.
You are asked to repay part of your wages or your sponsor's fees.

How your pay is worked out matters. Read our guide on salary calculation for Skilled Workers to check whether your real pay still meets the rules.

Why underpayment is a problem for your visa

If your pay falls below your CoS salary or below the required threshold, your sponsor is breaking its duties to the Home Office. The Home Office can act against the sponsor. If the sponsor licence is suspended or revoked, your visa can be affected too.

There is a second risk that is easy to miss. When you apply for an extension or for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain), the Home Office looks at whether you were actually paid correctly. A history of underpayment can put that application at risk.

Your employment rights stay the same

Being on a visa does not lower your rights at work. You have the same employment rights as visa holders that any worker has. This includes:

At least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
The pay set out in your contract.
Paid annual leave.
Protection from unlawful deductions from your wages.
The right to be paid on time.

Gather your evidence first

Before you raise anything, collect clear records. Keep copies of:

Your Certificate of Sponsorship and the salary figure on it.
Your employment contract.
All your payslips.
Your bank statements showing what you were actually paid.
Any messages or emails about your pay or hours.

Good records make your case stronger and protect you if there is a dispute later.

How to raise it with your employer

Start by raising the issue calmly and in writing. A short, polite email creates a record. Set out the salary on your CoS, what you have actually been paid, and ask for the difference to be corrected.

Many problems are fixed at this stage. If your employer ignores you or refuses, you can use a formal grievance and then look at the options below.

Where to get help and report it

ACAS: free, confidential advice on pay and work disputes. See the ACAS website.
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA): for serious labour exploitation, you can report the employer to the GLAA.
Employment tribunal: you can bring an unlawful deduction of wages claim. There are strict time limits, so get advice quickly.
Pay and Work Rights: you can also report unpaid wages through GOV.UK.

If your job ends because you raised it

If your sponsorship ends, the Home Office normally curtails your visa to 60 days. You can then look for a new sponsor and switch sponsors, or switch to another route. Our guide on losing a sponsored job explains the 60-day window in full.

Next steps

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