UK visas 2026: Skilled Worker, Global Talent, settlement

Start with the purpose of stay

GOV.UK organises its immigration pages by purpose: visit, work, study, family and living permanently in the UK, among others. Work visas include the Skilled Worker visa and the Graduate visa. Find the page for your own purpose, and keep its name and the date you read it in your application file so you do not mix in conditions from another visa. This page covers three topics only: Skilled Worker pay and English rules, the Global Talent visa and the settlement reforms.

GOV.UK: Visas and immigration (topic index)

Skilled Worker: job, employer and pay

GOV.UK says you must meet all of its listed requirements. The job must be eligible, and the employer must be approved by the Home Office. You must have a job offer from an approved employer before you apply. The pay must reach the minimum salary rate for the type of work. For most applicants that is the higher of £41,700 a year and the going rate for the job. GOV.UK gives an example: a £42,000 salary does not meet the usual rule when the going rate for the job is £45,000. It also says different salary rules apply to some healthcare and education jobs, and that the minimum may be lower in some cases, such as extending the visa. Check the going rate for your own job on GOV.UK.

GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa — Your job

Skilled Worker: English language evidence

GOV.UK says you will usually need to prove your English when you apply. You can do this with a UK school qualification, a degree from a UK institution, a degree taught in English outside the UK, or an approved English test. The test must show at least level B2. If you had the visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it, GOV.UK says level B1 is needed. If you are switching from a different visa, it says level B2 is usually needed. Read the page before you choose a test. These are the rules on the Skilled Worker page only.

GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa — Knowledge of English

Global Talent visa

GOV.UK says the Global Talent visa is for leaders or potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology. You must be at least 18. If you have won an eligible prestigious prize, you can apply for the visa directly. If not, you must first get an endorsement. GOV.UK says you can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time. It says there is no limit on your total stay, but you must extend the visa when it expires.

GOV.UK: Apply for the Global Talent visa — Overview

Settlement: the rules are being reformed

GOV.UK describes indefinite leave to remain as the way to settle in the UK, with different ways to apply depending on your circumstances. A Home Office news story published on 5 March 2026 says the government consulted on Earned Settlement reforms that would double the standard qualifying period to 10 years for most migrants, with reductions for some groups. The same story says consultation responses were still being considered before further reforms were brought forward. It also says a higher English standard for settlement takes effect in March 2027. The story does not say that the 10-year period is already in force. Check the current GOV.UK settlement page before you rely on any settlement period.

GOV.UK: Check if you can get indefinite leave to remain Home Office: Higher standard of English now required to settle in the UK (news story)

What this page does not cover

It does not cover family, study or visit routes, the Innovator Founder and Scale-up routes, fees, the healthcare surcharge, how long decisions take, or citizenship. It does not tell you whether you meet any route's conditions. Use the GOV.UK page for the route you plan to use.