United Kingdom — Home Office
UK Skilled Worker visa points calculator
Check whether you hit the 70-point threshold for a UK Skilled Worker visa. 50 mandatory points from a sponsor offer + skill level + English, plus a further 20 points from one tradeable combination (salary, PhD relevance, STEM PhD, new entrant, Immigration Salary List, or national pay-scale health / education role).
Meets the 70-point threshold
70 / 70
- Sponsor
- 20
- Skill level
- 20
- English
- 10
- Tradeable (Option A — salary £38,700 or more (and at least going rate))
- 20
Salary floor for chosen option: £38,700 — met ✓.
Meets occupation going rate: yes ✓.
About this calculator
The UK Skilled Worker visa is the headline sponsored-work route under the points-based immigration system. It replaced Tier 2 (General) in December 2020 and received major reforms in April 2024, including the £38,700 general salary floor and the replacement of the Shortage Occupation List with the Immigration Salary List. The calculator here scores a profile against the current GOV.UK rules but does not evaluate sponsor licence status, genuineness of vacancy, or other caseworker discretionary tests.
Primary source
GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa
https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Last checked: 2026-04-20.
FAQs
How many points do I need for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Exactly 70 points: 50 from mandatory requirements (sponsor, skill level, English) plus a further 20 from the tradeable characteristics table (most commonly met through salary).
What is the general salary threshold?
From 4 April 2024, the general salary threshold is £38,700 for Option A, with reduced floors for PhD relevance (£34,500), STEM PhD / new entrant / Immigration Salary List (£30,960), and specific national pay-scale health and education roles.
What is the "going rate" and why does it matter?
The Home Office publishes occupation-specific "going rates" aligned to SOC codes. For most tradeable options, your salary must meet BOTH the option floor AND the occupation’s going rate. Listed health and education roles have their own published pay scales instead.
Does this calculator determine my eligibility?
No. It scores the points table only. Eligibility also depends on sponsor licence status, a valid Certificate of Sponsorship, genuine-vacancy tests, criminal-record checks, TB testing (for certain countries), and financial maintenance. The authoritative review is a Home Office caseworker decision, not this tool.
What happened to the Shortage Occupation List?
The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) was replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL) in April 2024. The discount for shortage roles was reduced and the salary threshold for ISL roles is now £30,960. The calculator reflects the ISL framework.