What is the New Entrant Discount?
The UK government offers a salary threshold discount for certain individuals applying for a Skilled Worker visa, known as "New Entrants". This allows qualifying applicants to be sponsored at a lower salary threshold than the standard rate.
Typically, this is highly beneficial for international students graduating from UK universities who are switching from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify as a new entrant, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- You are under the age of 26 on the date of your application.
- Your most recent visa was a Student or Graduate visa (and it expired less than 2 years ago).
- You are working towards a professional qualification or are in a regulated profession.
Salary Thresholds
Under the new entrant rules, the minimum salary threshold is discounted to 70% of the standard going rate for your Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, subject to an absolute minimum threshold (currently £30,960 or £33,400 depending on the specific route and when the CoS is issued).
This threshold reduction makes it significantly easier for junior developers, analysts, and graduates to find qualifying sponsored employment in the UK.