Friends holding Skilled Worker (work permit) in the UK are counting down the two things they have asked the most recently: first, the salary threshold has increased again, and whether their salary is enough; second, how to count the cliché "5 consecutive years of residence", and whether going on a long-term business trip will undo all the work. Today I will use the current rules of 2026 to explain these two things thoroughly, with real numbers so that you can check them yourself first.
Work visa salary threshold 2026: £41,700 is the new starting line
Let’s talk about the conclusion first. The current general salary standard for Skilled Workers is at least £41,700 per year , or the "industry standard salary" (going rate) for the occupation, whichever is higher . In other words, even if you get £41,700, if the going rate for your position is higher, you have to go according to the higher one.
For those who are not in the medical or education industry and cannot meet the general standards, there is also a "discount channel": when certain conditions are met, the salary can be 70%-90% of the industry standard, but the annual salary must not be less than £33,400. There are mainly several types of people who can take this path - those under 26 years old, fresh graduates or current students, receiving professional training, or holding work-related STEM doctoral degrees or postdoctoral positions.
⚠️ No matter how much you discount, there is an impenetrable floor: from 9 April 2025, the absolute minimum annual salary for a work visa (including Health & Care visa) is £25,000. Below this number, no discount will save you.
The easiest pitfall here is: the salary standard will increase with the policy, and when you renew or transfer to permanent residence, you will be reviewed based on the "current" threshold. Just because the salary was enough when I joined the company a few years ago doesn't mean it's still enough for renewal today. Before changing jobs, changing sponsors, or negotiating for a salary increase, be sure to check the latest going rate for your position.
Permanent residence for 5 consecutive years: when do you start counting?
Skilled Worker takes the 5-year ILR path. The starting point of "continuous residence" is not the day you first enter the UK, but the issuance date of your first qualified work permit . The two dates are often several months apart, so many people calculate the time too early.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait for the full 5 years – you can submit your application 28 days before of 5 years. For example: the first work permit was issued on July 1, 2021, then you can submit the ILR application as early as June 3, , 2026, .
How to calculate the 180 days of leaving the country for permanent residence under a work permit? Don’t get into trouble with rolling calculations
This is the part where Chinese applicants are most likely to fail. The rule is: cannot leave the country for more than 180 days in any consecutive 12-month period. Note that the keyword is "any 12 months", that is, rolling basis (rolling basis) , not clearing in stages from January to December of the natural year.
During the review, the visa officer will slide back and forth any 12-month window within your 5-year period. Returning to the country to visit relatives, business trips, and travel, all days out of the country for must be combined into , and work reasons are no exception. Many people think that "no more than 180 days per year is enough". As a result, the two long holidays span the end of the year and the beginning of the year, and the excess is superimposed in a certain rolling window, which in vain affects the application. With the 永居计算器 APP, you can accurately calculate every entry and exit to avoid crossing critical lines.
Earned Settlement Reform: Will 5 Years Become 10?
I believe many people were frightened by the news that "permanent residence will be extended to 10 years." Let the facts be clear: the government has indeed launched a public consultation on Earned Settlement (earned permanent residence) . The proposal includes extending the qualifying years for most people from 5 years to 10 years, and even to 15 years for some low-skilled positions; at the same time, high-income earners may shorten the years.
But as of today (July 1, 2026), not a single word of ’s new regulations has been implemented in . The consultation closed on February 12, 2026, with more than 200,000 responses received. The government’s official response has not yet been published, nor has the relevant Immigration Rules been submitted to Parliament. In other words - 's current 5-year work visa to permanent residence path is still valid for , and those who meet the conditions can still apply according to the old rules. The Home Secretary has said that major changes may be introduced later in 2026 (or autumn), subject to a formal announcement from GOV.UK.
💡 Realistic advice: If you are approaching 5 years, don’t wait and see, prepare the materials as soon as possible and submit them according to the current rules, and you will be safe; if it is still early, pay close attention to the pace of policy implementation, and take Life in the UK Test and B1 English first. No matter whether they are changed or not, you will not be able to escape.
This article is for reference only. Cases vary greatly. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific questions. If you are not sure whether your timeline is off the mark, you can add our lawyer on WeChat to check one-on-one.
💬 Chat in the comment area: In what year was your first work permit issued? How long is it until 5 years? If you can’t calculate the number of days you have left the country, please leave a message with the general situation and we will help you figure out where you may have crossed the line.
📌 If you find it useful, collect this article , and take it out to check the threshold before renewing or transferring to permanent residence, so that you can check it later. If you want to make precise calculations, you can use 永居计算器 by clicking on the menu bar at the bottom of this official account.
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