2026 Skilled Worker Changes: What Sponsors Need to Know

The Home Office has introduced several important amendments affecting Skilled Worker Visas and related routes between 2026 and 2027.

If you are a sponsor, compliance with the new rules is essential to your business and avoiding penalties. What are the changes and what should sponsors do to ensure compliance?

Update to Visa Requirement Countries

From 5 March 2026, nationals of Nicaragua and St Lucia have been added to the Home Office’s list of visa required countries. This means that ETAs from St Lucian or Nicaraguan nationals will not longer be accepted.

Afghan nationals and Skilled Worker eligibility

From 26 March 2026, Afghan nationals are no longer eligible to apply for entry clearance as a Skilled Worker visa following a ‘visa brake.’ If you have offered a role to an Afghan national who has not submitted their skilled worker application before 26 March 2026, their application will be refused.

Secondment Worker changes

Prior to 8 April 2026, secondment workers were required to work for 12 months with their overseas employer before being eligible for secondment in the UK. From 8 April 2026, this requirement has been reduced to 6 months. This change is designed to make the route more accessible and to help businesses move talent more quickly between international group entities.

Increased English language requirements

From 26 March 2027, the English language requirement for settlement (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain) will increase from B1 to B2 for most immigration categories, including:

• Skilled Worker
• Representative of an Overseas Business
• UK Ancestry
• Global Talent
• Scale-up Worker
• International Sportsperson

There is no change for innovator founder applicants as a level B2 is commonly required from their application.

This change means that applicants who do not have a UK degree or who do not hold a passport of a majority English language country will have to undergo a more onerous and demanding English language assessment in order to apply for settlement.

Sponsors and individuals should be aware of this requirement when applying for settlement on or after 26 March 2027.

Salary

From 8 April 2026, sponsors must ensure the following in relation to skilled workers salary:

• Salary paid in each pay period equals or exceeds the going rate for the hours worked in that period
• Where the worker is paid monthly or less frequently, the salary over any three-month period is at least one quarter of the required annual salary
• Where the worker is paid more frequently, their pay over twelve weeks must add up to at least the minimum amount they would earn in twelve weeks of the annual salary requirement
• Where working hours fluctuate, salary may be assessed over a 17-week period provided the sponsor confirms the working pattern.

The change reinforces the importance of reviewing your payroll. Sponsors are advised to use our Offer of Appointment Letter with reference to salary to avoid underpayment issues and to ensure compliance with the new rules.

Guidance for sponsors

Sponsors should do the following in order to ensure compliance with the new and upcoming rules-

• Review your Offer of Appointment Letter to reflect salary changes
• Update your onboarding and recruitment processes
• Review any planned Skilled Worker applications for Afghan nationals before 26 March 2026
• Prepare for the higher English language requirement for settlement applications from March 2027.

Failure to comply with the new changes and employing an illegal worker can result in fines up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach, and up to £60,000 per illegal worker if the breach is repeated.

Get in Touch

This article has been produced for general information purposes and further advice should be sought from a professional advisor. Trainee Solicitor Laura Gooding and Associate Director Nathan Campbell from Our Business Immigration team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin can provide you with the specialist advice you need.

This article was written by Trainee Solicitor Savannah Stoops and our Business Immigration team. 

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