Market Intelligence
What an immigration lawyer knows that you don't
Ten sections, with every fact sourced. These are the numbers nobody told you. They cover what your employer really pays, why licences get revoked, and what the salary threshold really means.
121,199
licensed sponsors on the latest register
12,780
left the register since 2023
3,100+
licences revoked in 2025, the highest ever
£41,700
salary threshold since July 2025
01
Your visa clock
How much time you really have, and one date that changes everything.
Months available on Graduate Route
Sources are the Home Office Statement of Changes, UKCISA and the House of Commons Library.
Most students do not know this
Applying before 31 December 2026 locks in your 2-year Graduate Route, even if you graduate in 2027.
From UKCISA, October 2025 ↗PhD graduates are unaffected by the shortening. They keep their 3-year allowance regardless of when they apply.
House of Commons Library ↗Most students do not know this
Only 4% of 2023 international students had transitioned to a Skilled Worker visa by end of 2024. The Graduate Route is a temporary right to work, not a path to settlement.
From academicjobs.com / HESA Graduate Outcomes ↗02
What sponsoring you actually costs your employer
This is why many small companies say no even when they want to hire you. Show your employer that you already understand.
03
The three salary tests (most students only know one)
Your salary must clear all three tests at the same time. The Home Office takes the highest one as the amount you actually need.
Most students do not know this
A job paying £42,000 can still fail the visa threshold if the going rate for that job is £46,000. The going rate wins over the general minimum when it is higher. Most students only check the £41,700 figure.
From ukvisainfo.co.uk ↗New entrant rate checker
If you qualify, your threshold drops to £33,400, which is £8,300 a year less than the general minimum.
£41,700
your effective threshold
The standard rate applies, which is £41,700 or your job's going rate, whichever is higher.
04
Licence revocations are a risk no one talks about
The number of employers losing their licence is rising sharply. If it happens after you start, it affects you directly.
3,100
Sponsor licences were revoked in 2025, the highest since records began in 2012.
In Q4 2025 alone, more than 1,500 licences were pulled.
relocly.co.uk ↗8×
The increase in revocations since 2022.
The number rose from 247 in 2022 to 23 to 1,948 in 2024 to 25, which is about eight times the rate of three years ago.
assessnow.co.uk ↗60 days
If your employer's licence is revoked after you start, you have 60 days to find a new sponsor.
There is no right to appeal, your visa is cut short straight away, and you lose your right to work for that employer.
centuroglobal.com ↗Most students do not know this
The sectors with the highest revocation rates are adult social care, hospitality, retail and construction. Common problems include underpaying staff, helping people get around immigration rules, and not providing the work that was promised.
From Fragomen / Home Office transparency data ↗Most students do not know this
The Home Office now uses HMRC and Companies House data to identify compliance problems without visiting the company. Problems can be flagged silently before the employer is even aware.
From relocly.co.uk ↗This is why licence tenure data matters
In Threshold, the Established label means the company has been on the register for 5 years or more without a break. That is not a guarantee, but it is a good sign that the employer has been following the rules over time.
05
Where the sponsored jobs actually are
Each sector by how many sponsors it has, what it usually pays, and how risky it is for revocations.
Most students do not know this
Junior tech roles fell by about 46% and are expected to fall a further 53% in some areas. Entry-level roles in technology and office-based fields are being hit especially hard.
From ukvisajobs.com ↗Most students do not know this
AI and machine learning roles pay some of the highest salaries and clear the visa threshold most easily. Pay is often £60,000 to £100,000 or more. The government has named AI as a priority area for attracting international talent.
From tarve.co.uk ↗Competition reality
Graduate employers received 23% more applications in the first half of the 2025 to 2026 year. Graduate recruitment is at its lowest level since 2012.
The median graduate starting salary at the UK's leading employers stays at £35,000 in 2026, which is below the visa threshold for most applicants. In most cases the real challenge is finding employers willing to sponsor visas, not meeting salary thresholds.
High Fliers Research, The Graduate Market in 2026 ↗06
The SOC code is the number that decides your threshold
Most students have never heard of it, and wrong codes are now a leading cause of visa refusals.
Your job title is not your SOC code.
The SOC code is given based on what the job really involves, not the title at the top of the advert. A Data Analyst and a Business Intelligence Analyst might have different codes with different going rates.
Your SOC code sets your minimum salary.
If the going rate for your SOC code is higher than £41,700, the going rate wins. Software Developers (SOC 2134) have a going rate of about £46,000, so the threshold for that role is £46,000 and not £41,700.
The wrong SOC code can get your visa refused.
Wrong codes are now a leading cause of refusals and of action against licences. Employers must match the code to what the job really involves and not to the job title, and they must make sure the salary meets the going rate for that code.
Most students do not know this
Ask your employer which SOC code they plan to assign before you accept an offer. If the salary meets £41,700 but not the going rate for that code, your application will be refused.
From GOV.UK Appendix Skilled Occupations ↗Common roles, going rate compared with the threshold
| Role | SOC | Going rate | Effective min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Analyst | 2433 | £34,000 | £41,700general min |
| Software Developer | 2134 | £46,000 | £46,000going rate |
| Marketing Manager | 1132 | £44,000 | £44,000going rate |
| Financial Analyst | 2422 | £45,000 | £45,000going rate |
| Civil Engineer | 2121 | £39,000 | £41,700general min |
| Product Manager | 2431 | £48,000 | £48,000going rate |
| UX Designer | 2159 | £38,000 | £41,700general min |
| Data Scientist | 2433 | £46,000 | £46,000going rate |
| HR Manager | 1135 | £43,000 | £43,000going rate |
| Accountant | 2421 | £40,000 | £41,700general min |
07
The English language trap
A change most students do not know about, with a result that affects them directly.
What changed from 8 January 2026
The English language requirement for new Skilled Worker, Scale-up, and High Potential Individual visa applicants increased from B1 (GCSE level) to B2 (A-level standard).
This change applies only to first-time applicants. Those already holding permission can extend without demonstrating the higher proficiency level.
B2 on the CEFR scale is the same as IELTS 5.5 to 6.0 overall, with no single band below 5.5. Check your current score before you assume you qualify.
Most students do not know this
If you qualified for your Student visa at B1 English and now want to switch to Skilled Worker, you need a new B2 test. Your original IELTS score will not be enough.
From immigrationbarrister.co.uk ↗Most students do not know this
IELTS Academic and IELTS UKVI are different tests. Only IELTS UKVI is accepted for visa applications. Many students book the wrong one and must re-sit.
08
What changed and when it affects you
Graduate Route shortens to 18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates. Apply before this date to keep 2 years.
Read more at freeths.co.uk ↗Graduate Route dependants update. Children born in UK to Graduate visa holders can now apply as dependants.
Read more at ukcisa.org.uk ↗Global Talent visa adds dedicated design industry pathway.
Read more at commonslibrary.parliament.uk ↗English language requirement raised from B1 to B2 for new Skilled Worker applicants.
Read more at immigrationbarrister.co.uk ↗The Immigration Skills Charge that sponsors pay rose by 32%. For the first 12 months of a visa it is now £1,320 for a large sponsor and £480 for a small one.
Read more at legislation.gov.uk ↗1,500+ sponsor licences revoked in a single quarter. The highest ever recorded.
Read more at assessnow.co.uk ↗The general salary threshold for new Skilled Worker visas rose to £41,700, up from £38,700. The lower new entrant rate is £33,400.
Read more at gov.uk ↗09
Settlement is the long game
What comes after the Skilled Worker visa, and the rules that just changed.
Standard route from graduation to ILR
Step 1
Graduate Route
2 years (18 months from Jan 2027)
Step 2
Skilled Worker visa
5 years required for settlement
Step 3
Indefinite Leave to Remain
Requires 5 years continuous UK residence
Minimum 7 years from graduation to ILR
2 Graduate Route + 5 Skilled Worker, with continuous UK residence throughout
Most students do not know this
The 10-year long residence route, which let people add up time across different visa types, has been abolished. You can no longer count years from different visas to reach settlement faster.
From immigrationbarrister.co.uk ↗Most students do not know this
From April 2026, the standard settlement route is 10 years for most sponsored workers, unless you earn above a high-earner threshold that qualifies you for faster settlement.
From immigrationbarrister.co.uk ↗PhD graduates have a stronger immigration case than ever
PhD graduates keep the 3-year Graduate Route and may qualify for the Global Talent visa pathway faster. If you are considering a PhD, the immigration case for it has strengthened significantly.
10
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Search a roleThese insights come from your search data combined with published Home Office and HESA statistics. This is not legal advice. Sources include the House of Commons Library, UKCISA, High Fliers Research 2026, HESA Graduate Outcomes, DLA Piper, the Home Office Statement of Changes and the GOV.UK Appendix Skilled Occupations.