UK-Visa 2024: Das Mindestgehalt und die Einkommensanforderungen

Was verstehen wir unter der Mindestlohnanforderung? 

The minimum salary requirement is a mandatory requirement for migrant workers applying for and obtaining skilled worker visas in the UK. All prospective and current migrant workers, sponsored under the skilled worker route by a UK sponsor, must meet this requirement. The minimum salary for a specific job wird vary depending on whether the individual is a new or continuing skilled worker. 

Wie hoch ist das Mindestgehalt für angehende Fachkräfte?  

As of 4 April 2024, a new minimum salary for skilled workers has come into effect. The minimum salary is now set at the higher of £38,700 or the going rate for the individual’s specific job. Every job that can be sponsored will fit into an eligible UK Government Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code and each SOC Code has its own going rate and minimum salary. Most of these minimum salaries are based on a 37.5-hour working week. The going rates for most eligible SOC Codes can be found hier. Wenn beispielsweise einer Person im Vereinigten Königreich eine Stelle als Software-Ingenieur angeboten wird, fällt ihre Arbeit wahrscheinlich unter den SOC-Code 2134 Programmierer und Fachleute für Software-Entwicklung mit einem Mindestgehalt von 49.400 £ bei einer 37,5-Stunden-Woche. 

Es ist wichtig zu beachten, dass für viele Stellen im Gesundheits- und Bildungswesen andere Regeln gelten und diese separat aufgeführt sind. In diesen Sektoren muss das Gehalt beispielsweise £23.200 oder den für den entsprechenden SOC-Code geltenden Satz übersteigen. 

Weiterbeschäftigte Fachkräfte, die eine Verlängerung für dieselbe oder eine neue Stelle beantragen 

If an individual is already in the UK on a skilled worker visa, their salary does not need to increase provided it met the minimum salary requirement before 4 April 2024. This also applies for migrants who have completed 5 years of continuous residence in the UK as skilled workers (including those who previously held Tier 2 General visas) and are applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain. 

If an individual is making a change of employment application to work for a different employer or for the same employer but within a different SOC Code, he or she may not need to meet the new salary requirement. This would be the case if both of the following apply:  

1. He or she obtained their certificate of sponsorship for their Tier 2 or Skilled Worker visa before 4 April 2024, and; 

2. er oder sie ist seither ununterbrochen im Besitz eines Facharbeitervisums. 

Wann können Arbeitgeber qualifizierten Arbeitnehmern weniger zahlen? 

Employers can pay new entrants to the labour market less than the minimum salary. New entrants are those under 26 years old, students on a student visa, graduates on a graduate visa, individuals in professional training, those with a specific PhD relevant to their job, or postdoctoral researchers in science or higher education. For instance, a trainee accountant studying for an ACCA qualification could be classified as a new entrant. 

A new entrant can be paid between 70% and 90% of the going rate for their SOC Code, provided the amount is not less than £30,960. For example, a Software Engineer under SOC Code 2134 could be paid a minimum new entrant salary of £34,580 per annum for a 37.5-hour working week. If the individual works more than 37.5 hours per week, their salary needs to be higher. 

Familienvisa und das erforderliche Mindesteinkommen 

If you are applying for certain family visas, such as those for joining a British or settled spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner in the UK, there is a strict minimum income requirement. On 11 April 2024 this minimum income requirement was increased to £29,000 by the UK Government as part of a 5-point plan to reduce net migration. This change was implemented to gradually bring the minimum income requirement for family visas in line with the minimum salary requirement for skilled worker visas. This requirement means that if an individual is applying to join his/her partner in the UK he/she must demonstrate that the partner i.e. the sponsor has a gross income of £29,000 per annum from salaried employment. This requirement also applies when switching to a partner visa from a different visa type within the UK, although in this case, both the applicant’s and sponsor’s incomes can be combined to meet the requirement. 

The situation changes slightly when using employment from other sources such as savings, self-employment and income from Eigenschaft. The amount of savings a couple must have is directly linked to the minimum income requirement therefore this has also increased significantly – if a couple is relying on savings alone, they must have combined savings of £88,500. It is possible to amalgamate both salaried income and savings to meet the minimum income requirement. Those already on partner visas or applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK as a partner will be unaffected by this change. Some family visas such as those used for parents applying to stay in the UK on basis of their British or settled child have a different financial requirement which is called the adequate maintenance requirement. This is generally less onerous. It is important to seek legal advice at the time of applying to benefit from an expert opinion and maximise the chances of success in an application. 

Für die nahe Zukunft erwartete Änderungen 

Vor den Parlamentswahlen im Juli 2024 kündigte die britische Regierung Pläne an, das Mindesteinkommen Ende 2024 auf 34.500 £ und Anfang 2025 auf 38.700 £ anzuheben. Nach dem jüngsten Wechsel zur Labour-Regierung ist es jedoch ungewiss, ob diese Änderungen umgesetzt werden. Antragsteller sollten die Situation beobachten und in Erwägung ziehen, ihre Anträge frühzeitig einzureichen, wenn sie von möglichen künftigen Änderungen betroffen sein könnten und bereit sind, jetzt einen Antrag zu stellen. 

Wie können wir helfen? 

Anwälte für Facharbeiter-Visa: Kontakt 

At Ronald Fletcher Baker, our dedicated team von Einwanderungs-Anwälte is ready to answer your questions and guide you through the application process for skilled worker visas and family visas. We routinely advise large corporate clients, high-net-worth individuals, and vulnerable clients with limited incomes on a range of technical Einwanderung issues and applications, helping them achieve their goals. For assistance, please contact our immigration team at immigration@rfblegal.co.uk.