New Entrant Rate
The New Entrant rate lets early-career workers qualify for a Skilled Worker visa at a lower salary. Instead of meeting the full going rate, you can be paid 70% to 90% of it (depending on your situation), as long as you earn at least £33,400 a year — or £37,500 if you have a non-STEM PhD.
In this article
- What is the New Entrant rate?
- Who qualifies?
- New Entrant vs standard going rate
- How long does it apply?
- What happens when you stop qualifying?
- How sponsors handle it
- Common mistakes
- FAQ
- Related terms
What is the New Entrant rate?
Most Skilled Worker visa applicants must be paid at least the going rate for their job. The going rate is set per SOC code based on median wages from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). For many roles, it's well above £41,700 a year.
The New Entrant rate is an exception. If you qualify, your sponsor can pay you 70% to 90% of the going rate (the exact percentage depends on which criterion you meet), with a floor of £33,400 a year — or £37,500 if you hold a non-STEM PhD. This matters most for graduate-level roles where the going rate would otherwise price out early-career hires.
Your sponsor must select the New Entrant rate on the Certificate of Sponsorship. If they don't, the full going rate applies by default.
Who qualifies for the New Entrant rate?
New Entrant Rate Checker
Tick any criteria that apply to you. One is enough to qualify for the reduced rate.
✓ You qualify for the New Entrant Rate: your salary only needs to reach 70% of the going rate (minimum £33,400/year).
Find your occupation
Search by job title or SOC code to calculate your exact New Entrant threshold.
70% of the going rate falls below the £33,400 floor, so the minimum applies.
The New Entrant Rate applies for a maximum of 4 years total across all Skilled Worker visas. Confirm your going rate and eligibility with your sponsor before applying.
You need to meet at least one of these when you apply:
Under 26, studying, recent graduate, or in professional training — 70% of going rate, minimum £33,400. This covers you if you're under 26 on the application date, currently on a Student visa (bachelor's or above) or Graduate visa, pursuing qualifications for a UK-regulated profession, or working toward chartered/full registration status.
Relevant STEM PhD — 80% of going rate, minimum £33,400. Your PhD in science, technology, engineering, or maths must be relevant to the job. It needs to be a UK PhD or an overseas equivalent verified through Ecctis.
Relevant non-STEM PhD — 90% of going rate, minimum £37,500. Same as above, but for PhDs in other subjects. Note the higher salary floor.
Postdoctoral position in science or higher education — 70% of going rate. Applies to specific occupation codes: 2111, 2112, 2113, 2114, 2115, 2119, 2162, 2311.
One criterion is enough. Your sponsor confirms which one on the CoS.
New Entrant vs standard going rate
Here's how the 70% rate (under 26/graduate/postdoc) looks in practice across a few SOC codes. Figures are 7/2025 going rates.
| Role example | Standard going rate | New Entrant rate (70%) | Minimum applies? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software developer (SOC 2134) | £49,400/year | £34,580/year | No (above £33,400) |
| Marketing manager (SOC 2432) | £52,000/year | £36,400/year | No (above £33,400) |
| Civil engineer (SOC 2121) | £44,200/year | £30,940/year | Yes — must pay £33,400 |
| Registered nurse (SOC 2231) | £38,700/year | £27,090/year | Yes — must pay £33,400 |
If 70% of the going rate lands below £33,400, you pay £33,400. Civil engineer and nurse both hit that floor. For STEM PhD holders the discount is 80%, and for non-STEM PhD holders it's 90% (with a £37,500 floor instead). Check the current going rates in Appendix Skilled Occupations before sponsoring.
How long does the New Entrant rate apply?
You can use the New Entrant rate for a maximum of four years from the start of your first Skilled Worker visa (or earlier sponsored leave where the rate was used).
After four years, you must be paid the full going rate — even if you still tick one of the qualifying boxes. If your employer can't meet the full going rate at that point, the sponsorship won't work.
The clock starts from the beginning of your qualifying leave, not from each visa grant. So a three-year visa followed by a two-year renewal means you only have one year of New Entrant rate left on the second grant.
What happens when you stop qualifying?
Your employer must raise your salary to the full going rate before your next visa application. Nothing changes mid-grant — but at renewal, the Home Office checks the going rate in full. If your salary falls short and you no longer qualify for the discount, your application gets refused.
Worth checking your salary against the going rate 6 to 12 months before your visa expires. Leaving it to the last minute is how people end up scrambling.
How sponsors handle the New Entrant rate
When assigning a CoS in the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), sponsors tick the New Entrant rate option and confirm:
- Which qualifying criterion the worker meets
- The salary meets the correct discounted rate (70%, 80%, or 90% depending on the criterion)
- The salary is at least £33,400 a year (£37,500 for non-STEM PhD holders)
- The worker hasn't already used up four years at the discounted rate
Keep evidence on file — degree certificates, Student visa history, whatever backs up the criterion you selected. The Home Office may ask during a sponsor compliance visit.
Common mistakes
"My employee graduated, so they qualify" — not necessarily. The degree must have been awarded within the last two years. A degree from three years ago doesn't count on its own.
The four-year cap catches people off guard too. If someone already spent two years on a New Entrant rate visa with a previous employer, they only have two years left. Check the history.
Another common mix-up: treating £33,400 as the salary. It's the floor. If the discounted going rate for the SOC code is higher, you pay the higher amount. Same logic applies to the £37,500 floor for non-STEM PhDs.
On the sponsor side, keep your evidence. If the Home Office audits the CoS and you can't produce a degree certificate or visa switching history, that's a compliance problem.
And don't auto-renew at the New Entrant rate without rechecking. The worker must still meet a qualifying criterion at the time of the new application, and the four-year window must not have run out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Entrant salary threshold in 2026?
Between 70% and 90% of the going rate for your SOC code, depending on how you qualify. The salary floor is £33,400 a year, or £37,500 if you hold a non-STEM PhD. You pay whichever is higher: the discounted rate or the floor.
Who qualifies?
Under 26, studying, recently graduated, or in professional training — 70% of the going rate. Relevant STEM PhD — 80%. Relevant non-STEM PhD — 90%. Postdoctoral researchers in science or higher education — 70%.
How long does it last?
Up to four years total. After that, your employer must pay the full going rate.
Can my employer keep using it when I renew?
Only if you still meet a qualifying criterion and haven't used up four years at the discounted rate. Once four years are up, the full going rate applies.
Does it apply to all Skilled Worker roles?
Most, but not all. Some occupations (certain healthcare roles, for example) have their own salary rules. Check the going rate for your SOC code.
Related terms
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