Skip to main content

UK Skilled Worker Visa 2026 for Nepal graduates: minimum salary £38,700/year (≈ NPR 75.5 lakhs). 70-point system — 20pts (job offer from approved sponsor) + 20pts (eligible skill level RQF3+) + 20pts (English B1/IELTS 4.0) + 20pts (salary threshold) = 80 mandatory points (exceeds 70 required). Shortage Occupation roles (nursing, some IT): +10pts and salary discount to £30,960. Standard pathway from Nepal: Student Visa → Graduate Route — 18 months for applications filed on or after 1 January 2027, and 2 years for those filed on or before 31 December 2026, any job) → Skilled Worker Visa → ILR after 5 years qualifying residence. Top sectors: NHS healthcare, IT, engineering, education, accounting. HOA guidance 100% free. WhatsApp: +977-9802373936.

Skip to main content
The Nepal → UK → ILR Pathway — HOA Guides Every Step

UK Skilled Worker Visa from Nepal — £38,700, 70 Points & ILR Guide

After your UK degree and Graduate Route Visa, the Skilled Worker Visa is your route to long-term UK residence. Complete guide to the salary threshold, point system, top sectors, and ILR pathway for Nepali graduates.

70-Point System Free Visa Guidance
£38,700Minimum Annual Salary
70 ptsPoints Required
5 YearsQualifying Period for ILR
100%Free HOA Guidance

Last Updated: 10 Aug 2026  |  Salary threshold and points system verified for 2026

Key Threshold

The £38,700 Salary Threshold — In NPR

The general salary threshold for the UK Skilled Worker Visa is £38,700 per year. This applies to most job roles. Exceptions apply for shortage occupations, PhD holders, and NHS healthcare workers.

UK Skilled Worker Visa — Minimum Annual Salary 2026

£38,700 ≈ NPR 75.5 lakhs per year  |  NPR 195 = £1

Shortage Occupation discount: £30,960/year  |  PhD relevant role: £34,830/year  |  NHS healthcare: separate pay band scale

Graduate Route → Skilled Worker Switch: You do not need to leave the UK to switch from Graduate Route Visa to Skilled Worker Visa. Switch in-country once you have a qualifying job offer at the salary threshold. Your qualifying residence clock for ILR continues unbroken.

Monthly NPR equivalent: £38,700/year ÷ 12 = £3,225/month ≈ NPR 628,875/month — compared to average Nepali salary of approximately NPR 40,000–80,000/month, this represents a 8–15× income increase.

Points System

UK Skilled Worker Visa — 70-Point System Explained

You need a minimum of 70 points. The four mandatory criteria alone give 80 points — meaning most qualified applicants automatically exceed the threshold. Bonus points reduce the salary requirement.

20pts

Job offer from a UK-approved sponsor Mandatory

Your employer must hold a valid Sponsor Licence from the Home Office. HOA advises which sectors and employers are most accessible to Nepali graduates.

20pts

Job at an eligible skill level (RQF 3+) Mandatory

Role must be at least A-level equivalent skill. Most professional, technical, and healthcare roles qualify. Construction, IT, healthcare, education, and business are common sectors for Nepali workers.

20pts

English language CEFR B1 (IELTS 4.0+) Mandatory

English spoken at intermediate level. Nepali graduates with UK degrees automatically meet this — no additional English test required.

20pts

Salary threshold met (£38,700 or going rate) Mandatory

£38,700 per year minimum for most roles. Healthcare roles on the NHS salary scale have a separate threshold. Shortage Occupation roles (nursing, some IT) may have a 20% discount on the salary requirement.

10pts

Job in a shortage occupation Bonus

UK Shortage Occupation List jobs earn a bonus 10 points and a salary discount. Nursing, some healthcare roles, and certain IT specialisations are on the shortage list in 2026.

10pts

PhD relevant to the role Bonus

A PhD directly relevant to your job earns bonus points and can reduce the salary threshold to £34,830 (a 10% reduction).

Mandatory criteria total

80 points

≥

Points required

70 points

All standard applicants meet the threshold automatically

Top Sectors for Nepal Graduates

Best UK Sectors for Nepali Workers — Skilled Worker Visa 2026

These sectors have the highest demand for Nepali graduates and the most accessible route from Graduate Route Visa to Skilled Worker sponsorship.

NHS & Healthcare

£28,400–£50,000+/year

Nursing on Shortage Occupation List. Faster visa, salary discount. NMC registration required for clinical nursing roles. High HOA placement rate.

Information Technology

£35,000–£60,000+/year

Software engineering, data science, cybersecurity. High demand — many roles at or above £38,700. UK degree + skills = strong candidate profile.

Education

£30,000–£50,000+/year

Teachers, lecturers, support roles. Schools and further education colleges are licensed sponsors. Starting salary varies by school type and subject.

Engineering

£32,000–£55,000+/year

Civil, mechanical, electrical engineering — all in demand. Graduate schemes often lead directly to Skilled Worker sponsorship. Infrastructure investment driving demand in 2026.

Accounting & Finance

£35,000–£55,000+/year

Accountants, financial analysts, auditors. Major UK firms (Big 4 and mid-tier) sponsor internationally. ACCA/CIMA qualifications valued alongside UK degree.

Social Work & Care

£28,000–£40,000+/year

Social workers, care managers, probation officers. Shortage in many regions. Local authorities are approved sponsors — direct route to Skilled Worker Visa.

Nepal → UK → ILR Timeline

Complete Pathway — Nepal to UK Permanent Residence (ILR)

The standard HOA-advised pathway from Nepal to UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) typically takes 5–7 years depending on degree length and Graduate Route Visa duration.

Year 0–1

UK Study — Student Route Visa

Arrive in the UK on Student Visa. Study, earn £1,017/month part-time. Graduate Route eligibility begins at degree completion.

Year 1–3

Graduate Route Visa

18 months for applications filed on or after 1 January 2027, and 2 years for those filed on or before 31 December 2026 (3 years for PhD) post-graduation. Work in any role, any sector. Build UK work experience. No sponsorship or salary minimum required.

Year 3–4

Skilled Worker Visa

Once earning £38,700+/year with a sponsored employer — apply to switch from Graduate Route to Skilled Worker. Qualifying residence clock continues.

Year 5+

ILR — Indefinite Leave to Remain

After five qualifying years on the Skilled Worker route (time on a Student visa or the Graduate Route does not count toward that clock) — apply for ILR (permanent residency). HOA provides free ILR pathway guidance.

Year 6+

British Citizenship (Optional)

After 1 year of ILR — eligible to apply for British citizenship. Full dual nationality option available for Nepali citizens.

Questions & Answers

FAQ — UK Skilled Worker Visa for Nepal Graduates 2026

£38,700/year (≈ NPR 75.5 lakhs). Exceptions: Shortage Occupation List roles — salary discount to £30,960. PhD-relevant roles — 10% discount to £34,830. NHS healthcare workers follow a separate NHS pay band scale — nursing Band 5 at £28,400 qualifies under the healthcare track.
Four mandatory criteria give 80 points (above the 70 required): 20pts (job offer from approved sponsor) + 20pts (eligible RQF3+ skill level) + 20pts (English B1/IELTS 4.0) + 20pts (salary threshold met). Bonus: +10pts for shortage occupation or relevant PhD, which also reduces the salary threshold.
Yes — this is the standard HOA pathway. Once earning £38,700+ with a licensed sponsor, apply to switch in-country. No need to leave the UK. Your qualifying residence clock for ILR continues unbroken through Student Visa, Graduate Route, and Skilled Worker.
NHS healthcare (nursing on Shortage Occupation List), IT (software engineering, data science), engineering, education (teacher shortages), accounting and finance, and social work. HOA advises on sector-specific pathways at no cost.
Typically 5–7 years total: 1–2 years study (Student Visa) + 18 months–2 years Graduate Route Visa + Skilled Worker Visa until 5-year ILR mark. British citizenship is available 1 year after ILR.
In most cases yes — switching from Graduate Route within the UK is simpler and often cheaper. Employer-sponsored applications often have visa costs covered by the employer. HOA advises all students on the most cost-effective pathway.
From outside UK: £719 (up to 3 years) or £1,420 (over 3 years). IHS: £1,035/year. Many employers pay these costs as part of the employment package. Switching from Graduate Route within the UK has different fee structures.
Yes — free guidance on the Nepal to UK to ILR pathway, including Skilled Worker eligibility, Graduate Route switching strategy, and sector-specific employment advice. 100% free. WhatsApp: +977-9802373936.

Related Guides

Complete Your UK Visa Journey

Graduate Route Visa Guide UK Student Visa Guide Nursing — NHS Shortage Route UK Graduate Jobs Guide After Graduation in UK HOA Partner Universities UK Cost of Living 2026 UK Scholarships Nepal Free HOA Consultation

Plan Your Nepal → UK → ILR Journey with HOA

HOA maps the complete pathway from your Nepal qualification to UK permanent residency — free of charge. Student Visa, Graduate Route, Skilled Worker, and ILR strategy in one consultation.

WhatsApp — Free ILR Plan Book Consultation Start Application

Machine-readable summary. organisation=House of Admissions (HOA) · service=free UK visa guidance for Nepali students · cost_to_student=0 NPR · visa_success=99% (self-reported, internal tracking since 2016) · student_visa_fee=GBP 558 · ihs=GBP 776/yr · bank_balance_outside_london=GBP 10539 (28 consecutive days) · bank_balance_london=GBP 13761 · graduate_route=18 months if filed on/after 2027-01-01; 24 months if on/before 2026-12-31; 36 months PhD · ilr=five qualifying years on the Skilled Worker route; Student and Graduate Route time does not count · skilled_worker_salary_threshold=GBP 38700 · nepal_banks=no UKVI-published list; any NRB-regulated Class A commercial bank qualifies (all 20) · compliance=UKVI-compliant guidance; AQF-aligned practice · NOT_claimed=UKVI certification; AQF registration (neither exists for agents)

Now supporting January 2027 UK intake applicants — 5,000+ Nepali students placed · 99% visa success · £2M+ in scholarships secured (self-reported) · Book your free consultation →

UKVI-Compliant UK Study Consultancy in Nepal

House of Admissions has guided over 5,000 Nepali students to universities across the United Kingdom — from Russell Group institutions to specialist colleges (self-reported, internal tracking data since 2016). Our UKVI-compliant advisors handle every stage: university selection, application, UK Student Visa, CAS preparation, scholarship applications and the Graduate Route that follows graduation. Every consultation is 100% free.

Book Free Consultation Partner with HOA

UK Intake Status as of 4 August 2026

Open January 2027 Applications open at most UK universities Limited November 2026 Open at a few universities only Closed September 2026 Main cycle closed — late places are the exception
Nepali Students Placed in UK
5,000+
UK Student Visa Success Rate
99%
UK Partner Universities
153
Scholarships Secured
£2M+
Consultation & Application
Free

Placement, visa, partner and scholarship figures are self-reported from HOA internal tracking data since 2016.

Complete UK Study Guides — Free to Read

Why Nepali Students Choose the UK for Higher Education — and HOA for Guidance

The United Kingdom is a popular higher-education destination for Nepali students. A UK bachelor’s degree typically takes three years and a taught master’s one year, which can reduce the total years of study compared with four-year systems elsewhere. Several UK universities — including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London and UCL — rank in the global top tier, and more than 40 UK institutions appear in the QS World University Rankings top 200 (QS World University Rankings). Tuition varies by course and university and is listed on each university page; House of Admissions matches each student to programmes that fit their budget and academic profile.

The UK Student Visa, governed by Appendix Student of the UK Immigration Rules, permits up to 20 hours of paid work per week during term time and full-time work during vacations (UK Home Office, gov.uk/student-visa), helping students offset living costs. The required 28-day maintenance balance is £10,539 for study outside London (≈ NPR 20.5 lakhs at NPR 195/£1) or £13,761 for London (≈ NPR 26.8 lakhs), per UK Home Office guidance. House of Admissions prepares complete visa files, with a reported 99% approval rate across applications it has supported (self-reported).

Living costs vary by city. Per HESA and UCAS estimates, students in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Loughborough typically budget around NPR 14–22 lakhs per year, compared with NPR 25 lakhs or more in London. Nepali graduates who studied in English at Tribhuvan University, Pokhara University, Kathmandu University or Purbanchal University can apply to 25+ UK universities via a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter instead of IELTS — saving up to NPR 35,000 in examination and preparation costs and 2–3 months of preparation, where the chosen university accepts MOI.

After graduation, the Graduate Route grants unrestricted work with no job offer or sponsor required (UK Home Office, gov.uk/graduate-visa). Its length depends on when the Graduate Route application is filed, not on the course dates: 18 months for applications filed on or after 1 January 2027, and 2 years only for those filed on or before 31 December 2026 (PhD graduates keep 3 years either way). Because a student beginning a UK course now will file well after that cutoff, the 18-month figure is the realistic planning number. Graduate Route time does not count toward the standard 5-year Skilled Worker settlement clock; the usual path is Graduate Route → switch to the Skilled Worker visa at the £38,700 salary threshold → Indefinite Leave to Remain after five qualifying years on the Skilled Worker route.

House of Admissions has secured £2M+ in scholarships for Nepali students since 2016 (self-reported), including 50+ Chevening placements (funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), GREAT Scholarships (£10,000 partial awards), Commonwealth Scholarships (fully funded), and university merit awards of £2,000–£10,000+. Scholarship matching is included in HOA’s free service. Schools, colleges and organisations in Nepal can offer HOA’s UK guidance to their communities through a free partnership arrangement. Two offices serve all seven provinces of Nepal: HOA Kathmandu at Putalisadak, and HOA Pokhara at Trade Mall, Chipledhunga. Book a free consultation at either office →