UK Visas · checked 20 October 2026
UK Skilled Worker Visa for Nepali Graduates: Salary, English and Fees (2026)
The Skilled Worker visa is how most Nepali graduates stay in the UK after the Graduate visa. These are the rules on GOV.UK when HOA checked, with the salary figures in rupees.
General salary threshold
or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher
£41,700
About NPR 81.3 lakhs a year. New entrants can qualify from £33,400 (about NPR 65.1 lakhs).
What Does a Nepali Graduate Need for a Skilled Worker Visa?
A UK Skilled Worker visa needs a job offer from a licensed sponsor at degree level (RQF 6), paying at least £41,700 or the going rate. Recent graduates switching from a Student or Graduate visa can qualify from £33,400. You also need B2 English, which a UK degree proves. Fees start at £819.
A sponsored job at the right skill level and salary, English at B2, and the fee and health surcharge. Time on the Graduate visa does not count towards settlement, so plan the switch early.
Key facts
Checked against the sources cited on 20 October 2026.
- Salary
- The higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the occupationGOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa: your job
- Lower threshold
- At least £33,400 a year in some cases, for example many new entrants, if the job is not in health or educationGOV.UK
- Skill level
- Degree level (RQF 6) for new applicants since 22 July 2025; lower-skilled roles only via the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage ListGOV.UK
- English
- B2 for applications from 8 January 2026; a UK degree taught in English proves itGOV.UK, knowledge of English
- Application fee
- £819 (up to 3 years) or £1,618 from outside the UK; £943 or £1,865 inside the UK; £628 or £1,235 for Immigration Salary List jobsGOV.UK, how much it costs
- Health surcharge
- £1,035 a yearGOV.UK
- Settlement
- Graduate visa time does not count; reforms to a 10-year baseline have been proposed but are not yet in the Immigration RulesHome Affairs Committee
How Much Do You Need to Earn?
Your salary must be at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher. Each occupation has its own going rate in UKVI’s going-rates table; if your pay is below it, a salary over £41,700 is not enough.
| Rule | Minimum | In rupees a year |
|---|---|---|
| General threshold | £41,700 or the going rate | about NPR 81.3 lakhs |
| Lower threshold (for example, new entrants) | £33,400, not for health or education jobs | about NPR 65.1 lakhs |
| Health and education jobs | Rates based on national pay scales | depends on the band |
New entrants. If you are switching from a Student or Graduate visa, or you are under 26, you can usually be paid less, as long as you earn at least £33,400. New-entrant status is time-limited, so check the rules on GOV.UK for your situation.
Health and education. Nursing, teaching and similar jobs use going rates based on national pay scales. For example, NHS Band 5 pay starts at £32,073 in 2026/27 (NHS Employers). See NHS jobs.
What Else Do You Need?
- A licensed sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship. Your employer must hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. Apply within 3 months of getting the certificate.
- A degree-level job. Since 22 July 2025, new applicants need an RQF 6 role. Medium-skilled jobs qualify only if they are on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List (which runs to 31 December 2026).
- English at B2. Required since 8 January 2026. A UK degree taught in English meets it.
- The fee and health surcharge. See the costs below.
Care worker roles closed to new overseas recruitment on 22 July 2025, so do not plan a Skilled Worker route around care work.
How Much Does the Skilled Worker Visa Cost?
| Where you apply | Up to 3 years | More than 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Outside the UK | £819 | £1,618 |
| Inside the UK (switch or extend) | £943 | £1,865 |
| Immigration Salary List job | £628 | £1,235 |
Worked example. Switching inside the UK for a 3-year certificate: £943 + £1,035 × 3 health surcharge = £4,048 (about NPR 7.9 lakhs). Many employers pay some of this; ask before you accept.
From Student Visa to Skilled Worker: the Usual Path
- Student visa for your degree. You can work up to 20 hours a week in term time.
- Graduate visa: 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027 (2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026). Work without a sponsor and look for a sponsored role.
- Skilled Worker visa: switch inside the UK once you have a sponsored job offer.
- Settlement: currently after 5 years on the Skilled Worker route. Graduate visa time does not count. The government has proposed a 10-year baseline; as of 20 October 2026 it is not in the Immigration Rules, so check before you plan.
See the Graduate visa and life after graduation.
How to Switch to a Skilled Worker Visa
Find a sponsored job
Check the employer is on the register of licensed sponsors and that the role is RQF 6 or on an eligible list.
Check the salary
It must meet £41,700 or the going rate, or a lower threshold you qualify for.
Get your Certificate of Sponsorship
Your employer assigns it; apply within 3 months.
Prove your English
Use your UK degree, or a B2 Secure English Language Test.
Apply and pay
Apply online, pay the fee and health surcharge, and prove your identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
The higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job. Some applicants, such as many new entrants, can qualify from £33,400.
Yes, inside the UK, once a licensed sponsor offers you an eligible job and assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship.
No. Time on the Graduate visa does not count towards settlement on the Skilled Worker route.
B2 for applications from 8 January 2026. A UK degree taught in English proves it.
From outside the UK, £819 for up to 3 years or £1,618 for longer; inside the UK, £943 or £1,865. The health surcharge is £1,035 a year.
New overseas recruitment for care workers closed on 22 July 2025, so this is not a route to plan around.
No. Health and education jobs use going rates based on national pay scales. NHS Band 5 starts at £32,073 in 2026/27.
Not yet. A 10-year baseline has been proposed, but as of 20 October 2026 it is not in the Immigration Rules.
Key Terms
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- The reference a licensed employer assigns so you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
- Going rate
- The minimum salary set for each occupation code in UKVI’s going-rates table.
- RQF 6
- Degree-level skill, the minimum for most new Skilled Worker roles since 22 July 2025.
- Immigration Salary List
- Jobs with a lower visa fee and some lower salary rules.
- Graduate visa
- Lets you stay and work after a UK degree without a sponsor: 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027.
- Immigration Health Surcharge
- A fee for NHS care paid with a visa application: £776 a year for students, £1,035 a year for most other visas.
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 20 October 2026. If an official page and this page disagree, the official page is right.
- GOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa: your job
- GOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs
- GOV.UK, Skilled Worker visa: knowledge of English
- UK Visas and Immigration, Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupations
- GOV.UK, Graduate visa
- House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, Earned Settlement: examining the Government’s proposed reforms
- GOV.UK, Register of licensed student sponsors
- NHS Employers, Pay scales for 2026/27
About This Guide
Written by House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016 with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. HOA’s guidance is free to students. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. This is admissions guidance, not immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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