UK spring immigration rule changes tighten skilled worker pay compliance

The UK’s spring 2026 Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, laid before Parliament on March 5, introduces several changes taking effect from late March and early April. From 8 April, Skilled Worker sponsors must ensure employees are paid at least the required salary in every pay period — not just averaged over a year — giving the Home Office the ability to detect underpayment far more quickly.

Other notable changes include the Secondment Worker route reducing the overseas employment requirement from 12 months to six months (from 8 April), and asylum seekers with claims pending over a year gaining permission to work in degree-level roles from 26 March. The English language requirement for settlement increases from B1 to B2, though not until March 2027.

For remote workers and employers hiring internationally into the UK, the pay-per-period compliance requirement is the most operationally significant change. Companies that previously relied on annual salary averaging to meet sponsorship thresholds will need to review their payroll processes. The broader direction of travel — tighter enforcement, higher thresholds, and more granular monitoring — continues the government’s focus on ensuring the immigration system supports higher-skilled employment.