Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Latest NewsEconomics, government & business

Skilled migrants will have to earn £35,000 to settle in the UK

by Laura Chamberlain 29 Feb 2012
by Laura Chamberlain 29 Feb 2012

Migrant workers will only be allowed to settle in the UK if they earn at least £35,000, under government plans to ensure that only the “brightest and best” can reside permanently in the country.

According to immigration minister Damian Green, the minimum salary threshold will mean that skilled migrants coming to work in the UK under the tier-2 route will no longer be able to settle here simply based on the amount of time they have spent in the country.

As a result, those who earn less than the £35,000 threshold will only have permission to work in the UK for a maximum of six years.

The £35,000 threshold, which is said to reflect the median pay of UK workers in tier-2 level jobs, will not apply to PHD-level scientists and researchers or migrants who are being sponsored to do jobs which are on the “shortage occupation” list.

Investors, entrepreneurs and “exceptionally talented migrants”, who enter the country under the tier-1 route, will not be subject to the changes and will continue to have a direct route to settlement.

Green explained: “Settling in the UK is a privilege. We are sweeping aside the idea that everyone who comes here can settle, and instead reserving this important right only for the brightest and best.

“Our reforms of the immigration system will ensure we are more selective not only about those who are allowed to come here but also those who are allowed to stay permanently.”

However, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has raised concerns that the changes, which will apply to tier-2 migrants applying for settlement from April 2016, may put off skilled individuals from bringing their talents to the UK.

Dr Adam Marshall, director of policy at the BCC, said: “While a salary threshold set at £35,000 will not stop the best and the brightest migrants from coming here to contribute to our economy, employers remain concerned about the potential for unintended consequences so this new level must be monitored. We welcome the exemption from the threshold for employees using the shortage occupation route, as they have the key skills Britain needs to power economic recovery, while giving the government and employers time to train up UK nationals to fill these gaps.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“However, the Government must be clearer that Britain welcomes the best talent from overseas. Sometimes the rhetoric is off-putting. If skilled individuals think the UK doesn’t want their skills, they will go to our global competitors who have made their interest very clear.”

Legal information for businesses employing foreign nationals can be found at XpertHR.

Laura Chamberlain

previous post
Government removes benefits sanctions from work experience scheme
next post
Crisis in trust should not be blamed on the economy, says CIPD

You may also like

Number of Neet women rises but figures fall...

23 May 2025

Bank holidays: six things employers need to know

23 May 2025

Unions ponder strike action after public sector pay...

23 May 2025

Personnel Today Awards 2025: Three weeks left to...

23 May 2025

Sighing in frustration at colleague was discriminatory, judge...

23 May 2025

Flexible working for teachers initiative extended

23 May 2025

Fire and rehire: the relocation question

22 May 2025

Public sector workers gain pay rises of up...

22 May 2025

Six ways to kickstart conversations about team stress...

22 May 2025

UK net migration slashed by half in one...

22 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+