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Last Updated 29 October 2026
Why Choose Y-Axis UK Immigration Points Calculator?
- Check your eligibility to the UK for FREE.
- Simple and easy steps to follow.
- Expert advice and tips to increase your score.
- Professional guidance in every step to settle in the UK.
UK eligibility points calculator
The Skilled Worker route is the primary pathway for employers in the UK to recruit international talent. It is governed by the Home Office and operates on a points-based framework introduced in January 2021. Read our full guide to the UK Skilled Worker visa. Use the Y-Axis UK points calculator to check your score in seconds.
Points are awarded across two types of criteria:
- Mandatory characteristics – these must all be met and together award 50 points
- Tradeable characteristics – these allow flexibility; you can combine them in different ways to reach the remaining 20 points
There is no single ‘route’ to reach 70 points. A candidate with a lower salary can still qualify if they hold a PhD relevant to the role, are a new entrant to the labour market, or if their occupation appears on the Immigration Salary List.
| Characteristic | Type | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Offer of job by approved sponsor | Mandatory | 20 |
| Job at the required skill level (RQF Level 6 or above for most new applicants) | Mandatory | 20 |
| English language at the required level (B2 for most new applicants) | Mandatory | 10 |
| Salary of £41,700 or above, or the going rate for the job (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 20 |
| Job on the Immigration Salary List, with a salary of at least £33,400 | Tradeable | 20 |
| New entrant to the labour market, with a salary of at least £33,400 or 70% of the going rate (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 20 |
| PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job, with a salary of at least £33,400 or 80% of the going rate (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 20 |
| PhD in a subject relevant to the job, with a salary of at least £37,500 or 90% of the going rate (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 20 |
| Total Points Required | 70 |
Important: You need at least 70 points to qualify. Mandatory criteria (50 points) must all be met. The remaining 20 points can be achieved through any valid combination of tradeable characteristics. The UK points calculator adds up your mandatory and tradeable points for you. You can also explore all the ways to migrate to the UK.
UK Skilled Worker Visa Points Calculator
Answer the questions below and our UK points calculator will total your Skilled Worker Visa points score. At the end, we’ll tell you whether you qualify and what you can do to improve your score. Prefer an expert review? Get a free eligibility check.
What are the categories considered for the points?
Each of the following categories should be presented as an interactive section within the calculator widget:
Category 1: Approved Sponsor Job Offer
To apply for a Skilled Worker Visa, you must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer who holds a valid Home Office sponsor licence. Your employer will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) – a unique reference number you include in your visa application. The UK points calculator gives 20 points for a confirmed Certificate of Sponsorship.
| Option | Points |
|---|---|
| Yes – I have a confirmed job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | 20 (Mandatory) |
| No | 0 – Does not qualify |
Category 2: Job Skill Level
The job you have been offered must meet a minimum skill level of RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree) or above for most new applicants. Some jobs at RQF Levels 3–5 can still be sponsored if they are on the Temporary Shortage List or the Immigration Salary List. Every eligible job has a corresponding Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code which determines whether it meets this requirement. The UK points calculator checks whether your job meets the required skill level.
| Option | Points |
|---|---|
| Job at RQF Level 6 or above | 20 (Mandatory) |
| Job at RQF Levels 3–5 on the Temporary Shortage List or Immigration Salary List | 20 (Mandatory) |
| No – the job is below RQF Level 3 | 0 – Does not qualify |
Category 3: English Language Proficiency
You must demonstrate that you speak English to the required standard. For most new Skilled Worker applications made on or after 8 January 2026, this is level B2. There are several accepted ways to prove this, depending on your nationality and educational background. Select how you meet the English requirement in the UK points calculator to add 10 points.
| Option | Points |
|---|---|
| Nationality: citizen of a majority English-speaking country (e.g., USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand) | 10 (Mandatory) |
| Education: degree-level qualification taught in English (verified by Ecctis), or a degree from a UK university | 10 (Mandatory) |
| Approved English language test: a Home Office-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), such as IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert or Trinity, at B2 level or above | 10 (Mandatory) |
| None of the above | 0 – Does not qualify |
Category 4: Salary Level (Tradeable)
Salary is the primary tradeable factor in the Skilled Worker points system. The applicable threshold is the higher of:
- The general salary threshold of £41,700 per year, OR
- The ‘going rate’ for the specific SOC code of the job you’ve been offered
If your offered salary falls below the general threshold, you can still qualify through a lower salary option (PhD, new entrant or Immigration Salary List). Enter your offered salary in the UK points calculator to see your tradeable points.
| Offered salary | Points |
|---|---|
| £41,700 or above (or the going rate, if higher) | 20 |
| £37,500 to £41,699, with a relevant PhD (and at least 90% of the going rate) | 20 |
| £33,400 to £41,699, with a STEM PhD, a job on the Immigration Salary List, or as a new entrant | 20 |
| Below £33,400 | Not eligible |
Category 5: Shortage Occupation (Tradeable)
Certain occupations in the UK face a critical shortage of domestic candidates. If your job falls within a shortage occupation as designated by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), your employer benefits from reduced salary requirements and you earn additional tradeable points.
| Option | Points |
|---|---|
| Yes – the job is on the Shortage Occupation List as designated by the MAC | 20 |
| No | 0 |
Category 6: PhD Qualification (Tradeable)
Holding a PhD (doctoral-level qualification) relevant to your job offer lets you qualify with a lower salary than the general threshold. A STEM PhD allows the lowest salary threshold, recognising the value of science, technology, engineering and maths expertise in the UK labour market. The UK points calculator adds your PhD points automatically.
| Option | Points |
|---|---|
| STEM PhD relevant to the job, with a salary of at least £33,400 or 80% of the going rate (whichever is higher) | 20 (Tradeable) |
| Non-STEM PhD relevant to the job, with a salary of at least £37,500 or 90% of the going rate (whichever is higher) | 20 (Tradeable) |
| No PhD, or PhD not relevant to the job | 0 |
UK Shortage Occupation List – Key Sectors
The Shortage Occupation List was replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL) in April 2024. If your job is on the Immigration Salary List, the general salary threshold drops from £41,700 to £33,400 (you must still meet the going rate for your job), and the UK points calculator counts this towards your 20 tradeable points. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advises the government on which occupations face national skill gaps. See the most in-demand jobs in the UK and their salaries.
| Sector | Key occupations on the Immigration Salary List | SOC codes |
|---|---|---|
| Construction & Skilled Trades | Bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, roofers, stonemasons, high-integrity pipe welders, retrofitters | 5313, 5316, 5314, 5312, 5213, 5319 |
| Science & Research | Biological scientists, laboratory technicians (3+ years’ experience), archaeologists | 2112, 3111, 2115 |
| Health | Pharmaceutical technicians, residential and day care managers | 3212, 1232 |
| Creative & Arts | Graphic and multimedia designers, artists, arts officers, producers and directors, dancers and choreographers, orchestral musicians | 2142, 3411, 3416, 3414, 3415 |
| Agriculture & Fishing | Fishing trades, experienced deckhands on large vessels, fishing boat masters (Scotland only) | 5119, 9119, 1212 |
| Animal Care | Racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud workers and work riders | 6129 |
Note: Some occupations apply only in Scotland or to specific roles. The Immigration Salary List ends for most occupations for certificates of sponsorship issued from 31 December 2026. Always check your occupation’s current status on GOV.UK before applying.
Not sure if your specific role qualifies?
Our UK immigration experts at Y-Axis can review your SOC code and advise you directly. Book your Free Counseling today!
* Disclaimer:
Quick eligibility check of Y-Axis is only to help the applicants to understand their scores. The points displayed are based on your answers only. Please note the points on each section are evaluated based on various parameters set in the immigration guidelines and a technical evaluation is a must to know your accurate scores and eligibility to find out which immigration program you can apply for. The Quick eligibility check does not guarantee you the below points; you may score high or low points once you are technically evaluated by our expert team. Your final eligibility will also depend on your job offer, salary and the current UK Home Office rules. So, it is very important for an applicant to apply for a technical evaluation.
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