United Kingdom visa routes

• General salary threshold GBP 41,700/yr or the occupation's going rate, whichever is higher (gov.uk, current at Sept 2026).
• Lower thresholds: GBP 37,500 (PhD), GBP 33,400 (STEM PhD, Immigration Salary List job, or 'new entrant' career starter).
• Health and care ASHE-scale roles use lower figures: GBP 31,300 / GBP 28,200 (PhD) / GBP 25,000 (STEM PhD or new entrant).
• Since 22 July 2025 the general route requires degree-level (RQF 6) occupations; 'medium skilled' occupations only if the job is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, or for some extensions and prison officers.
• Fees from outside UK: GBP 819 (up to 3 yrs) or GBP 1,618 (over 3 yrs); GBP 628 / GBP 1,235 if the job is on the Immigration Salary List.
• Plus Immigration Health Surcharge usually GBP 1,035 per year, GBP 1,270 maintenance funds, and English at CEFR B2.

How the degree matters

Occupation must sit in the eligible SOC 2020 tables; since 22 July 2025 that generally means RQF 6 (bachelor's) level. A PhD, especially STEM, unlocks materially lower salary thresholds.

Sources: Skilled Worker visa (GOV.UK) · Skilled Worker visa: your job (GOV.UK) · Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs (GOV.UK) · Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker (GOV.UK)

• Job offer from an approved health or care sponsor, with a Certificate of Sponsorship, in an eligible health/care occupation.
• Relevant professional registration (e.g. GMC, NMC, HCPC) is normally required for clinical roles.
• Salary: usually at least GBP 25,000, or the going rate if higher; for doctors, nurses and other health professionals the going rate comes from the national (NHS pay band) pay scales. Codes 1171, 1231, 1232, 2113, 2114, 3111, 3211, 3212, 6135 and 6136 have different salary requirements.
• Immigration Health Surcharge is waived; visa fees are lower than the standard Skilled Worker route.
• Care worker and senior care worker sub-routes closed to new overseas applicants from 22 July 2025.

How the degree matters

Only open to recognised health and care occupations. A general (non-health) SA degree does not qualify; a nursing, medical or allied-health qualification plus UK registration does.

Sources: Health and Care Worker visa (GOV.UK) · Health and Care Worker visa: your job (GOV.UK) · Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker (GOV.UK)

• You must have completed an eligible UK course (normally bachelor's or above) with a UK Higher Education Provider with a compliance track record.
• You must be in the UK on a Student visa when you apply; the provider confirms your course completion to the Home Office.
• 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. Doctoral graduates get 3 years.
• Application fee GBP 937, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of usually GBP 1,035 for each year of the visa.
• No job offer, sponsor or minimum salary is needed, but the route cannot be extended and does not itself lead to settlement.

How the degree matters

Open regardless of subject; what matters is the level (degree or above) and that the award came from an eligible UK institution. Doctorates get the longer 3-year grant.

Sources: Graduate visa (GOV.UK) · Student visa (GOV.UK)

• Degree (bachelor's or above) awarded in the last 5 years by a university on the published Global Universities List for the relevant year.
• The Global Universities List 2025 (for qualifications awarded 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026) covers 80 universities in 15 countries and territories and includes NO South African institution.
• No job offer or sponsor required; must show English knowledge and maintenance funds.
• 2 years' leave (3 years for PhD/doctoral holders); can only be used once and cannot be extended.
• Not available if you previously held a Graduate visa or the Doctorate Extension Scheme.
• There is a yearly limit on HPI applications; the application year runs from 1 November to 31 October.

How the degree matters

Eligibility turns entirely on WHICH university awarded the degree, not the subject. UCT, Wits and Stellenbosch are not on the list, so an SA-earned degree cannot be used.

Sources: High Potential Individual visa (GOV.UK) · HPI visa: Global Universities List 2025 (GOV.UK)

• You must be a Commonwealth citizen — South Africa is a Commonwealth country, so SA citizens qualify on nationality.
• One grandparent must have been born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland, or on a ship or aircraft registered in the UK or belonging to the UK government (parent-level or great-grandparent does not count). Adoption and unmarried parents or grandparents count; step-parents do not.
• You must be able to work and intend to work in the UK, and have enough money to support yourself.
• Application fee GBP 726, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge.
• Granted for 5 years; you can work employed, self-employed, part-time or voluntarily, in any job at any skill level.
• Cannot be switched into from inside the UK — you must apply from outside.

How the degree matters

Degree is irrelevant. Eligibility rests on ancestry, Commonwealth citizenship and the ability and intention to work, not on skills, salary or occupation.

Sources: UK Ancestry visa (GOV.UK) · UK Ancestry visa: eligibility (GOV.UK)

• Eligible at ages 18-35: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea.
• Eligible at ages 18-30: Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay.
• Eligible by ballot at ages 18-30: Hong Kong SAR passport holders and Taiwan.
• Also open to British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas), ages 18-30.
• South Africa does not appear anywhere on the current GOV.UK eligibility list.

How the degree matters

Not applicable — the scheme is nationality- and age-based, not qualification-based.

Sources: Youth Mobility Scheme visa: eligibility (GOV.UK)