Understanding the Skilled Worker New Entrant Route and the 4 Year Maximum Permission Rule 

The Skilled Worker visa remains the primary immigration route for overseas nationals who have secured a confirmed job offer in the United Kingdom with an approved sponsor. The route enables UK employers to recruit skilled workers from abroad to fill roles that meet prescribed skill and salary thresholds. 

To qualify, applicants must satisfy requirements relating to sponsorship, skill level, salary and English language ability. Within this route, certain applicants may benefit from classification as a new entrant, which carries specific advantages but also important limitations. 

This article explains who qualifies as a new entrant, the salary requirements and an important compliance issue relating to the four-year maximum permission rule. 

Under the Immigration Rules, a new entrant is an applicant who is considered to be at an early stage of their career. The Home Office defines new entrants as individuals who meet specific criteria at the date of application. 

A person can qualify as a new entrant if they fall within the early-career category, including where: 

• They are under 26 years old on the date of application 

• They are currently in the UK on a Student visa, studying at bachelor’s degree level or above (or were in the last two years, and a Student or Visit visa was their most recent visa) 

• They are currently in the UK on a Graduate visa (or were in the last two years, and a Graduate or Visit visa was their most recent visa) 

• They will be working towards a recognised qualification in a UK regulated profession 

• They will be working towards full registration or chartered status in the job for which they are being sponsored 

The new entrant category is designed to make the Skilled Worker route more accessible to early-career professionals, recent graduates and individuals entering the workforce. It also supports UK employers in addressing skills shortages while maintaining structured immigration controls. 

One of the principal benefits of being classified as a new entrant is the ability to qualify under a reduced salary threshold. 

New entrants may be paid between 70% and 90% of the standard going rate for their occupation, provided:  

• Their salary is at least £33,400 per annum, and 

• They meet one of the specified new entrant criteria listed above. 

If the applicant holds a relevant PhD qualification in a non-STEM subject, the salary must be at least £37,500. 

This flexibility enables employers to recruit talented early-career professionals without needing to meet the full experienced worker salary threshold. However, this concession is subject to strict time limits. 

A critical aspect of the new entrant category is the maximum four-year limit on permission. 

Granting an application under the new entrant provisions must not result in the applicant holding combined permission as a: 

• Skilled Worker Route, 

• Graduate Route. 

for more than four years in total, whether or not that permission has been continuous. 

This is an absolute cap. Once the four-year threshold is reached, the applicant can no longer rely on the new entrant salary concessions and must meet the standard Skilled Worker salary requirements applicable to experienced workers. 

Sponsors must exercise particular care when assigning Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to new entrants approaching the four-year limit. 

In practice, an issue frequently arises where: 

• The work end date stated on the CoS, 

• When combined with the mandatory 14-day wrap-up period added by the Home Office, 

results in the applicant’s total cumulative permission exceeding the four-year maximum. 

Even if the excess is marginal, the application will not meet the Immigration Rules if it breaches the four-year cap. 

If the Home Office believes that the period stated on the CoS will cause the applicant to exceed the four-year limit, it will request the sponsor to take one of the following actions: 

The sponsor may increase the salary stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship so that the applicant qualifies under a different tradeable points option, typically meeting the full going rate applicable to experienced workers. 

Alternatively, the sponsor may amend the work end date on the Certificate of Sponsorship so that, when combined with the 14-day wrap-up period, the applicant’s total permission does not exceed four years. 

This requires careful calculation of the applicant’s cumulative immigration history under the Skilled Worker and Graduate routes. 

Sponsors should: 

• Carefully review the applicant’s immigration history before assigning a CoS. 

• Calculate cumulative permission accurately, including non-continuous periods. 

• Factor in the 14-day post-employment wrap-up period. 

• Consider whether transitioning the applicant to the experienced worker salary threshold is appropriate. 

Failure to address the four-year limit correctly can lead to application refusal, delays and compliance risks for the sponsor. 

The Skilled Worker new entrant route offers valuable flexibility for employers recruiting early-career professionals. However, the salary concessions are strictly time-limited. 

As applicants approach the four-year cumulative permission threshold, sponsors must ensure that either: 

• The salary meets an alternative tradeable points option; or 

• The proposed employment period is reduced to remain within the four-year cap. 

Careful planning and accurate drafting of the Certificate of Sponsorship are essential to avoid costly refusals and ensure ongoing compliance with UK immigration law. 

If you require assistance with sponsor compliance or need support with assigning or amending a Certificate of Sponsorship, our experienced team is here to help. With over 20 years of experience and a commitment to excellence, Morgan Smith Immigration is your trusted partner for all your immigration needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you with UK visa applications. For any enquiries or assistance, call us at 0203 959 3335 or email [email protected].