How the NHS pay review will impact immigration salary thresholds
The announcement of the 2024/5 Agenda for Change pay award will impact a range of roles, taking some above immigration salary thresholds and meaning they may now be eligible for renewals and new sponsorships
On 29 July, the government announced the 2024/25 pay award for staff under the remits of the NHS Pay Review Body (NHS PRB) and Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB).
With effect from 1 April 2024, there will be a 5.5 per cent consolidated uplift for all Agenda for Change staff on NHS terms and conditions.
The NHS pay review will impact visa holders and sponsors in the following ways:
- Entry level Band 3 staff on the Health and Care Visa will now be eligible for renewals and new sponsorships, including those without the High-Cost Area Supplement. The uplift takes the salary from £22,816 to £24,071 which is above the salary threshold of £23,200.
- Band 2s will not be eligible for sponsorship as these roles will not meet the required skill level (RQF 3 or A level and above), despite having their salary increase from £22,383 to £23,615.
- Health and Care Worker Visas are eligible for the lower going rates, regardless of whether they are extensions or new recruitment.
- For biomedical scientists, their lower salary threshold is £36,700 and applies to all biomedical scientists in the NHS for both renewals and new sponsorships. The salary for entry level Band 6 roles will increase from £35,392 to £37,338 which will make Band 6 entry roles eligible for sponsorship.
We are yet to confirm when these increases will be implemented in the payment of salaries, but will share this information as soon as it is known.
If employers require certificates of sponsorships or visa renewals prior to confirmation of when this increase will be made, employers should enter the relevant salary threshold (for example, for Band 3 £24,071) with a sponsor note stating that the Agenda for Change pay award has been confirmed which takes their salary above the threshold and will be back dated to 1 April 2024.
The Home Office intends to continue updating going rates each April based on the latest available salary data. Employers should bear in mind that the current going rates may increase for future applications.
NHS Employers will be updating the Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy webpage and pay resources in due course.
Learn more about the 2024/5 pay award via our web page. More information on the pay review is available via the .GOV website.
