What salary figure appears on a CoS?
A CoS states the gross annual salary the employer guarantees. This is the minimum the worker will be paid, not their target or expected earnings. It must reflect the actual contractual salary, not a higher figure intended to help the visa application.
What pay components count toward the threshold?
The following count: basic gross salary, London weighting allowances (if guaranteed contractually), and guaranteed, non-discretionary allowances that will always be paid. The following do not count: performance bonuses, overtime, commission, discretionary allowances, and any pay that may vary.
The salary must meet both tests
The CoS salary must meet two tests simultaneously: (1) the general threshold for the route (£38,700 for most Skilled Worker roles, £23,200 for Health and Care); and (2) the going rate for the specific SOC code in the role. If the going rate for your SOC code is above £38,700, you must be paid at least the going rate.
CoS salary misrepresentation is a common fraud indicator
A CoS with a salary that exactly hits the minimum threshold — particularly in high-cost sectors like technology or finance — can indicate that the CoS was created to meet the minimum legally required rather than to reflect a genuine role. If your salary is suspiciously low for the stated role, verify the employer independently.
What happens if the CoS salary is wrong?
If the salary on your CoS is below the threshold, your visa will be refused. If it is above what the employer actually pays you, the employer is misrepresenting the CoS to UKVI — which is a compliance breach that can result in the employer losing their sponsor licence. Report salary misrepresentation on a CoS to the UKVI.
This page provides general information about UK immigration salary rules. Rules change frequently — always verify the current thresholds on GOV.UK (Appendix Skilled Occupations) before making any visa decision. This is not legal advice. Consult a regulated immigration adviser (OISC Level 2+) for advice specific to your situation.
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