How Many Points Before a Ban?

Updated

Feb 9, 2026 8:12 PM

Written by Nathan Cafearo

Understand how UK immigration points affect visas and ILR timelines, what raises thresholds in 2026, and how to avoid costly delays or de facto bans.

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The points that speed you up - and the ones that slow you down

The UK is tightening its immigration rules. If you plan to work, join family, study, or simply visit from a visa-free country, points and thresholds will increasingly decide outcomes. The question is not just how many points you need today - it is how each decision you make could shorten or lengthen your route to settlement, or in practical terms, keep you stuck for years.

Under the Skilled Worker route, applicants must meet 70 points. That starts with role skill level and licensed sponsorship, then tradeable points from salary, English, and role specifics. From 2026, the general salary threshold rises to £41,700, and the minimum skill level moves to RQF 6 - typically degree-level. English standards step up to B2 for several work routes. Some discounts are being removed, and the Immigration Salary List is set to be phased out by the end of 2026. Together, these changes narrow eligibility and place more weight on pay, qualifications, and language.

A parallel shift is happening in settlement. The earned settlement model scores your conduct and integration. Good integration can bring settlement forward - potentially to three years. Breaches and convictions, even below automatic refusal, add points that extend the qualifying period. Stack these up with other negatives and what looked like a five-year path can stretch to decades. It is not a formal ban, but it may feel like one if your timeline becomes impractical.

Visitors face change too. From 25 February 2026, an Electronic Travel Authorisation will be mandatory for most visa-free nationals. Carriers will refuse boarding without approval. It is a digital check, but the consequences are very real if you overlook it.

If you are applying, recruiting, or planning a family move, the message is clear: understand the points, check the thresholds, and plan your finances and timing carefully. Small mistakes can cost months, sometimes years. Get the basics right, and you improve your odds materially.

Who benefits from knowing this now

This guidance is for people in the UK or abroad who are weighing a move, an extension, or a switch into a UK route. Skilled Worker applicants and sponsors will find the 70-point rules, salary rises, and skill-level changes essential. Families planning to reunite in Britain should prepare for higher minimum income thresholds by 2026. Healthcare professionals and NHS recruiters need to understand the new pay floors and the loss of sponsorship for some Band 3 roles. Even short-term visitors must factor in the ETA requirement. If you want to avoid refusals and long settlement delays, these developments will shape your decisions.

Your practical routes

Secure Skilled Worker sponsorship at RQF 6 with B2 English.
Negotiate salary to meet or exceed £41,700 or occupation median.
Use new entrant salary where eligible at £33,400.
Consider Health and Care Visa with £25,000 minimum pay.
Explore Scale-up or High Potential Individual routes requiring B2 English.
Build a clean compliance record to protect settlement timeline.
Prepare for ETA if travelling from a visa-free country.
For families, plan income to reach £38,700 by 2026.
Check Global Business Mobility if seconded by a multinational.
Seek regulated immigration advice to optimise points and timing.

Small compliance wins today can prevent multi-year settlement delays tomorrow.

What it might cost - and what you could gain

Option	Cost to you	Impact on eligibility	Potential return	Key risks
Salary uplift to threshold	Employer payroll cost or negotiation time	Meets 30 tradeable points via salary	Higher approval odds and stable renewals	Role may be regraded or budgets constrained
English test to B2	£150-£250 plus preparation time	Satisfies language points and future settlement	Route access and smoother ILR path	Test retakes, limited test dates
Legal or advisory support	£800-£2,500 per application	Optimises points, avoids refusal errors	Faster decisions, fewer re-submissions	Not a guarantee of approval
ETA application	£10-£20	Enables boarding for visa-free travel	Timely trips without disruption	Denied boarding if forgotten
Family income planning	Budgeting or additional earnings	Meets staged thresholds up to £38,700	Keeps five-year family settlement route	Income volatility, evidence gaps
Switching routes early	New fees and documentation	Aligns with new skill or pay rules	Protects continuity and ILR clock	Breaks in employment or permissions

Who qualifies - and who will struggle

Eligibility turns on points, pay, skill level, English, and conduct. For Skilled Worker, you need a licensed sponsor offering a role at RQF 6 with an appropriate salary. The general threshold rises to £41,700, though occupation-specific medians can apply. New entrants retain a lower minimum at £33,400, but this is time-limited and role-specific. English language moves to B2 for Skilled Worker, Scale-up, and High Potential Individual from early 2026, with existing holders typically protected on extensions.

Healthcare candidates can use the Health and Care Visa, but roles paid under £25,000 will struggle, and many Band 3 roles will lose sponsorship eligibility unless supported by specific allowances. The Immigration Salary List ends by December 2026, shrinking discounted pathways. Meanwhile, the earned settlement framework scores positive integration and penalises breaches. Minor criminal convictions can extend the ILR qualifying period beyond five years. Combine that with other issues and you could face a very long wait.

Visitors from visa-free countries must secure an ETA before travel from February 2026. Families should plan for the minimum income rising in stages to £38,700 by 2026. If costs are a barrier, Kandoo is a UK-based retail finance broker - we help consumers compare finance options to spread eligible expenses, such as test fees or document costs, making timing more manageable.

From idea to approval - a clear sequence

Confirm the correct visa or travel route.
Check points, salary, skill level, and English.
Gather documents and evidence early.
Line up sponsorship or family income proofs.
Complete applications with accurate details.
Pay fees and book biometrics or English test.
Apply for ETA if travelling visa-free.
Track decisions and protect compliance ongoing.

Weighing it up at a glance

Topic	Pros	Cons
Higher salary thresholds	Clearer eligibility and stronger labour market fit	Excludes lower-paid roles and regions
B2 English requirement	Improves workplace safety and integration	Extra cost, preparation, possible delays
RQF 6 skill level	Targets genuine high-skilled roles	Cuts off care, catering, logistics
Earned settlement model	Rewards good conduct and integration	Minor breaches may extend ILR for years
ETA for visitors	Faster border processing when approved	No approval means no boarding
ISL phase-out	Simplifies long-term system	Removes critical discounts for shortage roles

Look twice before you click submit

Timing matters. If you apply under current rules, you may be assessed against thresholds that are about to rise. Miss a salary median or fall short on English and you could face refusal or an avoidable administrative review. On settlement, even small offences or compliance slips can snowball into long delays. Keep evidence tidy, especially payslips, contracts, and sponsor records. For families, plan income early and allow for fluctuations. Travellers should diarise ETA approval ahead of ticket purchase. Employers must revisit job design and pay to meet RQF 6 and median salaries without breaching budgets. If the path you chose is closing - such as routes relying on the Immigration Salary List - consider switching sooner rather than later to preserve momentum toward ILR.

If this path is not the right fit

Global Talent for recognised leaders or potential leaders.
Graduate route for recent UK degree holders, where available.
Global Business Mobility - Senior or Specialist Worker secondments.
Student route with progression to work after graduation.
Family route if income and relationship criteria are met.
Remote work from abroad while building experience and salary.
Scale-up route for fast-growing employers meeting criteria.

Common questions - straight answers

Q: How many points do I need for a Skilled Worker visa? A: You need 70. That includes skill and sponsorship, plus tradeable points from salary, English, and role specifics. Falling short on tradeable points leads to refusal.

Q: What salary will I need from 2026? A: The general threshold is £41,700, with occupation-specific rates tied to median pay. New entrants have a lower threshold at £33,400 for a limited period.

Q: Do criminal convictions mean I am banned from settlement? A: Not automatically. Under earned settlement, many convictions add points that extend your ILR timeline. Combined issues can push timelines to decades.

Q: What English level is required? A: B2 for Skilled Worker, Scale-up, and High Potential Individual from early 2026. Existing holders are usually exempt at extension if they previously met requirements.

Q: Is an ETA really mandatory for visa-free travellers? A: Yes. From 25 February 2026, no ETA means no boarding. Apply in good time before travel to avoid disruption.

Q: What is happening to discounted sponsorship lists? A: The Immigration Salary List is due to end by December 2026. Health and Care roles have a £25,000 minimum, and many Band 3 roles lose sponsorship without specific allowances.

Q: Can I finance application costs? A: Potentially. While we are not immigration advisers, you can explore consumer finance options to spread eligible costs such as tests and documents.

How Kandoo can help you move sooner

Kandoo is a UK-based retail finance broker. We connect you with lenders so you can compare options to spread eligible upfront costs - English tests, document translations, or travel to biometrics - helping you apply at the right moment. Clear finance can reduce delays and keep your timeline to settlement on track.

Important information

This content is for general guidance only and is not immigration or legal advice. Rules change frequently. Always check official government sources or consult a regulated adviser before applying. Borrowing is subject to status and affordability.