The British government has published the Autumn Budget 2026, which contains significant changes for visa workers and business owners. Salary thresholds for sponsoring foreign employees will drop in spring 2027, the job-search period for finding a new sponsor will extend from 2 months to 6 months for high earners, and tax relief on selling a company will be cut in half.

Lower Salary Thresholds for the Skilled Worker Visa

Starting in spring 2027, the UK will abandon the use of profession-specific minimum salaries. Currently, the minimum salary for sponsoring a skilled worker is £41,700 per year. This presents a significant challenge, especially for small companies outside London.

Following recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee, the government will lower thresholds from the median salary to the 25th percentile by occupation. This change will make it easier for employers to hire foreign specialists and will lower the financial barrier to sponsoring work visas.

Extended Job-Search Period for High Earners

Currently, a Skilled Worker visa holder who loses their job has exactly 60 days to find a new sponsor. If a new employer is not found within that period, the person must leave the country.

From 2027, high-earning workers will get up to 6 months to find a new sponsor. This significantly eases the situation, allowing people to search for a suitable position instead of urgently accepting the first offer just to maintain their status.

However, an important caveat: the budget mentions “high-earning workers” without precisely defining the term. Details will become known in 2027.

Tax Changes for Sponsorship and Hiring

From 28 October 2026, payments for the certificate of sponsorship and the Immigration Skills Charge will no longer be treated as a taxable benefit for the foreign worker. This means hiring foreign specialists becomes cheaper for employers.

Although these payments won’t make headlines, together they have a noticeable impact on the cost of hiring highly paid employees.

Reduced Tax Relief on Business Sales

Business Asset Disposal Relief allowed company owners to pay only 18% tax on the first million pounds of profit instead of the standard 24%. This provided potential savings of £60,000.

Starting in April 2027, the reduced tax rate will apply only to the first £500,000. Any amount above this threshold is taxed at the full 24% rate. The maximum tax saving from this relief will fall from £60,000 to £30,000.

Those planning to sell their company are advised to complete the deal before April 2027.

Support for Small Business and Young Professionals

Despite the reduction in tax relief, the budget includes support for small businesses. The threshold for property tax relief eligibility is being raised from £12,000 to £18,000. This will affect owners of shops, restaurants, sports clubs, and pubs.

For young professionals who have graduated from university, the two-year period to work in the UK after graduation remains in place. Graduates from the world’s top 150 universities will receive an invitation to stay in the country.

For tech startups that have built high-growth companies, a £10 million tax shield is in effect.

Investor Visas Remain Unavailable

Despite widespread speculation before the budget announcement about a possible return of the investor visa, this did not happen. The old Tier 1 Investor route, closed in 2022, remains unavailable. The UK no longer offers residency through investment. What is required is building a genuine business, employing genuine specialists, or graduating from a leading university. Direct financial contribution is not a way to obtain a British visa.