Working in the UK: Right to Work, Payslips, Minimum Wage

Working in the UK comes down to four stages: prove your right to work to your employer before you start, understand the written offer, read your first payslip, and compare your take-home pay with your living costs. Since 1 April 2026, the National Minimum Wage for people aged 21 and over has been £12.71 an hour. If you need a Skilled Worker visa, the usual salary requirement is £41,700 a year or the “going rate” for the job, whichever is higher. This guide walks through each stage.

Who this guide is for

It is for job hunters who already have the right to work, people who need Skilled Worker sponsorship, and students looking for part-time work within their visa limits (see our study in the UK guide).

From job search to first payday

Look for roles that fit your situation. If you need sponsorship, check that the employer holds a licence using our licensed sponsors search. Being on the register does not mean every vacancy offers sponsorship, so ask directly.
Tailor your CV to the advert. Keep a record of the advert link, the date you applied and the employer for each application.
Prove your right to work before you start. Employers must check this before employing you. If you are not British or Irish, send a share code from “Prove your right to work” with your date of birth, or show your original immigration documents.
Read the offer and your written statement of terms.
Apply for a National Insurance number if you do not have one. You can start before it arrives if you have proved your right to work.
Check your first payslip and tax code.

Compare the whole offer, not just the salary

Base pay and hours: divide the salary by the hours you will really work to see your true hourly rate.
Holiday: almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year. For a 5-day week that is at least 28 days, and an employer can include bank holidays in it.
Pension: your employer must enrol you automatically if you are aged between 22 and State Pension age, earn at least £10,000 a year and usually work in the UK. The minimum total contribution is 8%, with at least 3% from your employer. In most schemes it is based on earnings between £6,240 and £50,270 a year.
Sick pay: Statutory Sick Pay is £123.25 a week or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Your employer pays it for every full day you are off sick that you would normally have worked, for up to 28 weeks. Some employers pay more, so ask.
Location and commute: work out the daily cost of getting there and whether home working is possible.
Probation and notice: these should appear in your written statement.

Your contract and written statement

Your employer must give you a “principal statement” on your first day and a wider written statement within 2 months of starting. The principal statement includes at least:

the employer’s name, your name, job title and start date
how much and how often you will be paid
your hours and working days, and whether and how they can change
holiday entitlement, place of work, how long the job will last if it is not permanent, and any probation period
other benefits and any required training

The wider statement covers pensions, collective agreements, non-compulsory training, and disciplinary and grievance procedures. If your terms change, your employer must tell you within one month of making the change.

National Minimum Wage from 1 April 2026

Age group	From April 2026 (per hour)	April 2025 to March 2026
21 and over	£12.71	£12.21
18 to 20	£10.85	£10.00
Under 18	£8.00	£7.55
Apprentice	£8.00	£7.55

Apprentices get the apprentice rate if they are under 19, or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. Once they have completed the first year and are 19 or over, they get the minimum wage for their age. Example: 37.5 hours a week at £12.71 an hour is about £476.63 a week before deductions.

Payslips and tax codes

What your payslip must show

If you are an employee or a worker (not a contractor or freelancer), you are entitled to a payslip on or before payday, on paper or electronically. It must show:

your pay before and after deductions
deductions that vary, such as Income Tax and National Insurance
the number of hours you worked, if your pay varies depending on time worked

Your tax code

Your employer uses your tax code to work out Income Tax. GOV.UK says 1257L is the tax code currently used for most people who have one job or pension. The letter L means you are entitled to the standard tax-free Personal Allowance. If your code ends in W1, M1 or X, you are on an emergency tax code. This often happens in a new job when your employer does not have your previous income details. Your tax is then worked out on that week’s or month’s pay only, so you may pay too much or too little until it is corrected. Give your new employer your P45 if you have one.

Income Tax and National Insurance in 2026/27

Band (outside Scotland)	Income	Rate
Personal Allowance	Up to £12,570	0%
Basic rate	£12,571 to £50,270	20%
Higher rate	£50,271 to £125,140	40%
Additional rate	Over £125,140	45%
Employee National Insurance	£242 to £967 a week	8%
Employee National Insurance	Over £967 a week	2%

The tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. Income Tax bands are different in Scotland. Work out your exact take-home pay in the salary calculator, and see our National Insurance guide for more on contributions.

If you need a Skilled Worker visa

The Skilled Worker visa needs a job with a Home Office-approved employer, a Certificate of Sponsorship, a job in an eligible occupation code, and the required level of English. The usual salary requirement is £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. If you do not meet the usual requirement and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible at £33,400 a year in certain situations. Health and education jobs have their own rules.

Application fee from 8 April 2026	Up to 3 years	More than 3 years
Applying from outside the UK	£819	£1,618
Applying from inside the UK (extend or switch)	£943	£1,865

You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, usually £1,035 per year. You will usually need at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 days in a row, with day 28 within 31 days of applying. You are exempt if you have been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your employer certifies maintenance on your Certificate of Sponsorship. The Home Office fee table taking effect on 8 October 2026 shows no change to these Skilled Worker fees. Estimate the total for your family in the visa cost calculator. Immigration rules change, so check the GOV.UK page before you apply.

Common mistakes

Starting before the right to work check. The check must happen before you start. It is your employer’s legal duty, but a delay hurts you too.
Comparing gross salaries only. Compare take-home pay after tax, National Insurance, pension and travel.
Ignoring the tax code on your first payslip. An emergency code can take too much tax; follow it up.
Trusting the job title. For visas, the duties and occupation code matter, not the marketing title.
Paying money for a “sponsored job”. Check the employer on the official register and find the original advert on its own website.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in the UK in 2026?

From 1 April 2026: £12.71 an hour for those 21 and over, £10.85 for 18 to 20-year-olds, and £8 for under-18s and apprentices on the apprentice rate.

Am I entitled to a payslip?

Yes, if you are an employee or worker. It must be given on or before payday. Contractors and freelancers are not covered.

Can I prove my right to work with documents instead of a share code?

Yes. GOV.UK says your employer cannot reject your application because you gave an eligible immigration document instead of a share code.

What salary do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?

Usually £41,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. Some people can qualify at £33,400 in specific situations. Look up your 4-digit occupation code on GOV.UK.

This page is general information, not legal advice. If your immigration situation is complex, speak to a regulated adviser, such as an SRA-regulated solicitor or an adviser registered with the Immigration Advice Authority. Find one in our immigration lawyers directory.

Sources

Your next step

Work out the take-home value of an offer in the salary calculator, then compare it with your costs in the cost of living planner. For job follow-up emails in English, use our message templates.

Reviewed 17 October 2026.

From job search to comparing an offer