Changes to UK immigration rules for sponsoring skilled workers published by Home Office

1 July 2025

The Home Office has published changes to the Immigration Rules bringing into effect some of the first UK immigration reforms mentioned in the Labour government’s recent Immigration White Paper. These concern who employers can sponsor on a Skilled Worker visa and come into effect from 22 July.

An accompanying news release from the Home Office announces that the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 997, 1 July 2025 sees “skills and salary thresholds rise, overseas recruitment for care workers end, and more than 100 occupations no longer granted access to the immigration system.” Not mentioned in the news release is the closure with immediate effect today of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) to new principal applicants*, as well as the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), two of the perishingly slim official options for refugees to come to the UK without resorting to the people smugglers the government has had in its sights since coming to power.

The government also has recruitment from abroad in its sights and these major changes to the Skilled Worker route are the first in a raft of policies that the government wants to steer British businesses towards training local workforce to fill skills gaps with.

Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss recruitment strategies involving immigrants and how they may be affected by the changes I have outlined below.

How will the immigration changes affect hiring Skilled Workers?

These changes will mainly hit sectors the government doesn’t consider part of its industrial strategy or building crucial infrastructure.

Despite 71% of social care providers finding recruitment challenging according to the Department of Health and Social Care’s Adult social care workforce survey, they will no longer be able to recruit care workers from overseas. There will be a transition period until 22 July 2028 for visa extensions and in-country switching for care workers and senior care workers already in the country on relevant visas, to be kept under review.

Raising the minimum skills threshold from Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 (the equivalent of A-level or school-leaver) to RQF6 (degree level in skill rather than educational attainment) will exclude 111 occupations from being hired from abroad on a Skilled Worker visa.

From 22 July, employers will only be able to hire those already in the UK as Skilled Workers in such roles. They will be able to renew their visas and continue to stay in the UK under transitionary measures which will be reviewed and removed in due course, but hopefully only once this cohort already in the UK have been here long enough to settle.

60 critical shortage occupations below the required skill level of RQF6 will have a temporary reprieve and still be able to be hired from abroad as they are on an expanded ‘Immigration Salary List’ or a new ‘Temporary Shortage List’ (see below). The Immigration Salary List will be phased out in future changes to Immigration Rules. Entries on the Temporary Shortage List are time-limited and conditional. Skills and training strategies will be expected to eventually fill such gaps in the labour market with resident workers and the MAC will want to see evidence of both skills shortages crucial to the UK government’s recently announced Modern Industrial Strategy and sectoral bodies’ workforce strategies tackling these. These changes therefore include removal dates for occupations on both lists at the end of 2026, with the exception of adult social care where transitional measures should end in 2028.

The expanded Immigration Salary List will now contain the existing entries plus occupations at RQF levels 3-5 which the MAC identified as being in shortage in its 2023 review and 2024 rapid review. It will be kept temporarily, allowing employers to sponsor Skilled Workers in some critical occupations below degree level with a 20% discount on the general salary threshold for Skilled Workers.

There will be strict requirements for sectors to contribute to training domestic skills to a level where inclusion on the Temporary Shortage List will no longer be needed. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will review the list including which occupations should remain on it beyond the end of 2026 and on what minimum salaries.

Workers in occupations on the Temporary Shortage List will no longer be able to bring dependants and will not be permitted salary and visa fee discounts. (When dependants were removed from UK care work and student visas, these became less attractive options.)

There is no mention currently of settlement for Skilled Workers sponsored on the Temporary Shortage List

There is no mention currently of any differences in the route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (or settlement) or indeed citizenship for Skilled Workers sponsored on the Temporary Shortage List in this Statement of Changes. The MAC is set to carry out a consultation and review the route to settlement over the next few months, followed by rules changes, so it is not unusual that there are no changes as yet mentioned for those on the Temporary Shortage List. If time spent on a route to settlement is increased from five to ten years for some migrants as was trailed in the government’s recent Immigration White Paper then some on this route may not be able to reach the full ten years if they cannot renew their visa when occupations drop off the list. If everything stays the same they may be able to qualify after five years, but we will be keenly awaiting further changes to the UK settlement and citizenship rules.

What are the new minimum salary thresholds going to be for a sponsored Skilled Worker?

Skilled Workers must be sponsored on a gross wage which is above the highest of the ‘minimum salary threshold’ for this visa category, the going rate of pay for that particular occupation as defined by the UK government, as well as complying with National Minimum Wage rules – with exceptions for the discounts below. From 22 July 2025, the minimum salary threshold is rising from the current £38,700 to £41,700, a rise the government says is uprating to keep pace with inflation. The hourly rate will rise from £15.88 to £17.13.

For those with a non-STEM PhD and a 10% discount, the £34,830 minimum salary threshold will rise to £37,500. For New Entrants and sponsored Skilled Workers with STEM PhDs, or those on the Immigration Salary List who qualify for a 20% discount, the £30,960 minimum salary will be uprated to £33,400. People already on the Skilled Worker route before April 2024’s changes and a few ‘Health and Care ASHE salary job’ occupation codes not on a national pay scale have a minimum salary threshold rise from £29,000 to £31,300. And those in these categories with a 10 per cent PhD discount have a minimum rise from £26,100 to £28,200.

There are also minor changes to the going rates for occupations that must be met as a minimum salary when sponsoring workers.

The Migration Advisory Committee is conducting a review of salaries and discounts this year, after which we can expect more changes. Numbers are unlikely to go down. Since April 2024, the minimum salary threshold has been based on the median of all occupations eligible for sponsorship as a Skilled Worker. Whether this formula will continue to be used, or whether this would be too big a leap now that 111 RQF3-5 occupations have been removed, remains to be seen.

What will the new salary thresholds be for other work visas?

There are also new salary thresholds for workers sponsored under Global Business Mobility routes. Senior or Specialist Workers to meet specific business needs and UK Expansion Workers’ minimum salary thresholds will rise from £48,500 to £52,500 on 22 July. For Graduate Trainees, the rise will be from £25,410 to £27,300.

Scale-up Workers’ minimum salaries will be uprated from £36,300 to £39,100. Though transitional rates continue to apply to earlier grants of permission as those on a Scale-up visa have a minimum based on when they were first assigned a CoS.

What occupations are on the Temporary Shortage List?

The new Temporary Shortage List, contains occupations at RQF levels 3-5 which the Department for Business and Trade and His Majesty’s Treasury have identified as being important for the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy. The UK Government’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy policy paper recently revealed eight sectors – the IS-8 – it says have the highest potential for growth: advanced manufacturing, creatives, life sciences, clean energy, defence, technology, financial services and professional services such as accounting and legal. The list below suggests a rather flexible interpretation.

These occupations are on the current list, which will be reviewed by the MAC later this year.

• 1243 Managers in logistics

• 1258 Directors in consultancy services

• 3111 Laboratory technicians

• 3112 Electrical and electronics technicians

• 3113 Engineering technicians

• 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians

• 3115 Quality assurance technicians

• 3116 Planning, process and production technicians

• 3120 CAD, drawing and architectural technicians

• 3131 IT operations technicians

•3132 IT user support technicians

• 3133 Database administrators and web content technicians

• 3412 Authors, writers and translators

• 3414 Dancers and choreographers

• 3417 Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators

• 3422 Clothing, fashion and accessories designers

• 3429 Design occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:

• Industrial and product designers
• Packaging designers
• Performance make-up artists
• Set designers
• Visual merchandising managers and designers

• 3512 Ship and hovercraft officers

• 3520 Legal associate professionals

• 3532 Insurance underwriters

• 3533 Financial and accounting technicians

• 3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors

• 3544 Data analysts

• 3549 Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:

• Business support officers
• Business systems analysts
• Contract administrators
• Clinical coders
• Clinical trials administrators
• Research coordinators

• 3552 Business sales executives

• 3554 Advertising and marketing associate professionals

• 3571 Human resources and industrial relations officers

• 3573 Information technology trainers

• 4121 Credit controllers

• 4122 Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks

• 4129 Financial administrative occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:

• Box office assistants
• Grants officers
• Mortgage administrators
• Revenue assistants (excludes National and Local government revenue occupations)
• Treasury assistants

• 4132 Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants

• 5213 Welding trades

• 5214 Pipe fitters

• 5223 Metal working production and maintenance fitters

• 5225 Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers

• 5231 Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians

• 5232 Vehicle body builders and repairers

• 5233 Vehicle paint technicians

• 5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers

• 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters

• 5242 Telecoms and related network installers and repairers

• 5244 Computer system and equipment installers and servicers

• 5245 Security system installers and repairers

• 5249 Electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere classified

• 5311 Steel erectors

• 5315 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers

• 5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:

• Builders
• Divers
• Fence erectors
• Industrial climbers
• Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operators
• Steel fixers and underpinners

• 5322 Floorers and wall tilers

• 5323 Painters and decorators

• 5330 Construction and building trades supervisors

• 8133 Energy plant operatives

What jobs are on the new Immigration Salary List?

• 1212 Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services – only “fishing boat masters” (only in Scotland)

• 1232 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors

• 2111 Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry (only in Scotland)

• 2112 Biological scientists – all jobs

• 2115 Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists

• 2142 Graphic and multimedia designers – all jobs

• 3111 Laboratory technicians – only jobs requiring three or more years’ related on-the-job experience which was not gained illegally.

• 3212 Pharmaceutical technicians – all jobs

• 3411 Artists – all jobs

• 3414 Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by UK ballet or contemporary dance company that is endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils.

• 3415 Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras that are full members of the Association of British Orchestras.

• 3416 Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs

• 5119 Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified – only jobs in the fishing industry

• 5213 Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires three or more years’ related on-the-job experience obtained through working legally.

• 5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers – all jobs (only Scotland)

• 5312 Stonemasons and related trades – all jobs

• 5313 Bricklayers – all jobs

• 5314 Roofers, roof tilers and slaters – all jobs

• 5316 Carpenters and joiners – all jobs

• 5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only retrofitters

• 6129 Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified – only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders

• 6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants – all jobs (only applies to roles in environments where registered nurse roles also exist.)

• 6135 Care workers and home carers – for transitionary sponsoring of those already working legally in these roles in the UK until 2028

• 6136 Senior care workers – for transitionary sponsoring of those already working legally in these roles in the UK until 2028

• 9119 Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified – only deckhands on large fishing vessels (9 metres and above) where the job requires at least three years’ full-time legally-obtained experience.

What occupations will remain above the skills threshold to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa after July 2025?

There will be a transitional provision for those already on the Skilled Worker route in occupations below RQF6 allowing them to extend their visa, change employment and take supplementary employment according to the rules that applied when they were sponsored. However, applicants from overseas, or those applying to switch from other immigration routes, will have to follow the new rules. If they aren’t on one of the above temporary lists, Skilled Worker visa applicants sponsored for a genuine vacancy will have to be in one of the following RQF6+ occupations.

• 1111 Chief executives and senior officials

• 1121 Production managers and directors in manufacturing

• 1122 Production managers and directors in construction

• 1123 Production managers and directors in mining and energy

• 1131 Financial managers and directors

• 1132 Marketing, sales and advertising directors

• 1133 Public relations and communications directors

• 1134 Purchasing managers and directors

• 1135 Charitable organisation managers and directors

• 1136 Human resource managers and directors

• 1137 Information technology directors

• 1139 Functional managers and directors not elsewhere classified (for example, Accounts directors, Complaints and customer service directors, Events directors, Municipal clerks.)

• 1140 Directors in logistics, warehousing

• 1162 Senior police officers

• 1163 Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services

• 1171 Health services and public health managers and directors

• 1172 Social services managers and directors

• 1241 Managers in transport and distribution

• 1254 Waste disposal and environmental services managers

• 1255 Managers and directors in the creative industries

• 2111 Chemical scientists

• 2112 Biological scientists

• 2113 Biochemists and biomedical scientists

• 2114 Physical scientists

• 2115 Social and humanities scientists

• 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified

• 2121 Civil engineers

• 2122 Mechanical engineers

• 2123 Electrical engineers

• 2124 Electronics engineers

• 2125 Production and process engineers

• 2126 Aerospace engineers

• 2127 Engineering project managers and project engineers

• 2129 Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified (such as Acoustic engineers, Brewers (qualified), Food technologists, Gas engineers)

• 2131 IT project managers

• 2132 IT managers

• 2133 IT business analysts, architects and systems designers

• 2134 Programmers and software development professionals

• 2135 Cyber security professionals

• 2136 IT quality and testing professionals

• 2137 IT network professionals

• 2139 Information technology professionals not elsewhere classified

• 2141 Web design professionals

• 2142 Graphic and multimedia designers

• 2151 Conservation professionals

• 2152 Environment professionals

• 2161 Research and development (R&D) managers

• 2162 Other researchers, unspecified discipline

• 2240 Veterinarians

• 2311 Higher education teaching professionals

• 2317 Teachers of English as a foreign language

• 2319 Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified

• 2322 Education managers

• 2323 Education advisers and school inspectors

• 2329 Other educational professionals not elsewhere classified

• 2411 Barristers and judges

• 2412 Solicitors and lawyers

• 2419 Legal professionals not elsewhere classified

• 2421 Chartered and certified accountants

• 2422 Finance and investment analysts and advisers

• 2423 Taxation experts

• 2431 Management consultants and business analysts

• 2432 Marketing and commercial managers

• 2433 Actuaries, economists and statisticians

• 2434 Business and related research professionals

• 2435 Professional/chartered company secretaries

• 2439 Business, research and administrative professionals not elsewhere classified

• 2440 Business and financial project management professionals

• 2451 Architects

• 2452 Chartered architectural technologists, planning officers and consultants

• 2453 Quantity surveyors

• 2454 Chartered surveyors

• 2455 Construction project managers and related professionals

• 2462 Probation officers

• 2464 Youth work professionals

• 2469 Welfare professionals not elsewhere classified

• 2471 Librarians

• 2472 Archivists, conservators and curators

• 2481 Quality control and planning engineers

• 2482 Quality assurance and regulatory professionals

• 2483 Environmental health professionals

• 2491 Newspaper, periodical and broadcast editors

• 2492 Newspaper and periodical broadcast journalists and reporters

• 2493 Public relations professionals

• 2494 Advertising accounts managers and creative directors

• 3415 Musicians

• 3416 Arts officers, producers and directors

• 3511 Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers

• 3531 Brokers

• 3534 Financial accounts managers

• 3556 Sales accounts and business development managers

What supplementary employment is permitted for Skilled Workers after 22 July?

There are changes to permissible supplementary work for  Skilled Workers that reflect the skills changes. After 22 July, Skilled Workers may only carry out supplementary employment in a role that is also at the RQF6 skill level or a job on the Immigration Salary List. Those on the route before that date are still able to do supplementary work roles skilled at RQF3 and upwards in the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations.

When will other changes from the Immigration White Paper happen?

A news release from the Home Office accompanying this latest Statement of Changes intimates that more changes trailed in the Immigration White Paper will be implemented by the end of this year, including:

• A “new family policy framework.” The MAC recently warned that the previous Conservative government’s plan to raise the Minimum Income Requirement for Brits and settled people to bring a loved one to the UK further would cause families to suffer separation and may be subject to human rights challenges. The committee suggested a lowering of the current financial requirements could be a more appropriate way to balance economic interests with the rights of British citizens and their families.
• Raising the Immigration Skills Charge. The Immigration White Paper suggested a 32% hike.
• Uplifting English language requirements at different stages of the immigration system. The English language proficiency requirement for Skilled Workers and the majority of immigration routes will be raised from B1 (‘intermediate user’) to B2 (‘independent user’) level under the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages. Adult visa dependants, who hitherto did not need to demonstrate English language ability, will now be required to have basic English proficiency (A1 level). The White Paper says that this is aimed at easing integration into local communities and that there will be further assessments requiring improvements over time. An improvement in English to A2 level would be required for a visa extension and B2 will be a requirement for settlement applications for most immigration routes.

There is no tampering with the Graduate visa thus far. According to the White Paper, the Graduate visa will be shortened from two years to 18 months. There is no indication whether the three year Graduate visa for PhD students would be curtailed too, so the new 18-month limit may well only apply to all non PhD’s on the Graduate route.

An increase in research intern places was promised to help businesses access promising young talent. No date yet either for a promised review of the Innovator Founder immigration route to support entrepreneurial international students seeking to stay in the UK while working on innovative business ideas. (Student visas allow limited work options yet do not allow working on one’s business.)

There is no mention yet of when the White Paper’s promise to facilitate Global Talent visa applications from “top scientific and design talent” will happen. The White Paper also mentioned doubling the number of workers that an overseas business can send to the UK with the aim of establishing a presence in the UK – good news for the Expansion Worker route we advise on for organisations expanding into the UK.

The High Potential Individual visa currently allows graduates of the top 40 or so universities in the world to work in the UK for two years (three for postgrads). The government’s Modern Industrial Strategy policy paper last week suggested a capped expansion of the visa, doubling qualifying universities for the next academic year.

The big change for many migrants will be the qualifying time to settlement. Yet we may even have to wait until next year to find out who will face a doubling of current five year routes to ten, who will “earn” the right to a swifter route, as well as what transitional arrangements there will be for those already on such routes.

Wider changes to salary thresholds and discounts for work visas will likely wait a few months until after a MAC review.

If you are concerned and would like to discuss how to mitigate any of these changes, do email one of our lawyers, call 0207 033 9527 or fill out the form below, sooner rather than later.

*Eligible applicants who submitted their application before 3pm BST on 1 July 2025 will still be able to make eligibility applications for their immediate family members and additional family members after this date.