Vanessa Ganguin writes briefing on UK work visa changes for Startups Magazine

18 August 2025

Major changes to who can apply for UK work visas have come into force this summer. Here is a quick summary of what employers and those seeking work visas need to know about today’s changes that Vanessa Ganguin has written for Startups Magazine.

Major changes for employers include:

• The skill level requirement to sponsor new Skilled Workers coming to the UK increases. 111 jobs no longer qualify.
• Those already on the Skilled Worker route may still extend visas, change employer and take supplementary employment.
• Some jobs that no longer meet the new skills threshold for Skilled Worker visas qualify for a new Temporary Shortage List – but there are limitations.
• Changes to minimum salaries for work visas

The UK government proposes other reforms that employers must watch out for, without any firm timeline.

• The most controversial proposal is to double five-year routes to settlement to 10 years. There will be “earned settlement” in shorter time frames for immigrants that contribute to the economy and society. If employees are not settled after five years, companies may be looking at double the immigration costs.
• The Graduate visa is to be shortened from two years to 18 months. There is no mention of shortening the three years for those with a PhD on the Graduate route.
• Highly skilled immigration: promises include increased research intern places, expanding Global Talent visa applications for design and science talent and a review of the Innovator Founder route.
• Opening UK offices: the number of workers an overseas business can send to the UK to establish a presence is expected to double, benefiting the Expansion Worker route.
• Refugee work routes: the government will explore allowing UNHCR-recognised refugees to apply for employment through existing skilled worker routes.
• The Border Bill currently in the House of Lords is set to extend the right to work check framework to gig economy and zero-hour worker employers.
• Home Office compliance enforcement and sanctions are increasing, so with all these other changes, keeping on top of compliance and all these upcoming changes will become more important than ever.

You can read all about these changes in Vanessa’s article in Startups magazine in the link below. Please email vanessa@vanessaganguin.com if you would like to discuss them or an audit of your sponsorship and right to work processes.

Vanessa Ganguin and are ranked very highly for both Personal Immigration and Business Immigration advice in the main legal guides. According to Chambers UK 2025: “Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law houses a team of experienced professionals with expertise across a wide range of business immigration topics. Technology, media and financial organisations regularly request its assistance with complex matters. The team is well versed in Creative Worker sponsor licenses, Skilled Worker sponsor licences and issues related to leave to remain applications.”