On 1 July, the Home Office announced a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, which will come into force on 22 July 2025. While it did not receive much attention in the press, the changes are significant, and any business with a sponsor licence should be aware of them.
The changes are the first step in implementing the Government's White Paper on immigration reform. The most significant changes are:
1. Increasing the skill level required for Work Visas
The White Paper confirmed the Government intends to increase the skill level for Skilled Worker visas to NQF Level 6, which is equivalent to degree level, rather than the current NQF Level 3 (Higher/A Level exams). This will come into force from 22 July 2025.
This change means there will be a large reduction in the number of jobs eligible for Skilled Worker visas. Some of the roles being removed will still be eligible for sponsorship, as they have been added to the interim Temporary Shortage List. However, this list will be reviewed by the Migration Advisory Committee, and the roles will be removed by the end of 2026 or earlier. In addition, workers in roles on the Temporary Shortage List will not be able to bring dependants to the UK.
2. Amendments to the salary level
As the salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas are based on the UK median for a particular occupation, the rates are being updated to reflect the latest salary data. This affects both the General Threshold, which all applications must meet, and the Going Rate for each particular job category. Examples of the changes include:
- The General Threshold for visas issued after 4 April 2024 is increasing from £38,700 to £41,700
- The New Entrant threshold for visas issued after 4 April 2024 is increasing from £30,690 to £33,400
- The General Threshold for visa holders in the Skilled Worker category before 4 April 2024 is increasing from £29,000 to £31,300
The changes to the Going Rate for particular roles vary depending on the job category, with some categories increasing by as much as 10%, and others seeing small reductions in the salary threshold.
3. Changes to the care worker route
From 22 July, it will only be possible to sponsor care workers who are already in the UK. Care worker roles are deemed to be below the skill level required for the visas, but in-country applications will remain available until 2028.
What does this mean for existing visa holders?
People who already have Skilled Worker visas can continue to extend them, provided they meet the relevant salary requirements, even if their role has been removed from the list of qualifying roles.
What can businesses do?
Any business with a sponsor licence should take steps to review their sponsored workers and salary bands. It is only necessary to meet the new salary threshold when applying for an extension or indefinite leave to remain, but businesses should consider whether they can do this now.
We also recommend that any existing recruitment plans are reviewed to ensure that candidates still qualify for the visa.
The Statement of Changes will have wide implications, and our specialist team can advise your business on how the changes will affect your operations and workforce.