The UK government announced a raft of measures to reduce work immigration for less skilled roles and prioritise training British workforce for such jobs in its Immigration White Paper in May which we outlined here. The first of these changes have now come into effect, spelling major changes to who employers can bring to the UK on work visas from 22 July 2025 and how.
Changes to Skilled Worker Visas
There will be no more new visas for carers and senior carers from abroad from 22 July, there are transitional measures for those in these adult social care roles already in the UK up to the end of 2028.
The other major change is raising the minimum skills threshold to sponsor workers on Britain’s main post-Brexit work visa, the Skilled Worker visa, 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). This means 111 occupations can no longer be sponsored from abroad on a new Skilled Worker visas as they are no longer deemed skilled enough.
Those already on Skilled Worker visas before 22 July 2025 may still switch sponsor, renew their visa and carry out supplementary employment all at RQF3 and above, according to the rules in place prior to 22 July.
Otherwise, there is a temporary fix for some RQF3+ roles in a new interim Temporary Shortage List which the Department for Business and Trade and His Majesty’s Treasury has compiled of jobs that are needed 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.
The Immigration Salary List, with its 20% discount on the general minimum salary threshold for sponsoring skilled workers will be phased out, but for now it has a couple more jobs added to it, also allowing a temporary reprieve for employers.
The Immigration Salary List also allows some occupations under RQF6 to be sponsored. It allows employers to pay a discounted general salary threshold for certain shortage occupations and has been expanded slightly to include 25 jobs. These occupations are currently on the list until 31 December 2026. However, the Immigration Salary List is due to be phased out.
You can see which jobs are on all these lists and which can still be sponsored on the regular Skilled Worker route here.
Minimum salary changes
From 22 July 2025, the minimum general salary for new Skilled Worker visas is rising from the current £38,700 to £41,700. The hourly rate will rise from £15.88 to £17.13. Minimum salary thresholds for other work visas, including discounts such as PhDs and New Entrants are also increasing by about eight percent due to inflation. There are changes to the going rate of pay that must also be met to sponsor workers. You can find out more about minimum salary increases here.
The government has commissioned a fuller review of all work visa minimum salaries and discounts in the coming months, so we expect more changes.
Changes to UK immigration rules for sponsoring skilled workers published by Home Office
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