Today the Home Office published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules that will commence on 22nd July 2025 with major impacts on UK employers.
-
Increase to Skilled Worker Salary thresholds and Going Rates
The Home Office has announced that from the 22nd July 2025, the salary thresholds and going rates for Skilled Worker visas will be increased. Transitional provisions have been issued for those who obtain their visas or Certificates of Sponsorship prior to the 22nd July 2025.
Please see the table below which details the changes in salary threshold, if you’d like an in-dept review of your current workforces’ salaries and a projection on how they are expected to increase then please contact us separately and we’ll be happy to provide you with a quote:
2. Skills Threshold for Skilled Workers increased to RQF 6
As mentioned in the White Paper released in May 2025, the Home Office have now increased the skills threshold for a Skilled Worker visa to RQF level 6.
Any applicant applying from overseas will be unable to be sponsored for a role under RQF 3-5 unless the role is on the current Immigration Salary list or the Temporary Shortage List. If an applicant is sponsored for a role under RQF 3-5 then they will be unable to sponsor any dependants to join them in the UK.
Those who are already being sponsored for roles under RQF 3-5 will be unaffected.
3. Temporary Shortage List released
The new temporary shortage list has now been released; this list is comprised of roles which fall under RQF 3-5 for which the Home Office has identified as having labour shortages.
Employers will be permitted to sponsor individuals with roles which fall under this list. The list of occupations on the Temporary Shortage list are detailed below:
|
SOC Code |
Occupation Title |
Notes |
|
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 n.e.c. |
Only: 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 n.e.c. |
Only: 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 n.e.c. |
Only: Box office assistants, Grants officers, Mortgage administrators, Revenue assistants (excludes National and Local government), 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 n.e.c. |
|
|
5311 |
Steel erectors |
|
|
5315 |
Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers |
|
|
5319 |
Construction and building trades n.e.c. |
Only: Builders, Divers, Fence erectors, Industrial climbers, 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 |
4. Immigration Salary List to be phased out by 31st December 2026
The current Immigration Salary list will be phased out and replaced by the Temporary Shortage list above by the 31st December 2026.
5. Adult Social Care Routes to be closed from 22nd July 2025
As mentioned in the White Paper released last month, the adult social care route will be closed from the 22nd July 2025.
Transitional provisions will remain to enable those currently sponsored in those roles to switch or extend their visas until 22nd July 2028.
The requirements for care homes to recruit from the existing Skilled Worker pool will also be removed.
What does this mean for you?
The Home Office has confirmed that these changes will come into effect from the 22nd July 2025, any Certificate of Sponsorship that is assigned prior to this date will be decided under the current rules. Therefore, we recommend starting any planned visa application sooner rather than later to avoid being caught by the higher salary and skills threshold.
Applications for visas can be filed up to 3 months prior to the worker’s start date so we highly recommend that any employees coming up for renewal are extended now or any overseas recruitment is brought forward.
We also recommend all employers check their existing allocations on the Sponsor Management System to ensure they have sufficient Certificates to sponsor workers, if further allocations are required then we recommend these are completed as soon as possible.
If you have any questions in relation to the above then please do not hesitate to reach out to info@migrate-uk.com or 01235 645800; we’re always happy to assist.