London, UK – The British government has announced sweeping reforms to its primary work visa categories, most notably impacting the Skilled Worker route and related business mobility schemes. These significant changes are scheduled to come into effect on July 22, 2025.
The new regulations introduce stricter criteria for eligibility, particularly concerning skill levels and salary thresholds, aiming to reshape the composition of the UK’s foreign workforce. However, transitional arrangements have been included to mitigate the immediate impact on existing visa holders and pending applications.
Applications for these routes submitted with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued before July 22, 2025, or applications that do not require a CoS submitted before this date, will be assessed under the rules that were in place on July 21, 2025. This provides a window for individuals and employers to finalise submissions under the current framework.
Key Changes to the Skilled Worker Route
The most substantial alteration to the Skilled Worker route is the significant increase in the required skill level for eligible occupations. The minimum threshold is being raised from RQF level 3 to RQF level 6. This upward shift means that approximately 180 occupations that were previously eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa will no longer qualify under the new rules.
In line with this change, the government’s occupation tables, which categorise jobs for immigration purposes, are being restructured. They will now feature separate lists: one for occupations at RQF level 6 and above, and another for occupations at RQF levels 3 to 5.
Recognising the need for continuity, the reforms include transitional provisions for current Skilled Worker visa holders and those with cases pending on the effective date. These individuals will generally be permitted to renew their existing visas or change employers and jobs, even if their occupation falls below the new RQF level 6 threshold, provided they meet other relevant criteria.
Revised Salary Thresholds
Accompanying the higher skill threshold are substantial increases to the minimum salary requirements for new Skilled Worker visa applications from July 22, 2025:
* The Standard minimum salary threshold will rise significantly from £38,700 to £41,700.
* For applicants with a PhD in a subject relevant to the job, the threshold increases from £34,830 to £37,500.
* Applicants with a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job, or those qualifying under the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or as a new entrant to the labour market, will see their threshold rise from £30,960 to £33,400.
It is important to note that lower transitional salary rates will apply for individuals who held Skilled Worker leave (or leave under the predecessor Tier 2 (General) route) before April 4, 2024, providing a degree of protection for this cohort.
Immigration Salary List Replaced
A major structural change involves the phasing out of the current Immigration Salary List (ISL). This list, which allowed certain occupations to be sponsored at a lower salary rate than the general threshold, will be replaced by a new Temporary Shortage List.
This new list is expected to be highly selective and will primarily focus on a limited number of occupations below RQF level 6. Eligibility criteria for roles on this list are anticipated to be strict, and any concessions offered via this route are likely to have defined time limits.
Dependant Rules for Skilled Workers
The new rules also introduce restrictions on dependants for certain Skilled Worker visa holders. Generally, dependants (partners and children) will not be permitted for Skilled Workers sponsored in occupations below RQF level 6. This represents a significant shift for lower-skilled roles that might previously have qualified for sponsorship.
However, exemptions are expected to apply to existing visa holders who already have dependants, allowing them to maintain their family unity in the UK. Specific provisions may also exist for certain categories of children.
Changes to Other Work Routes
Beyond the Skilled Worker route, other key business mobility routes are also subject to salary adjustments:
* For the Scale-Up route, the minimum salary threshold is set to increase from £36,300 to £39,100. Transitional rates will be available for those sponsored under older rules, and clarified guidance is being issued regarding variable working patterns to ensure consistent application of the salary requirements.
* The Global Business Mobility (GBM) route, used by multinational companies to transfer employees to the UK, will see its minimum salary threshold rise from £48,500 to £52,500, also effective July 22, 2025. The announcement includes clarifications on how pro-rata calculations should be performed for employees with variable working hours, ensuring compliance with the new minimum.
Looking Ahead
The implementation of these reforms marks a significant tightening of the UK’s work visa system. Employers relying on skilled foreign labour, particularly in sectors that utilise roles previously falling between RQF levels 3 and 5, will need to carefully assess the impact on their recruitment strategies. Individuals planning to apply for UK work visas after July 22, 2025, must ensure their prospective roles and salaries meet the stringent new requirements. The transitional arrangements offer some temporary relief, but the long-term trajectory points towards a more selective immigration system focused predominantly on highly skilled and higher-paid occupations.
