UK immigration rules governing skilled workers and business mobility are set for a significant overhaul, effective July 22, 2025. The changes, formally outlined in the official Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules HC 997, signal a tightening of requirements across several key areas, including skill levels, salary thresholds, and eligibility for certain occupations and dependants.
The reforms are poised to reshape the landscape for businesses seeking to recruit talent from abroad and for individuals planning to work in the United Kingdom.
Higher Skill Requirements
One of the most impactful changes targets the minimum skill level required for the Skilled Worker visa route. Currently set at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3, the threshold will be raised significantly to RQF level 6 from the effective date. RQF levels are a system used in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to recognise qualifications, broadly correlating to education levels. RQF level 3 is equivalent to qualifications such as A-levels or NVQ Level 3, while RQF level 6 corresponds to bachelor’s degrees or higher.
This elevation is expected to render approximately 180 occupations that previously qualified for sponsorship now ineligible under the standard Skilled Worker route, narrowing the pool of roles for which companies can recruit internationally under this category. This shift reflects a policy focus on attracting higher-skilled professionals.
Increased Salary Thresholds
Financial requirements for sponsored workers are also seeing substantial increases across several visa routes. For new applications under the Skilled Worker route, the general minimum annual salary threshold will rise significantly from £38,700 to £41,700.
Concessions for those with specific qualifications or in demand sectors will also see increases, though remaining below the general threshold. For individuals holding a relevant PhD, the required salary will climb from £34,830 to £37,500. A lower threshold will apply to those with a PhD in a STEM subject, roles listed on the Immigration Salary List (ISL), or individuals classified as ‘new entrants’. Even this threshold will increase, rising from £30,960 to £33,400.
These higher salary requirements aim to ensure sponsored workers are filling higher-paid roles, aligning with government objectives to attract more highly skilled labour and potentially reduce overall net migration numbers by making lower-paid roles harder to fill via this route.
Beyond the Skilled Worker route, minimum salary thresholds for routes under the Global Business Mobility and Scale-up categories will also be raised. The required minimum salary for these routes will increase from £48,500 to £52,500. This adjustment impacts businesses transferring employees internationally or fast-growing companies recruiting under the Scale-up system.
Impact on Care Sector
The reforms include specific and significant provisions affecting the care sector. Overseas recruitment for roles classified under Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes 6135 (Care workers) and 6136 (Home carers) will cease entirely on July 22, 2025. This change marks a major shift in how the UK care sector can source staff from abroad and follows previous measures in this sector.
However, transitional measures are in place for those already working in these specific roles in the UK. Individuals holding valid visas as care workers or home carers will be permitted to switch sponsors within the UK, provided they continue to work in these specific roles for their new sponsor. This concession for in-country switching, available only to those already legally working in these roles for their sponsor, will remain accessible until July 22, 2028, offering a limited window for existing sponsored care staff to remain in the UK labour market under specific conditions, even as overseas recruitment ends.
Restrictions on Dependants
A notable change related to lower-skilled roles concerns the ability of visa holders to bring family members to the UK. From July 22, 2025, dependants will generally not be allowed for Skilled Workers sponsored in occupations below the new RQF level 6 threshold. This measure aims to restrict the ability of individuals sponsored in roles that would no longer qualify under the stricter RQF 6 criteria from bringing family members to the UK. Some exceptions may apply for individuals who already hold visas with dependants before the effective date, providing a degree of protection for existing family units.
Transitional Arrangements
The Statement of Changes HC 997 includes crucial transitional arrangements designed to mitigate the impact of these sweeping changes on existing visa holders and those with applications already in progress. Individuals who currently hold a Skilled Worker visa or have a pending Skilled Worker application submitted before July 22, 2025, will benefit from these provisions.
They will generally be assessed under the previous rules when applying for a renewal of their visa, changing jobs to another sponsored role, or undertaking supplementary employment, even if their occupation falls below the new RQF level 6 requirement or the salary is lower than the new thresholds (provided it met the previous threshold). This grandfathering clause provides a degree of continuity and predictability for those already embedded in the UK’s sponsored work system before the reforms take effect, allowing them to extend or change jobs under the rules they initially qualified under for a period.
Conclusion
The comprehensive set of changes coming into effect on July 22, 2025, represents a significant tightening of the UK’s Skilled Worker and Business Mobility visa routes. By raising skill and salary thresholds and implementing targeted restrictions on specific sectors like care and on dependants for lower-skilled roles, the government is enacting policies aimed at restructuring the flow of international labour into the UK.
The focus is clearly shifting towards attracting higher-skilled and higher-paid professionals, while signaling a reduced reliance on foreign workers for certain roles deemed lower-skilled under the new framework. Businesses and prospective applicants are strongly urged to review the details outlined in Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules HC 997 to understand the full implications of these impending reforms on their future plans and operations.
