On 1 July 2025, the UK Government published a new Statement of Changes which implements many of the changes proposed in its Immigration White Paper earlier this year.
The new changes will come into force on 22 July 2025. These changes are significant and there are no transitional arrangements in place in most cases. Employers should act now to ensure that current or prospective sponsored workers will meet the new requirements.
We have set out a summary of these changes below. Please contact us for further advice on how these changes may impact your current or prospective employees.
What is changing from 22 July 2025?
- Skilled Workers salary thresholds will increase. The general salary threshold will increase to £41,700 and going rates for individual roles will also increase. Different increases will apply to workers eligible for the new entrant or other discounts and those who were sponsored before April 4 April 2024.
- Skilled Worker skills thresholds will increase. Only roles at RQF Level 6 or above will be eligible for sponsorship from overseas. Workers who are already in the UK can continue to be sponsored but the UK Government has said this will not continue indefinitely.
- Recruitment of overseas care workers will end. Care workers and senior care workers will be removed from the list of occupations which are eligible for sponsorship from overseas. Care workers already in the UK can be sponsored until 22 July 2028. Switching into a sponsored care worker role from another visa (such as the Graduate visa) will continue to be possible until 22 July 2028, but the worker must be employed by their sponsor for at least 3 months before they are sponsored.
- The right to bring family members will be restricted. Workers sponsored in RQF 3-5 roles will no longer be able to add dependent family members to their visas. This does not impact workers already in the route or workers in roles at RQF 6+.
What do employers need to do?
- Review sponsored workers’ salaries. Employers should carry out an immediate salary review for all sponsored workers or proposed sponsored workers to ensure that they will meet the new salary thresholds when they make their next visa application.
- Review skill levels of sponsored roles. Employers should check that any roles which are below RQF 6 are still eligible for sponsorship on either the revised Immigration Salary List or the new Temporary Shortage List.
- Consider sponsorship before 22 July 2025. If you wish to sponsor prospective employees who do not meet the new requirements, you may be able to do so before the changes come into force. Contact us if you are considering this option. There may be longer waiting times than usual for sponsor licence applications, Certificate of Sponsorship allocation increases or Defined Certificates of Sponsorship.
Our expert Immigration team can assist with sponsorship of current or prospective employees ahead of these changes on 22 July 2025. Contact us on 03330 430350 for further advice.
