Key Policy Changes from 22 July 2025

1. New Salary Thresholds from 22 July 2025 (General & Occupation-Based)

Salary thresholds for new Skilled Worker sponsorship will rise:

✅ How this will effect the tradable points can be viewed here.

✅ Those assigned a CoS on or after 22 July 2025 will need to be paid a minimum salary of £41,700 or the going rate for the SOC Code relied on, whichever is higher.

✅ Those who were sponsored after 4 April 2024 can remain on their current salary and at the time of renewal/extension will need to be paid £41,700 or the going rate for the SOC code, whichever is higher.

✅ It should also be noted that those on a Skilled Worker visa before 4 April 2024 will be subject to transitional arrangements and will need to be paid a minimum salary of £31,300 where previously it was £29,000.

Note: Health and education roles (Option K) continue to have a lower threshold of £25,000.

2.  Skills Threshold Raised to RQF Level 6 

• The minimum skill level for Skilled Worker roles has been increased from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6 (degree level experience). 

• Around 180 occupations have been removed from the eligible list unless they appear on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL).

• Transitional arrangements will allow current RQF 3–5 sponsored workers and those sponsored under these rules before 22 July 2025 to continue to extend their visas and switch employment under RQF 3 – 5 SOC Codes, but these arrangements are temporary and will be reviewed in due course.

Important: All Skilled Workers, including those assigned a visa before 22 July, will be able to take supplementary employment in roles which are skilled at RQF Level 3 or above.

3.  Immigration Salary List (ISL) Expanded Temporarily  

The ISL will temporarily include RQF 3–5 occupations that the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) identified as being shortage roles from 2023/24 MAC reviews. However:

• No dependants will be allowed for ISL visa applicants assigned a CoS on or after 22 July 2025

• Those with a CoS assigned before 21 July 2025 may continue to sponsor dependants under transitional rules. Children born in the UK and children for whom the Skilled Worker has sole responsibility will be exempt from these restrictions

The MAC has been tasked by the Home Secretary to complete a comprehensive review of the ISL by July 2026 to determine which occupations at RQF 3 – 5 should remain eligible or added for Skilled Worker sponsorship.

4.  New Interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL) 

The TSL will be a list that will be subject to ongoing change and subject to supply/demand of roles in the resident market

Key details include:

• Covers RQF 3–5 roles linked to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy

• Applies to CoS assigned from 22 July 2025 to 31 December 2026

• Post-2026 inclusion dependent on Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advice, workforce strategy and local recruitment efforts.

✅The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) can be found here.

5.  Care Sector Sponsorship Restrictions 

One of the most significant changes affects the care and senior care worker roles:

• No new out-of-country sponsorships will be allowed from 22 July 2025

• Switches within the UK are allowed until July 2028, provided the applicant has 3 months' work history

• Extensions will still be permitted for existing sponsored care workers

6.  Clarifying Nursing Auxiliary Roles  

Only employers operating in environments with registered nurse positions can sponsor workers under nursing auxiliary roles. This is to prevent employers sponsoring care workers and senior care workers through the ‘back-door’ through these Codes. 

7.  GBM and Scale-Up Routes: Salary Thresholds Increased 

The minimum salaries for Global Business Mobility routes will increase as follows

Deferred Changes (Later in 2025 or 2026)

• Potential abolition of the ISL (MAC review due July 2026).

• Review of salary thresholds and discounts, MAC report due January 2026.

• English language requirement for main applicants may increase to CEFR B2.

• Dependants may face stepwise English progression requirements (A1 ➝ A2 ➝ B2).

• Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) set to rise by 32% (up to £1,320/year for large sponsors and £480/year for small sponsors and charities).

• Consultations and implementation of earned settlement and citizenship.

• New dependant rules under a revised family migration policy expected later in 2025.

What Sponsors Should Do Now

✔️ Assign Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by 21 July 2025 to benefit from current salary thresholds

✔️ Submit CoS allocation increase request early to avoid delays due to high demand

✔️ Consider using the priority services for CoS allocation where available

✔️ Assign CoS for longer durations to mitigate future cost increases and salary threshold changes

✔️ Consider switching students from Student route directly to Skilled Worker to benefit from Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) exemptions.

✔️ Review salary thresholds applicable at extension or settlement stage under the new rules which will be applicable to all Skilled Workers from 5 April 2024 onwards.

✔️ Monitor Home Office updates and MAC call for evidence and reviews.

Related Reading – UK Immigration White Paper Blog Series

• Part 1: What the White Paper Means for Employers and Sponsors

• Part 2: Direction of Immigration and Labour Market Reform

• Part 3: 10-Year Settlement Rule – What Employers Should Know

• Part 4: SOC Code Changes, Salary Reform, and TSL Introduction