Skilled worker visa reform July 2025: what UK employers need to know
11 July 2025 | posted in Immigration law
On 1 July 2025, the Home Office published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, marking one of the most significant reforms to the skilled worker route since its post-Brexit overhaul in 2021. These changes have important implications for UK businesses sponsoring migrant workers, particularly considering the increased skill level, salary thresholds and occupations eligible for sponsorship.
Here, we summarise the changes to the skilled worker visa reform, their impact and what action UK employers should take.
When will the changes come into effect?
While most changes to the work routes take effect on Tuesday 22 July 2025, employers and sponsored workers might need to act sooner.
- If an application is made using a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) which was assigned before 22 July 2025, or
- If a CoS is not required and the application is made before 22 July 2025,
the application will be decided under the current rules. This allows sponsors a short window to take advantage of the rules currently in place.
Increase in skill level requirement
The minimum skill level for skilled worker roles will rise from RQF Level 3 (A-level) to RQF Level 6 (graduate level). This policy shift is intended to decrease the number of sponsored workers in line with the government’s wider agenda to reduce net migration, with the Home Office estimating that around 180 roles will be removed from eligibility.
From 22 July 2025, for an employer to sponsor a skilled worker, the role must be:
- At RQF Level 6; or
- On the immigration salary list or the new temporary shortage list; or
- Covered under specific transitional provisions (see below) for applicants who already have skilled worker permission.
Transitional arrangements
Individuals with skilled worker permission based on a CoS assigned before 22 July 2025 can continue to be sponsored in occupations below RQF Level 6, meaning that under certain conditions, they can extend their stay or switch jobs.
Individuals with skilled worker permission granted under the rules in place before 4 April 2024 and who are sponsored under the lower salary thresholds, will continue to benefit from these salary discounts until 4 April 2030, provided they remain continuously sponsored as a skilled worker.
These transitional arrangements are subject to future review and may be withdrawn in due course.
Increased salary thresholds
Minimum annual salary thresholds will increase significantly in most sponsored work routes, for CoS’s assigned on or after 22 July 2025, as shown in the table below:
| Route | Current salary | New salary |
| Skilled worker (standard) | £38,700 | £41,700 |
| Skilled worker (PhD relevant) | £34,380 | £37,500 |
| Skilled worker (STEM PhD, immigration salary list, new entrants) | £30,960 | £33,400 |
| Senior/Specialist worker (GBM) | £48,500 | £52,500 |
| Scale-up | £36,300 | £39,100 |
Importantly, the higher of the minimum salary threshold or the occupation-specific going rate must be met. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will be commissioned to review these thresholds and currently available salary discounts in due course.
Shortage occupation roles
A new temporary shortage list will be introduced, which will operate alongside the existing immigration salary list.
| Immigration salary list | Temporary shortage list |
| Includes RQF Level 3-5 occupations in shortage | Will include RQF Level 3-5 occupations considered important to UK’s industrial strategy |
| Most roles removed by 31 Dec 2026 | Time-limited roles |
| May benefit from reduced visa fees | CoS must be assigned before 31 Dec 2026 |
These lists are subject to future review by the MAC and roles can be removed with little notice.
What UK employers should do now
Well before the deadline of 22 July 2025, sponsors should:
- Audit existing sponsored visas to understand which applicants are protected by the transitional provisions.
- Review sponsorship and recruitment plans for roles which will no longer be eligible for sponsorship.
- Diarise expiry dates for immigration salary list and temporary shortage list roles.
- Plan for increased salary requirements and changes to sponsorship eligibility.
Need help?
If your business holds a sponsor licence or is considering applying for one, it is more important than ever to obtain expert legal advice to navigate this complex and evolving regulatory environment.
Our UK immigration team regularly advises businesses across a wide range of sectors on all aspects of sponsorship strategy, compliance and management.
For tailored advice on the skilled worker visa reform, please get in touch with our immigration team.
