On 1 July 2025, the UK Government published Statement of Changes HC 997, confirming a major shift in the country’s immigration policy. These changes are the first set of technical reforms giving effect to the Government’s earlier promises in the UK Immigration White Paper 2025.
From 22 July 2025, new rules will apply to all Skilled Worker visa applications — including significantly higher salary thresholds, tighter rules on dependants, a return to degree-level skill requirements, and the introduction of two interim shortage occupation lists. The care sector also faces a major restriction, with overseas recruitment into care roles ending entirely.
In this article, we explain what’s changing, when it takes effect, and how to prepare.
From 22 July 2025, the minimum skill level for jobs under the Skilled Worker route is raised from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6. This reverses the post-Brexit decision in 2020 to lower the threshold and opens the route only to graduate-level occupations or those listed on the new shortage lists – the expanded Immigration Salary List (ISL) and the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL).
The Home Office estimates this change removes over 160 occupations from general eligibility, including:
See the full list of removed occupations here.
Occupations below RQF 6 may still be sponsored, but only if they appear on the:
Appendix Skilled Occupations is now split into:
The government has decided to expand the Immigration Salary List. Now the ISL contains the existing occupations plus the ones at RQF levels 3-5 which the MAC identified as being in shortage in its 2023 review and 2024 rapid review.
An occupation is only included on the list where an application has been made using a certificate of sponsorship issued by a sponsor to an applicant before the removal date noted in the Statement of Changes – 31 December 2026 (except for care workers and senior care workers – see below).
The Temporary Shortage List includes jobs at RQF 3–5 levels identified by the Treasury and Department for Business and Trade as important to the Modern Industrial Strategy.
Full List of Eligible Occupations on the Temporary Shortage List:
• 1243 Managers in logistics
• 1258 Directors in consultancy services
• 3111 Laboratory technicians
• 3112 Electrical and electronics technicians
• 3113 Engineering technicians
• 3114 Building and civil engineering technicians
• 3115 Quality assurance technicians
• 3116 Planning, process and production technicians
• 3120 CAD, drawing and architectural technicians
• 3131 IT operations technicians
• 3132 IT user support technicians
• 3133 Database administrators and web content
technicians
• 3412 Authors, writers and translators
• 3414 Dancers and choreographers
• 3417 Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting
equipment operators
• 3422 Clothing, fashion and accessories designers
• 3429 Design occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:
o Industrial and product designers
o Packaging designers
o Performance make-up artists
o Set designers
o Visual merchandising managers and designers
• 3512 Ship and hovercraft officers
• 3520 Legal associate professionals
• 3532 Insurance underwriters
• 3533 Financial and accounting technicians
• 3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors
• 3544 Data analysts
• 3549 Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:
o Business support officers
o Business systems analysts
o Contract administrators
o Clinical coders
o Clinical trials administrators
o Research coordinators
• 3552 Business sales executives
• 3554 Advertising and marketing associate professionals
• 3571 Human resources and industrial relations officers
• 3573 Information technology trainers
• 4121 Credit controllers
• 4122 Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks
• 4129 Financial administrative occupations not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:
o Box office assistants
o Grants officers
o Mortgage administrators
o Revenue assistants (excludes National and Local
government revenue occupations)
o Treasury assistants
• 4132 Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants
• 5213 Welding trades
• 5214 Pipe fitters
• 5223 Metal working production and maintenance fitters
• 5225 Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and
repairers
• 5231 Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians
• 5232 Vehicle body builders and repairers
• 5233 Vehicle paint technicians
• 5235 Boat and ship builders and repairers
• 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters
• 5242 Telecoms and related network installers and
repairers
• 5244 Computer system and equipment installers and
servicers
• 5245 Security system installers and repairers
• 5249 Electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere
classified
• 5311 Steel erectors
• 5315 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and
repairers
• 5319 Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only the following job types:
o Builders
o Divers
o Fence erectors
o Industrial climbers
o Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operators
o Steel fixers and underpinners
• 5322 Floorers and wall tilers
• 5323 Painters and decorators
• 5330 Construction and building trades supervisors
• 8133 Energy plant operatives
All new Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) issued on or after 22 July 2025 must meet new salary levels, based on 2024 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data.
There are no transitional exemptions for salary — even existing Skilled Workers must meet the new salary levels at their next extension or employer switch.
The minimum hourly rate has been set at £17.13.
Salary thresholds for all sponsored work visa salary thresholds from 22 July 2025:
| Option | Criteria | Minimum Salary |
| A | General threshold | £41,700 & full going rate |
| B | PhD in relevant subject | £37,500 & 90% of going rate |
| C | PhD in STEM | £33,400 & 80% of going rate |
| D | Role on Immigration Salary List | £33,400 & full going rate |
| E | New entrant (early career) | £33,400 & 70% of going rate |
| F | Role on Temporary Shortage List | £31,300 & full going rate |
| G | PhD (relevant, non-STEM) in shortage role | £28,200 & 90% of going rate |
Only 48 hours per week can be counted in salary calculations. Overtime or extra hours cannot be used to meet thresholds.
End of Overseas Recruitment
From 22 July 2025, care workers (6135) and senior care workers (6136) can no longer be recruited from overseas. These roles will be removed from the Immigration Salary List on 22 July 2028, and CoS cannot be assigned for new out-of-country applicants after this date.
In-Country Switching
Switching into these roles is allowed only:
These changes follow Government concerns over:
Sponsors must retain evidence of lawful employment and meet all compliance requirements during the transition period.
From 22 July 2025, applicants sponsored in RQF 3–5 roles (even if listed on ISL or TSL) will not be allowed to bring dependants.
This policy does not apply to:
This extends the existing dependant visa restrictions applied to care workers across the broader Skilled Worker route.
Sign up for Nation.better's free webinar on the July 2025 immigration updates – we will explain what’s changing, when it takes effect, and how to prepare.
A key concern for many Skilled Worker visa holders and sponsors is what happens if the job title or SOC code is no longer on the main list of eligible occupations after 22 July 2025.
The rules confirm:
If a worker was granted Skilled Worker permission under the rules before 22 July 2025, and has held continuous permission since then, they can still switch employers or extend their visa in the same job type — even if the role has been removed from general eligibility.
This exception applies to roles now listed in:
These include many RQF Level 3–5 roles removed from standard eligibility but allowed temporarily under the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or Temporary Shortage List (TSL).
However, the new sponsor must still meet all updated requirements, including:
⚠️ This does not apply to new out-of-country applicants. Only in-country Skilled Workers with ongoing permission are eligible for this transitional flexibility.
The Home Office has confirmed that additional changes are coming later this year, including:
Employers should monitor upcoming changes and plan for fee increases, potential changes to visa UK eligibility criteria, and updates to other routes such as the Graduate Visa and Global Talent Visa UK.
1. Review all salary levels
Make sure all sponsored workers will meet the new thresholds from 22 July 2025. There are no exemptions.
2. Update job roles/descriptions
Jobs below RQF Level 6 are no longer eligible unless they appear on the ISL or TSL.
3. Stop offering dependant support
Remove references to dependants for any role that won’t qualify under the new rules.
4. Train HR teams
Ensure HR and compliance teams understand the new salary rules, certificate of sponsorship updates, and the new shortage occupation lists.
5. Monitor sector-specific changes
Especially if you operate in adult social care, construction, creative industries, or skilled trades.
6. Prepare for future reviews
The Government has stated the ISL and TSL will be removed after 31 December 2026 (except for care, which is reviewed separately).
The reforms set out in HC 997 are part of a broader reset of the UK immigration system. The final Statement of Changes will be published later this week, containing additional technical updates and clarifications.
To help employers and HR teams fully understand the impact of these reforms, Nation.better is hosting a free live webinar on:
Thursday, 10 July 2025
1:00 PM BST
We’ll cover:
Click here to register for the webinar.
Sign up for Nation.better's free webinar on the July 2025 immigration updates – we will explain what’s changing, when it takes effect, and how to prepare.
HC 997 is a 140-page legal instrument that updates the UK Immigration Rules. Its main goal is to implement the Government’s strategy to “restore order and control” to the immigration system, by reducing net migration, limiting low-paid overseas recruitment, and encouraging businesses to invest in local talent.
From 22 July 2025, the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa applicants will be £41,700 per year or the “going rate” for the occupation, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds apply in certain cases, such as new entrants, PhD holders, or roles on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List.
Approximately 180 jobs at RQF Level 3–5 have been removed from general eligibility. These roles can only be sponsored if they appear on the new Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Roles like hospitality workers, warehouse staff, and mechanics are generally no longer eligible unless explicitly listed.
Only Skilled Workers in RQF Level 6 or higher occupations will be permitted to bring dependants from 22 July 2025. Workers in jobs on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List will not be able to bring family members, unless they were already sponsored in the UK before that date.
No. From 22 July 2025, overseas recruitment into care worker (SOC 6135) and senior care worker (SOC 6136) roles will no longer be permitted. In-country switching remains possible until 22 July 2028, but only if the worker has been employed by the sponsor for at least 3 months.
The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) is a new, time-limited list of occupations at RQF Level 3–5 that can be sponsored under the Skilled Worker route despite the new degree-level requirement. Jobs on the list must be sponsored before 31 December 2026 and do not permit dependant visas.
Yes. Existing Skilled Worker visa holders (or those who applied before the changes) can extend, switch employers, or take supplementary employment until 22 July 2028, even if their role is below RQF Level 6. After that, all new applications must meet the new eligibility rules.
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