UK Skilled Worker Visa Changes 2025: What You Need to Know

As the UK reshapes its immigration landscape, significant updates to the Skilled Worker Visa route, effective from 22 July 2025, have been announced. These changes impact eligibility, salary thresholds, permitted occupations, and introduce new restrictions to align with the UK’s labour and economic strategy. This blog provides a comprehensive overview of these updates, incorporating key details from official government announcements and expert summaries to ensure you’re fully informed.

Major Policy Changes at a Glance

1. Increased Skills Threshold

The minimum skill level for Skilled Worker Visas has increased from Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 (A-Level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (graduate level), reverting to pre-December 2020 standards. This change removes approximately 180 occupations previously eligible at RQF 3-5 across sectors like hospitality, construction, and care.

• Impact: New applicants must meet the RQF 6 requirement, significantly reducing eligible roles.

• Transitional Arrangements: Existing Skilled Workers (or those with pending applications later approved) in roles below RQF 6 can continue to work, extend their visas, bring dependants, change employment, or take supplementary employment, provided they meet occupation-specific salary thresholds. However, these arrangements are temporary and subject to review, with no clear timeline specified.

• Temporary Access: New Skilled Workers can access RQF 3-5 roles via the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or Temporary Shortage List (TSL) until the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) completes its review, softening the immediate impact of the skill level increase.

  
  

  

  

  

  

  List of jobs that require skill level increase to RQF Level 6+ (degree level)

  
  

2. Salary Threshold Updates

The general salary threshold for Skilled Worker sponsorship will rise from £38,700 to £41,700 annually, or £17.13 per hour, effective for all applications (new and extensions) from 22 July 2025.

• General Threshold: £41,700, with the full going rate for the occupation code.

• New Entrants: £33,400, requiring 70% of the occupation’s going rate (applies to those under 26, recent graduates, or switching from a student visa).

• PhD Holders:

  • £37,500 for those with a PhD relevant to the role.

  • £33,400 for those with a STEM PhD or roles on the ISL/TSL.

• Pre-4 April 2024 Entrants:

  • £31,300 general threshold, or £12.82 per hour, with the full going rate.

  • £28,200 for those with a PhD relevant to the role.

• Tradeable Points: Discounts apply for PhD holders, STEM roles, ISL/TSL roles, and new entrants, continuing for existing workers, extending or settling.

  
  

3. Immigration Salary List (ISL) and Temporary Shortage List (TSL)

To balance labour shortages with migration control, two lists govern access to RQF 3-5 roles:

• Immigration Salary List (ISL): Includes essential RQF 3-5 roles identified as in shortage by the MAC in 2023 and 2024 reviews. Examples include:

  • Chemical scientists (nuclear industry only), artists, musicians, bricklayers, and care workers (with Care Quality Commission registration in England).

  • Specific criteria apply, e.g., high-integrity pipe welders require 3+ years’ experience.

  • Salary requirement: £33,400, full going rate, and £17.13/hour.

  • Removal date: 31 December 2026, except for senior care workers (22 July 2028).
    

    

    New Immigration Salary list and removal date

• Temporary Shortage List (TSL): Provides time-limited access to RQF 3-5 roles supporting the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, as identified by the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury. Examples include:

  • Managers in logistics (£44,900), laboratory technicians (£33,400), welders (£34,900), and electricians (£38,800).

  • Salary requirement: £41,700, full going rate, no discounts.

  • Removal date: 31 December 2026, with potential earlier removal if abuse or exploitation is detected.

• Restrictions:

  • No dependants allowed for ISL/TSL roles at RQF 3-5, except for children born in the UK or where the worker has sole parental responsibility.

  • TSL inclusion requires employers to commit to a workforce strategy and increase domestic recruitment.

• Future Review: The MAC will review the TSL by 31 December 2026, assessing shortages and workforce strategies. The government plans to phase out the ISL, leaving only TSL entries under regular review.
  

  

  Temporary Shortage List and Predicted Salaries from 22nd July 2025 until 31st December 2026.

  
  

4. Health and Social Care Changes

The Health and Care Worker Visa retains its salary threshold of £25,000, aligned with national pay scales. However, significant changes apply:

• Closure of Overseas Recruitment: From 22 July 2025, overseas applications for care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136) will close due to concerns about abuse and exploitation.

• Transitional Arrangements: Those already in the UK as care workers or senior care workers (with 3+ months’ work or a Certificate of Sponsorship issued before 22 July 2025) can extend or switch into the Skilled Worker route until 22 July 2028.

• ISL/TSL Removal: Care and senior care worker roles will be removed from both lists by 22 July 2028.

• Clarification for Nursing Auxiliaries (SOC 6131): This occupation code only applies in environments with registered nurse roles.

• Removed Roles: Five roles are no longer eligible due to skill misalignment and absence from ISL/TSL:

  • Healthcare practice managers (SOC 1231)

  • Medical and dental technicians (SOC 3213)

  • Health associate professionals (not elsewhere classified) (SOC 3219)

  • Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics) (SOC 6132)

  • Dental nurses (SOC 6133)

• Sponsor Requirement Change: From 22 July 2025, sponsors are no longer required to recruit from displaced workers.

  
  

5. Roles Removed from Eligibility

Over 180 occupations across sectors have been removed from Skilled Worker Visa eligibility due to the RQF 6 requirement. Examples include:

• Management & Administrative: Restaurant, hotel, and property managers; bookkeepers; office managers; personal assistants.

• Skilled Trades: Chefs, welders, electricians, carpenters, plumbers, painters, stonemasons, vehicle technicians.

• Creative & Professional Support: Dispensing opticians, veterinary nurses, artists, photographers, fitness instructors.

• Associate Professionals: Aircraft pilots, legal associates, data analysts, estate agents, HR officers.

• Care & Protective Roles: Childminders, playworkers, police community support officers.

• Service & Elementary Roles: Retail supervisors, driving instructors, market traders. Existing Skilled Workers in these roles can continue under transitional arrangements, but new applicants are ineligible unless the role is on the ISL or TSL.

  
  

6. Summary of Salary Conditions

Visa Category	Threshold	Notes
General Skilled Worker	£41,700	Full going rate; £17.13/hour; discounts for PhD/ISL/TSL/new entrants.
New Entrants	£33,400	70%  of going rate; £17.13/hour.
Pre-04 April 2024 Entrants	£31,300	Full going rate; £12.82/hour; £28,200 for PhD holders.
Health & Care Visa	£25,000	No change; aligned with national pay scales.
ISL Applicants	£33,400	Full going rate; £17.13/hour; no dependants (with exceptions).
TSL Applicants	£41,700	Full going rate; no discounts; no dependants (with exceptions); expires 31 December 2026.

Key Implications

These changes signal a shift towards reducing reliance on lower-skilled migration while prioritising high-skilled roles aligned with national priorities. Sectors like care, construction, hospitality, and creative industries face significant impacts due to the removal of numerous occupations and stricter salary thresholds.

• Employers: Must ensure compliance with updated salary thresholds, skill levels, and occupation codes. The ISL and TSL provide temporary relief, but employers should prepare for the MAC’s 2026 review and potential ISL phase-out.

• Existing Workers: Benefit from transitional arrangements, but should monitor future reviews that may limit options for roles below RQF 6.

• New Applicants: Face higher barriers, particularly for RQF 3-5 roles, with limited access via ISL/TSL and no dependant rights in most cases.

  
  

At Visa Roots, we understand the complexity of navigating the UK’s evolving immigration system. Our team offers expert guidance on the Skilled Worker route, from eligibility criteria to planning extensions and transitions under the new rules. Contact us for personalised support tailored to your needs.