A major new statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997) has been published today, which begins the implementation of the ‘sweeping reforms’ to the immigration system announced in May in the Government’s White Paper.
Among the main changes, salary and skills thresholds for Skilled Worker visas will be increased from 22 July 2025. New applicants will now require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent RQF Level 6 qualification. According to the explanatory memorandum, this change will eliminate around 180 occupations from the list of eligible roles under the Skilled Worker route, though workers already in these occupations will continue to be able to be sponsored.
Skilled workers already in the UK will be exempt from the increased skill level requirement. The explanatory memorandum states: “For now, transitional arrangements in this Statement of Changes exempt workers who are already in the Skilled Worker route (or have been sponsored for an application which is later successful) when the changes come into effect from the increase to the skill threshold. As set out in the Immigration White Paper, this enables existing Skilled Worker visa holders to continue to renew their visas, change employment and take supplementary employment, in occupations below RQF level 6. These transitional arrangements will not be in place indefinitely and will be reviewed in due course.”
The salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker route are being increased as part of a routine salary update, in line with the latest Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data. After only a minimal increase in April 2025 ahead of the White Paper, these changes complete the remaining uplift to both general salaries and occupation‑specific rates. The baseline minimum salary to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa will rise from £38,700 to £41,700. For those with a relevant PhD, the minimum salary increases from £34,830 to £37,500. While there are no transitional arrangements for the new salary thresholds, this reflects standard practice. A review by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will follow, and any future transitional measures will be considered once this review is complete.
Overseas recruitment for social care worker roles will also end on 22 July 2025, following concerns over widespread abuse, exploitation, and non-compliance in the sector. While new overseas applications will no longer be accepted, transitional provisions will allow in-country switching for care workers already in the UK until 22 July 2028. To qualify, workers must have been legally employed by their sponsor for at least three months prior to their application. These safeguards aim to protect existing workers, support continuity of employment, and ensure compliance with basic employment standards.
A new temporary shortage occupation list is being introduced that will allow time-limited immigration access for sub-degree level roles, restricted to critical jobs that support the UK’s industrial strategy or key infrastructure projects. Workers employed in occupations on the temporary shortage list will no longer be allowed to bring dependants to the UK. Additionally, salary threshold and visa fee discounts will be removed. The Government has also commissioned the MAC to review the temporary shortage list’s scope, salaries, and associated benefits. Future access to the list beyond the end of 2026 will be conditional on the MAC’s recommendations.
Ministers have warned that all sectors must develop clear plans to train and recruit UK workers or they risk being excluded from future immigration routes. The Government also signalled it will impose tighter restrictions if evidence emerges of ongoing exploitation or misuse within specific sectors.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government intends to deliver a “complete reset” of the immigration system. She stated: “These new rules mean stronger controls to bring migration down, to restore order to the immigration system and to ensure we focus on investing in skills and training here in the UK.”
The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) is also closing to new principal applications, taking effect from 3pm today. The Government says that it now considers ARAP to have fulfilled its original purpose, with the Defence Secretary stating that closure will allow resources to be refocused on national security priorities. The closure represents the first formal step towards completing the UK’s Afghan resettlement commitments, with remaining relocations due to be completed by the end of this Parliament. Since its launch over four years ago, the scheme has supported the relocation of more than 21,000 Afghan principals and their family members to the UK.
In addition, some minor drafting changes are being made by the statement of changes to correct incorrect paragraph references and other errors.
Seema Malhotra, the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, provided the following summary of the changes in a written statement to the House of Commons:
My rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules.
Changes to the Skilled Worker and other work routes as set out in the Immigration White Paper
These changes implement the first phase of reforms to work visas set out in the Immigration White Paper, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”, published on 12 May 2025.
The key change is raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas from occupations at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3 and above (approximately A-level skills) to occupations at RQF level 6 and above (mainly graduate professions).
Salary requirements for work visas are being raised in line with the latest Office for National Statistics data, ahead of an upcoming thorough review of salary requirements (including discounts) by the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) and a new, interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL) provide time-limited and conditional access to the Skilled Worker route for occupations below the new RQF level 6 threshold, but with no ability for applicants to bring dependants. The ISL will be phased out in future and the TSL will be reviewed by the MAC.
Skilled Worker entry clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers are being closed, while maintaining in-country switching applications for a transition period until 22 July 2028.
The changes include transitional arrangements, allowing existing Skilled Worker visa holders to continue to extend their visas, bring dependants, change employment and take supplementary employment in occupations below RQF level 6, while applying the new rules to applicants from overseas and those applying to switch from other routes.
The changes to the Immigration Rules are being laid on 1 July 2025
The changes relating to the skilled worker and other work routes will come into effect as detailed in the Statement of Changes, from 22 July 2025.
An additional change is also included in this package of Rules changes that will close the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) to new principal applications. Details of that change is being announced today in a statement by the Minister for the Armed Forces from the Ministry of Defence.
Alongside the closure of ARAP, we will also be closing the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). This means that HMG will not launch any further pathways nor accept any further referrals. Over 12,800 people have been successfully resettled under the ACRS since 2021 and over half of these arrivals have been children and a quarter women.
The Home Office will continue to consider those referrals made under the ACRS Separated Families pathway, but have not yet received a decision. This Government will honour our commitments to anyone found eligible, and to those who have already been found eligible for the ACRS but are not yet in the UK
