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What These Changes Mean for Your UK Work Plans
Both employers and potential employees are affected by the upcoming changes in the Skilled Worker Visa route. If you are a business that relies on recruiting overseas talent for roles below degree level, you will need to urgently reassess your hiring strategies. Whilst if you plan to work in the UK on jobs below RQF Level 6, you will have limited options.
Get Customised UK Immigration Advice
Legend Consults is closely monitoring these crucial updates and is ready to provide expert guidance. If you have any questions about how these changes may affect your specific situation or your business’s hiring plans, contact us now for personalised support.
For Skilled Worker Visa applicants and sponsoring employees, major changes on the Skilled Worker Visa route are slated to take effect on 22 July 2025. The reforms are part of the broader proposal outlined in Home Office’s Statement of Changes HC 997 released on 1 July 2025.
Any Certificate of Sponsorship assigned on or after 22 July 2025, new applicants for the Skilled Worker visa will face a much higher bar for entry.
Here are all the changes you can expect for the Skilled Worker Visa route:
- Degree-level jobs are the new minimum – Skill level requirement will be raised to RQF Level 6 (degree level or equivalent) from RQF Level 3. This means approximately 180 jobs will stop qualifying for sponsorship.
- Can no longer bring dependants (partners or children) if below the new RQF Level 6 requirement (also called “legacy” jobs), but allowed to continue to work
- Higher salary expectations – The minimum salary requirement also rises from £38,700 to £41,700 per year, or the new, higher “going rate” for the specific occupation, whichever is greater.
- Higher minimum salary for discounted routes (e.g., those in shortage occupations, PhD employees, new entrants) – The new salary thresholds will be:
- For those with a relevant PhD: the threshold will increase from £34,830 to £37,500.
- For ‘new entrants’ to the labour market: the minimum salary will rise from £30,960 to £33,400.
- The threshold for other discounted routes and shortage occupations will start from £28,200+.
- For those who were already on the Skilled Worker route before April 2024, the general transitional salary threshold will increase from £29,000 to £31,300.
For Existing Visa Holders, There Are Lenient Transitional Measures
If you already hold a Skilled Worker visa or were assigned a CoS before 22 July 2025, you have transitional protections from the skill level increase. You are still allowed to:
- Extend your visa
- Change employers
- Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in an occupation below RQF Level 6 (if you meet the new salary thresholds)
It is critical to note that there are no transitional arrangements for the new salary thresholds. All applicants, including those extending their visas or changing employers, will need to meet the new, higher salary requirements for their specific occupation and circumstances from 22 July 2025.
