Home Office Reform to the Skilled Worker Route & Key Changes Announced on 1 July 2025

Following the publication of the Immigration White Paper in May 2025, on 1 July 2025 the Home Office issued a significant Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997). These changes represent the first phase of wide-ranging reforms to the UK immigration system, aimed at reducing net migration, tightening control over sponsored employment, and realigning the system with the Government’s economic and industrial strategy.

The Statement of Changes introduces substantial amendments to the Skilled Worker route. These include the reintroduction of a higher skill threshold, increased salary requirements, the removal of care workers from the route, and a reorganisation of the shortage occupation framework.

Skills and Salary Thresholds

According to the Explanatory Memorandum, from 22 July 2025 all new applications under the Skilled Worker visa must be for jobs at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 6 or above. This reverses the 2020 adjustment which had allowed RQF level 3 roles to qualify under the route to support business transition after the end of EU free movement.

The rationale for the increase centres on rising visa volumes and concerns over exploitation in lower-skilled roles. Consequently, the Government is re-elevating the route’s baseline skill level, resulting in the removal of approximately 180 occupations from general eligibility. Sponsorship will remain available for these roles only where the applicant is already in the Skilled Worker route (or has been sponsored before 22 July 2025), or where the occupation appears on the Immigration Salary List or the new Temporary Shortage List.

Appendix Skilled Occupations has been significantly restructured. New tables have been introduced to reflect this distinction:

• Tables 1, 2 and 3: Occupations at RQF level 6 and above

• Tables 1a, 2aa and 3a: Occupations at RQF level 3–5 (only accessible under transitional or shortage provisions)

Revised Salary Thresholds

From 22 July 2025, the general salary threshold under Option A will rise from £38,700 to £41,700 per annum, with other thresholds increasing in line with the 2024 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.

The salary requirements will be as follows:

These new thresholds apply only to Certificates of Sponsorship issued on or after 22 July 2025. There are transitional arrangements for individuals already in the Skilled Worker route before that date, enabling them to extend, switch employment or take supplementary jobs even if their roles fall below RQF level 6.

Introduction of the Temporary Shortage List

The current Immigration Salary List (ISL) will eventually be replaced by a Temporary Shortage List (TSL). In the meantime, both lists will operate together. These lists identify RQF 3–5 roles that remain eligible for sponsorship, albeit under temporary and more restrictive terms.

Roles on these lists may be sponsored only until 31 December 2026, after which they will be reviewed. Occupations must be shown to support domestic labour shortages and be aligned with workforce development strategies to remain eligible.

The Temporary Shortage List includes roles such as:

• 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:

  1. Industrial and product designers

  2. Packaging designers

  3. Performance make-up artists

  4. Set designers

  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:

  1. Business support officers

  2. Business systems analysts

  3. Contract administrators

  4. Clinical coders

  5. Clinical trials administrators

  6. 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:

   Box office assistants

  1. Grants officers

  2. Mortgage administrators

  3. Revenue assistants (excludes National and Local

     government revenue occupations)

  4. 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:

  1. Builders

  2. Divers

  3. Fence erectors

  4. Industrial climbers

  5. Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operators

  6. Steel fixers and underpinners

• 5322 Floorers and wall tilers

• 5323 Painters and decorators

• 5330 Construction and building trades supervisors

• 8133 Energy plant operatives

Importantly, workers sponsored under these lists will not be permitted to bring dependants, unless they were already in the Skilled Worker route before 22 July 2025.

Occupations Removed from Eligibility

The following SOC 2020 occupation codes have been entirely removed from Table 3 and are no longer eligible for sponsorship, except under transitional provisions:

• 3213 – Medical and dental technicians

• 3219 – Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified

• 3231 – Higher level teaching assistants

• 6112 – Teaching assistants

• 6113 – Educational support assistants

• 6131 – Nursing auxiliaries and assistants

• 6132 – Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)

• 6133 – Dental nurses

Sponsorship in these roles is now only possible if the applicant is continuing employment under transitional arrangements or switching roles within an existing Skilled Worker visa.

Withdrawal of Care Workers from the Skilled Worker Route

As widely expected, care workers (6135) and senior care workers (6136) will be removed from the Skilled Worker route for new overseas applicants from 22 July 2025. The decision follows widespread concern regarding worker exploitation and regulatory oversight.

In-country applicants may continue to switch into these roles up to 22 July 2028, but only if they have already worked for their sponsor for at least three months prior to the CoS being issued. After that date, these occupations will be removed entirely from both the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List.

Restrictions on Dependants

From 22 July 2025, applicants sponsored in RQF 3–5 roles on either shortage list will not be permitted to bring dependants. This measure brings these roles in line with existing restrictions for care workers and forms part of the government’s strategy to reduce net migration through family routes.

Exceptions apply to:

• Workers already in the Skilled Worker route before 22 July 2025

• Dependent children born in the UK or where the Skilled Worker has sole parental responsibility

What’s Next?

This is only the beginning of the Home Office's broader immigration reform plan. The Government has already signalled further developments by the end of 2025, including:

• Increases to the Immigration Skills Charge

• Higher English language requirements across visa routes

• A complete review of family visa policies

Notably, no announcement has yet been made about increasing the length of time required for settlement, though further Statements of Changes may be introduced in the coming months.

How Alstern Solicitors can help?

If you are an employer needing to understand how these changes impact your recruitment processes, or an individual currently holding or seeking a Skilled Worker visa, our immigration solicitors are here to help. For more information, please contact us on 020 3923 9188 or email enquiry@alsternsolicitors.co.uk.