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PROPOSED ARE DRASTIC CHANGES TO THE UK SKILLED WORKERS' ROUTE!

The 01 July 2025 Statement of Changes HC 997:

The UK government is proposing sweeping reforms to end the UK's reliance on overseas, lower-skilled recruitment!

The reforms to be rolled out from the Immigration White Paper represent a fundamental shift in the UK's approach to immigration and restore order to the points-based system, focusing on higher skills, lower numbers and tighter controls.

The proposed measures include:  

• raising the skills threshold for Skilled Worker visas, removing 111 eligible occupations
• closing the social care worker visa route to overseas recruitment in response to widespread abuse and exploitation
• only allowing time-limited access below degree level through a targeted immigration salary list and temporary shortage list for critical roles only, with strict requirements for sectors to grow domestic skills
• commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a review of the temporary shortage list, including occupations, salaries and benefits.

Workers in occupations on the temporary shortage list will no longer be able to bring dependants and will not be permitted salary and visa fee discounts. The occupations included on the list are time-limited until the end of 2026 and will only remain beyond that date if the independent Migration Advisory Committee recommends it.

ESSENTIAL FACT

As stated in the policy context, "Concerns over workers sponsored as care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136) are well known." As of July 22, 2025, new entrants to the route will not be eligible for sponsorship as a care worker.

It is possible to switch from other visa routes to continue for a transition period until 22 July 2028 for those who have been in the UK and working for their sponsor for at least three months before their CoS was issued. After that, these occupations will no longer be listed on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List.

Further changes to be implemented by the end of 2025 also include: 

 
• raising the immigration skills charge
• uplifting language requirements across the immigration system
• unveiling a new family policy framework to Parliament

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