The latest statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, published on 1 July 2025, introduced a number of important amendments for the UK Skilled Worker visa. The key changes to the Skilled Worker visa rules include raising the minimum salary requirements to £41,700 per year from 22 July 2025, raising the skill level up to RQF level 6 (degree level) from RQF level 3 (equivalent to A-level), the introduction of two interim shortage lists, and the removal of many roles including chefs, dental nurses, and care workers roles from the eligible occupation list for new Skilled Worker visa applicants.
What does the new skilled worker visa salary requirement mean to you?
One of the key changes to the Skilled Worker visa rules is that from 22 July 2025, the general salary threshold for new applicants is going to be increase to £41,700 per year. The minimum salary requirements for those who qualify for a Skilled Worker visa salary ‘discount’ have also increased (e.g. for those with a PhD relevant to their role or a job on the Immigration Salary list). Below are some details regarding the changes to the salary requirements for applicants in different circumstances.
What do the new salary requirements mean to new Skilled Worker visa applicants?
For Skilled Worker visa applicants who were assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship on 22 July 2025 or onwards, you need to meet the new minimum salary requirements:
- General threshold (Option A): at least £41,700 or your job’s going rate, whichever is higher
- Relevant PhD (Option B): at least £37,500 or 90% of your job’s going rate, whichever is higher
- PhD in a STEM subject (Option C): at least £33,400 or 80% of your job’s going rate, whichever is higher
- New entrants (Option E): at least £33,400 or 70% of your job’s going rate, whichever is higher
- Role on Immigration Salary List (Option D):
- at least £33,400 for degree-level (RQF 6+) occupations or your job’s going rate, whichever is higher
- at least £23,200 for sub-degree (RQF 3–5) occupations or your job’s going rate, whichever is higher
If I change employer or extend my current skilled worker visa, what salary threshold should I meet?
If you submitted your application for changing employer or extend your existing Skilled Worker Visa after 22 July 2025, you need to meet the new salary requirements as set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupation.
If your current job is below RQF level 6, you can still extend your skilled worker visa after 22 July 2025. Your salary must meet the new transactional salary requirements:
- Option F (No PhD): at least £31,300 or your job’s going rate, whichever is higher.
- Option D (if you have a relevant PhD): at least £28,200 or your job’s going rate, whichever is higher.
What do the new salary requirements mean if I need to apply for ILR as a Skilled Worker?
If you are applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) on or after 22 July 2025 but were granted your Skilled Worker visa prior to 22 July 2025, you will need to meet the new minimum salary requirements for your Occupation Code as set out in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupation.
Please note, for those that apply for ILR based on current rules, you will no longer be able to use the discounted job going rate that you may have used for your first Skilled Worker Visa application. For example, if you have a relevant PhD (Option B) when you applied your Skilled Worker Visa, when you apply for ILR after 22 July 2025, you need to meet the full Going Rate to qualify for ILR.
Can Skilled Worker Visa holders bring dependants to the UK under the new rules?
Under the new Skilled Worker visa rules, if the application is made on or after 22 July 2025, you can bring your dependant children and partner to the UK, but only if you have a role with a skill level of RQF level 6 or higher. If you have a role at a skill level of 3, 4, or 5 (including those on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List), you cannot bring your dependants to the UK.
Existing Skilled Workers in RQF 3–5 roles who already had dependants before 22 July 2025 can continue to bring or retain dependants in the UK.
Jobs that no longer qualify for the Skilled Worker Visa
The new Skilled Worker visa rules mean that around 180 occupations (i.e. those with an RQF 3 to 5 skill level) will no longer be eligible to apply from 22nd July 2025, unless they appear on one of the Shortage Lists. Specifically, occupations listed in Table 1a, 2a, or 3a (i.e. RQF Level 3–5) will no longer qualify, such as:
- Chefs
- Dental nurses
- Teaching assistants
- Care workers (excluding in‑country switches/extensions until July 2028)
- Engineering technicians (e.g., lab, electrical, architectural technicians)
- Social care roles – entry cleared from abroad is closing
- Hospitality roles – including hotel managers and catering staff
What does the new skilled worker visa rule mean to employers?
If you are an employer with plans to sponsor foreign nationals on a Skilled Worker Visa after 22nd July 2025, we recommend that you:
- Check whether the role you wish to fill with a sponsored worker is now eligible under this scheme. Make sure the SOC code for the role being offered is on the RQF6 roles list.
- Check that the new minimum salary for the candidates you are going to sponsor will be met (e.g. whether they are new entrants who will receive a discount). To make this easier, consider publishing a simplified table to your HR team so they can easily understand the rules and check the salaries of sponsored workers against the new rules.
- Increasing the budget for hiring sponsored foreign nationals.
For employers with existing sponsored workers, we recommend that you:
- Review all current salaries. Where necessary, consider increases to allow them to extend their Skilled Worker visa – remember, no transitional salary relief is available.
- Consider updating your hiring and sponsorship plans.
- Keep a close eye on how skilled worker immigration policy is changing – further reforms such as increased Skills Charge, stricter English criteria, and ILR extensions are expected later in 2025.
Reference:
GOV.UK: Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 997, 1 July 2025
