New UK Immigration Laws Affecting International Job Seekers in 2025. Statement of Changes HC 997, published on July 1, 2025, was the UK Home Office’s most substantial revision to the skilled worker visa pathway since the cessation of free movement. These proposals, which follow the May 2025 Immigration White Paper, are intended to focus the UK immigration system on higher-skilled jobs, curb exploitation, and lower net migration. These modifications will alter the visa environment for foreign workers.
Significant Modifications to the Skilled Worker Visa Process
1. The threshold for skill level elevated to Level 6 RQF
RQF level 6 (bachelor’s degree level) is now the minimum skill requirement for new applications for the skilled worker visa, up from RQF level 3 (A-level equivalent). This undoes the 2020 post-Brexit adjustments that decreased the threshold to assist companies in adjusting to the termination of free movement.
Effect:
Because they don’t meet RQF Level 6, about 180 jobs will be eliminated from the list of qualifying roles.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that RQF Level 6 does not necessarily demand a bachelor’s degree from the applicant; rather, it only requires that the job itself be at RQF Level 6 (bachelor’s degree level). In other words, rather than considering an applicant’s qualifications, the Skilled Worker visa system evaluates eligibility primarily based on the skill level required for the job.
For example:
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A job can be sponsored as a skilled worker if it is legally designated as RQF level 6.
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In lieu of a formal bachelor’s degree, an applicant may be eligible with relevant experience or other credentials as long as they can exhibit the necessary skill set.
This distinction is crucial: the job’s requirements are prioritised over a candidate’s academic background. In reality, though, a lot of businesses would favour or require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree or comparable experience.
- Sponsorship is no longer available for roles below RQF level 6 (see List A below) unless they are listed on either the Immigration Salary List (see List C below) or the new Temporary Shortage List (see List B below).
List A: No occupation satisfies the RQF Level 6 criterion if its SOC code starts with any of the following numbers:
4. Secretarial and administrative jobs.
6. Recreation, caregiving, and other service-related professions
7. Jobs in sales and customer service
8. Operators of machinery, plants, and processes
9: Jobs in elementary school
12 Additional owners and managers
31 Associate professionals in science, engineering, and technology
32 Associate professionals in health and social care
52 Experts in electrical, electronic, and metal trades
53 Skilled building and construction crafts
The whole list of SOC codes is available here.
List B: The New Temporary Shortage List
1243 Logistics Managers
1258 Directors in consulting services.
3111 Technicians in laboratories
3112 Technicians in electronics and electrical
3113 Technicians in engineering
3114 Technicians in civil and building engineering
3115 Technicians in quality assurance
3116 Technicians in production, process, and planning
3120 Technicians in CAD, drawings, and architecture
3131 Technicians in IT operations
3132 Technicians that provide IT user support
3133 Web content technicians and database administrators
3412 Writers, authors, and interpreters
3414 Choreographers and dancers
3417 Operators of broadcasting, audio-visual, and photography equipment
3422 Designers of apparel, accessories, and fashion
3429 Only the following job kinds are included in the list of design occupations not otherwise classified:
- Product and industrial designers
- Designers of packaging
- Makeup artists for performances
- Designers of sets
- Managers and designers of visual merchandising
3512 Officers of ships and hovercraft
3520 professionals with legal associates
3532 Underwriters of insurance
3533 Technicians in finance and accounting
3541 Valuers, assessors, and estimators
3544 analysers of data
Only the following job kinds are included in the 3549 business associate professionals who are not else classified:
- Officers that support businesses
- Analysts of business systems
- Administrators of contracts
- Professional coders
- Administrators of clinical trials
- Coordinators of research
3552 Executives in business sales
3554 Associate Professionals in Advertising and Marketing
3571 Officers in charge of industrial relations and human resources
3573 Trainers in information technology
4121 Controllers of credit
4122 Payroll managers, wage clerks, and bookkeepers
- Only the following job kinds are included in the 4129 financial administrative jobs that are not else classified:
- Box office workers
- Officers of grants
- Administrators of mortgages
- Revenue assistants (not include those employed by the federal, state, or local governments)
- Assistants in the Treasury
4132 Clerks and assistance in pensions and insurance
5213 Transactions involving welding
5214 Plumbers
5223 Fitters for metalworking production and maintenance
5225 Installers and repairers of refrigeration and air conditioning
5231 Auto mechanics, electricians, and technicians
5232 Manufacturers and repairers of vehicle bodies
5233 Paint Technicians for Vehicles
5235 Builders and repairers of boats and ships
5241 Electrical Fitters and Electricians
5242 Installers and repairers of telecoms and associated networks
5244 Installers and maintainers of computer systems and equipment
5245 Installation and repairers of security systems
5249 Electronic and electrical trades that are not otherwise categorised
5311 Erectors of steel
5315 Plumbers and Installers and Repairers of Heating and Ventilation
5319 Only the following work types are included in the construction and building trades not otherwise classified:
- Builders
- Divers
- Erectors of fences
- Climbers in industry
- Operators of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)
- Fixers and underpinners of steel
5322 Wall tilers and floorers
5323 Decorators and Painters
5330 Supervisors of construction and building trades
8133 Workers in Energy Plants
List C – Immigration Salary List
The Immigration Salary List is available here.
2. Raised and New Salary Boundaries
The wage requirements for qualifying under the skilled worker visa will have increased for all relevant categories as of July 22, 2025. The minimum salary on the main route has increased from £38,700 to £41,700 annually.
The following are the updated minimum salary requirements:
- £41,700 or the going pay for the occupation, whichever is higher, for regular applicants. The previous amount was £38,700.
- £37,500 or 90% of the current pay for the occupation, whichever is higher, for candidates with a relevant PhD. The previous amount was £34,830.
- £33,400 or 80% of the market pay for the occupation, whichever is higher, for candidates with a relevant PhD in STEM. The previous amount was £30,960.
- £33,400 or 70% of the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher, for new hires. The previous amount was £30,960.
- £31,300 or the going rate, whichever is higher, for some transitional instances. The amount has been raised from £29,000.
Effect:
- International applicants at the entry and mid-level levels are required to meet higher pay standards.
- There may be fewer job openings for foreign talent if more firms find it difficult to meet these requirements.
The definition of a New Entrant is available here.
3. Establish a Temporary Shortage List
The government has established an interim Temporary Shortage List (see List B above) to assist industries that continue to depend on mid-skilled foreign talent. Sponsorship is only available for positions listed on this list (or the revised Immigration Salary List) that are below RQF level 6.
Among the notable professions on the Temporary Shortage List are:
- IT technicians, engineers, logistics managers, and lab technicians
- CAD designers, marketing executives, translators, and authors
- Estimators, insurance underwriters, and business support officers
- Welders, car mechanics, plumbers, and electricians
- Energy plant workers, shipbuilders, decorators, and floorers
The complete list is shown above (List B).
Effect:
- Only positions that are considered essential to the UK economy are eligible for sponsorship.
- The expiration date of these listings is the end of 2026.
- One significant barrier for foreign applicants with families is the inability of workers in these positions to bring relatives.
4. Restrictions on Dependents
Sponsored employees in RQF levels 3–5 jobs (on any shortage list) are no longer permitted to bring dependents unless:
- Prior to the modifications, they were already on the Skilled Worker route.
- Either the worker has sole parental responsibility, or the dependent kid was born in the UK.
Effect:
- The ability to relocate with family members will no longer be available to many foreign workers.
- This might discourage talented candidates from lower-level professions from selecting the UK.
5. Stopping the Hiring of Foreign Care Workers
Senior care workers (SOC 6136) and care workers (SOC 6135) will no longer be eligible for foreign sponsorship as of July 22, 2025.
Transitional plans enable:
- Switching in-country visas for people who have been employed for at least three months by a UK sponsor.
- Care worker positions will be completely eliminated from all qualified occupation listings on July 22, 2028, when these agreements come to an end.
Effect:
- Recruitment for overseas care will come to an end.
- International applicants must look for positions at RQF level 6 and higher or discover alternate visa pathways.
Before the new rule is implemented, you must take immediate action and apply for care roles if you are interested in them.
Implications for International Job Seekers
With these adjustments, the focus shifts to a more selective immigration policy, giving priority to:
- High-paying, high-skill jobs
- Investment in the UK employment market
- Decreased reliance on foreign labour in low- and mid-skilled industries
Important Takeaways: - RQF level 6+ positions and those that are still on shortage lists should be the main focus of your employment search. We pre-filter UK Visa Jobs for you, saving you the trouble of checking again.
- Know the minimum wage requirements for each visa path.
- Recognise that a lot of jobs no longer permit family dependents.
Concluding remarks
The immigration system will be more selective and complicated for foreign workers. Nonetheless, there are still openings in vital high-skill fields, particularly in skilled crafts, engineering, IT, and health. Effectively navigating these changes calls for preparation and the appropriate job search resources.