Changes to Skilled Worker Visa coming on 22 July 2025

The UK government’s recent white paper on immigration has introduced significant reforms under the Statement of Changes HC 997, set to go into effect on 22 July 2025.

Under the new rules, major changes have been made to Skilled Worker visas, including the skill level requirements, salaries, and language requirements.

That is why, we at A2Z Immigration are here to discuss some of the key changes employers and prospective skilled workers should be aware of.

Minimum Skill Level raised to RQF Level 6

The most notable change is the increase in the minimum skill level required for the Skilled Worker visa, which will now be raised to RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) Level 6. This means that applicants must now demonstrate that they have a qualification equivalent to a bachelor's degree or higher in order to qualify for the visa.

Note: Previously, the UK allowed some workers to qualify with qualifications as low as RQF Level 3, which is equivalent to A-levels. That will no longer be the case after 22 July 2025.

As a result, around 180 occupations that were previously allowed will no longer be eligible after 22 July 2025.

For employers, this means that the pool of eligible candidates will shrink as fewer individuals with lower qualifications will be able to apply for the visa.

One sector likely to be impacted by the upcoming changes is the hospitality sector*. While it has not been clearly stated that roles within that sector, such as chef, café and restaurant manager, takeaway manager, catering manager, hotel and accommodation manager, and bar and pub manager are part of the 180 occupations that will no longer be eligible for a skilled worker visa, the extended list is yet to be published to confirm the exclusion of those roles.

Additionally, despite the required skill level being raised to RQF 6, in the case that the Migration Advisory Committee recommends an exemption and the industry is demonstrating efforts to recruit domestically, then roles with skill levels lower than RQF 6 can still be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa.

Additionally, certain occupations that are listed under the Temporary Shortage List will still be eligible to obtain a Skilled Worker visa.

As always, A2Z will continue to monitor the situation to ensure we have all of the information as it is being released by the UK government.

Floor Rate Increase: Impact on Salary Thresholds

The salary threshold, or floor rate, has been a topic of discussion for several years, and the new changes bring a significant rise in the minimum salary level required for Skilled Worker visa holders. The floor rate will increase, meaning that applicants will need to meet a higher salary benchmark to qualify for the visa.

Under the new rules, the general salary threshold for Skilled Workers will rise from £38,700 to £41,700, an increase of 7.8 %*.

This change may be a challenge for some employers looking to sponsor overseas workers as they will now have to offer higher salaries than before.

So, going forward, any Skilled Worker application after 22 July 2025 that relies on a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must satisfy the higher salary bands introduced by Statement of Changes HC 997. However, applications linked to a CoS assigned before 22 July will continue to be assessed against the previous lower figures.

Language Requirement Changes for Skilled Workers

For Skilled Workers and their dependents, the language requirements will be raised by the end of the year.

For Skilled Worker applicants, the language requirement will rise from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level B1 (IELTS score of at least 4.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) to CEFR level B2 (IELTS score of at least 5.5 in Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)

All adult dependents like students and workers must now meet at least CEFR level A1 (IELTS score of at least 3.0)

Indefinite Leave to Remain period now 10 years

The Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will be raised from five years to ten years. A few exceptions will be made for professions like nurses, doctors, engineers and AI Leaders*, as well as dependents of British Citizens.

Graduate VISA reduced to 18 months

All UK graduate visas will be reduced from 24 months to 18 months going forward. Additionally, future graduate visas will only be granted if students meet the graduate-level job offers that are equivalent to RQF Level 6; anything below will no longer be eligible.

The graduate visas are now subject to 1.5 years (18 months) which will alter the qualifying duration of the new entrant route*.

The Statement of Changes HC 997 and the resulting changes to the Skilled Worker visa will have a significant impact on how skilled workers and their families move to the UK. The increased skill level, floor rate, and language requirements will also impact employers and major job sectors across the UK.

While the white paper does not provide clarity on every case-to-case issue, it is important for prospective skilled workers and employers to track all of the updates that will be unveiled across the year while the white paper is implemented.

Footnotes:

*Further details will be elaborated upon in further consultation.