Immigration Reform: Major Updates on Skilled Worker Visa-effective 22 July 2025

• Skill and salary thresholds increased: Skilled Worker visas now require roles at graduate level (RQF 6), removing ~111–180 lower-skilled jobs. General salary threshold rises from £38,700 to £41,700. The Health & Care visa salary requirement remains £25,000 thetimes.co.uk+15nhsemployers.org+15womblebonddickinson.com+15.

• Temporary shortage list introduced: Select medium-skilled roles will stay eligible under a time‑limited “Temporary Shortage List” requiring employers to show UK recruitment efforts dentons.com+3taylorwessing.com+3ft.com+3.

• Transitional rules: Certificates of Sponsorship issued by 21 July 2025 or pending applications remain under the old rules clydeco.com+11taylorwessing.com+11dentons.com+11.

🚑 Care Worker Route Closure

• From 22 July, overseas sponsorship for care workers (occupation codes 6135 & 6136) will end. Only those already in the UK with a Certificate of Sponsorship can adjust status until July 2028 news.sky.com+15irwinmitchell.com+15womblebonddickinson.com+15.

  

🧾 Broader Home Office Overhaul

• White Paper “Restoring Control” begins: New rules reflect a pivot toward higher skills, domestic workforce training, and stricter border controls ft.com+6gov.uk+6ft.com+6.

• Family visas & indefinite leave to remain: Future reforms to language requirements, visa fees, and potential extension of the ILR qualifying period to 10 years are planned later in 2025 .

🔒 Border Enforcement & Illegal Migration

• Yet-to-agree UK–France “one-in, one-out” deal: Progress on returning illegal Channel migrants is ongoing ahead of Macron’s visit; France’s enforcement has been criticized, with record crossings this summer en.wikipedia.org+9thetimes.co.uk+9thescottishsun.co.uk+9.

• Online promotion of illegal crossings criminalized: New legislation will ban content that encourages or facilitates irregular migration thesun.co.uk.

  

⚠️ Digital Risks for Long-Term Residents

• eVisa rollout issues: Up to 200,000 long-stay residents (e.g., Windrush generation) may be left undocumented if they don’t register migration online theguardian.com.

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🔍 What It Means for You

• If you plan a Skilled Worker visa, act before 22 July to benefit from the current rules.

• Roles below graduate level are now mostly ineligible unless on the temporary list.

• Care sector employers must hire locally after the deadline.

• Stay alert to evolving digital registration rules, especially if you hold longstanding leave.

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