On July 1, 2025, the Home Office published a 138-page statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997). An explanatory memorandum accompanied the statement of changes, as well as a press release.
The measures, which begin the implementation of the reforms set out in the government’s recent white paper, 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 dependents 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 recommend it.
The Minister for Migration and Citizenship provided a summary of the changes in a written statement to the House of Commons:
The key change is raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas from occupations at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3 and above (approximately A-level skills) to occupations at RQF level 6 and above (mainly graduate professions).
Salary requirements for work visas are being raised in line with the latest Office for National Statistics data, ahead of an upcoming thorough review of salary requirements (including discounts) by the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) and a new, interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL) provide time-limited and conditional access to the Skilled Worker route for occupations below the new RQF level 6 threshold, but with no ability for applicants to bring dependents. The ISL will be phased out in future and the TSL will be reviewed by the MAC.
Skilled Worker entry clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers are being closed, while maintaining in-country switching applications for a transition period until July 22, 2028.
The changes include transitional arrangements, allowing existing Skilled Worker visa holders to continue to extend their visas, bring dependents, change employment and take supplementary employment in occupations below RQF level 6, while applying the new rules to applicants from overseas and those applying to switch from other routes.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the changes will come into effect from July 22, and transitional arrangements have also today been set out for overseas care workers already in the UK.
Further changes to be implemented by the end of this year also include:
- raising the immigration skills charge
- uplifting language requirements across the immigration system
- unveiling a new family policy framework to Parliament
Closure of Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
In addition to the above, the statement of changes amends Appendix ARAP of the Immigration Rules in order to close the relocation route to the UK under the ARAP to future principal applications. It does so by amending the eligibility requirement in Appendix ARAP 3.3 to require that new principal applications by an Afghan citizen must have been submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on or after April 1, 2021 and before 15:00 BST on July 1, 2025 to be considered eligible under Appendix ARAP.
Eligible applicants who submitted their application before 15:00 BST on July 1, 2025 will still be able to make eligibility applications for their immediate family members and additional family members after this date.
The ARAP is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles and may include an offer for relocation to the UK for those deemed eligible by the MOD and who are deemed suitable for relocation by the Home Office under Appendix ARAP.
The government will also be closing the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The Home Office will continue to consider those referrals made under the ACRS Separated Families pathway but have not yet received a decision.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.
