What are the 2025 Immigration Rule Changes?

Last updated: 25 July 2025

On 22 July 2025, the UK government implements four major changes to the immigration rules:

• The skill threshold for Skilled Worker visas is now raised, and more than 100 eligible occupations are now removed;
• The social care worker visa route to overseas recruitment is now closed;
• There is only 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;
• The Commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is to conduct a review of the temporary shortage list including occupations, salaries and benefits.

Among these changes, we particularly encourage those on or thinking of getting a Skilled Worker visa to check out the updated official government page of Skilled Occupation List.

This page lists all eligible occupations for Skilled Worker visas and their going rate by job title and Standard Occupational Code (SOC). We recommend checking this list along with the official CASCOT tool to determine your job code.

Importantly, these changes may affect you differently depending on whether you are currently in the UK on a visa route, if you're planning to switch visa routes, or if you're new to a visa route. When in doubt, we recommend seeking professional advice from a qualified immigration lawyer or advisor.

We're currently working with experts to provide a detailed summary on what these changes may mean for different stakeholders, including visa holders, those with indefinite leave to remain/settled status, employers, and beyond.

In the meantime, we encourage you to check out some resources that other migrant advisory bodies, rights groups, and stakeholder specific organisations have already compiled:

• Citizens Advice: How changes to immigration rules might affect you
• Migrants' Rights Network: What is the new Immigration White Paper proposing?
• Migrants' Rights Network: Immigration White Paper Skilled Visa Salary Changes Come Into Force
• NHS Employers: Immigration rule changes - July 2025
• Freemovement articles – The blog posts tackle multiple areas of immigration law, including the recent changes. The following articles are particularly relevant to the 2025 changes (older articles may be paywalled):
  • What does the immigration white paper say about workers and students?
  • Immigration white paper – the case for optimism and what sponsors should do
  • Immigration white paper impacts on the Higher Education sector and international students
  • How much does it cost to sponsor someone for a UK work visa?

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If you'd like to contribute to this page, please contact us at: contact[at]notastranger[dot]org