Highlights: UK announced new changes to UK Skilled Worker Visa
- The UK will raise the skill threshold for the Skilled Worker visa, removing 111 eligible occupations.
- A higher general salary threshold of £41,700 will apply to new Skilled Worker visa applications from April 2024.
- Employers will face stricter limits when recruiting for roles below degree level through a targeted immigration salary list.
- A workforce strategy will be required from employers to justify recruitment of overseas talent for medium-skilled roles.
- The social care worker visa route will be closed to new overseas recruitment starting July 22, 2025.
- Applicants already sponsored in the care sector before July 22, 2025, will not be affected by the route closure.
- A temporary shortage list will be introduced to address short-term labour needs and reviewed by the Migration Advisory Committee.
- eVisas will be implemented from July 15, 2025, replacing physical visa stickers with secure online records.
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UK Skilled Worker Visa Reforms: What Applicants and Employers Should Know?
The UK government is introducing a series of changes to its Skilled Worker visa program in 2025, with a focus on promoting higher-skilled migration and enhancing domestic workforce participation. These policy reforms are scheduled for a phased rollout between April and July 2025 and will significantly impact employers, prospective applicants, and recruitment practices.
One of the most significant changes is the increase in the skill threshold for visa eligibility. This measure will result in the removal of 111 previously approved occupations, limiting visa access to higher-skilled roles only. Concurrently, the general salary threshold for Skilled Worker applicants will increase from £38,700 to £41,700 for new applications submitted after April 2024.
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Employers seeking to sponsor workers for roles below degree level will now be required to submit a workforce strategy. This document must outline how the employer intends to hire and develop local UK talent in alignment with reduced immigration access. To facilitate this shift, a targeted immigration salary list and a temporary shortage list will be introduced. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will review these lists to determine continued eligibility for certain medium-skilled occupations.|
A major change affecting the healthcare sector is the closure of the overseas social care worker visa route. From July 22, 2025, employers will no longer be able to sponsor care workers from abroad under this visa category. However, individuals already sponsored in this route by that date will remain unaffected and may continue to live and work in the UK under existing terms.
For individuals and employers navigating these complex changes, professional immigration guidance can help ensure compliance and opportunity planning. Y-Axis, India’s No. 1 overseas career consultant, offers end-to-end support for UK Skilled Worker visa applications, from eligibility assessment to employer sponsorship and documentation support.
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