UK New Skilled Worker Salary Thresholds from 22 July 2025 for COS – Following the UK Government’s Immigration White Paper, “Restoring control over the immigration system”, which was published on 12 March 2025, the latest Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules HC 997 was laid before Parliament on 1 July 2025.
The new Rules which will come into force on 22 July 2025 will affect businesses and Skilled Worker applicants.
Increase of the skills occupation threshold from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6
Following Brexit and the need to help businesses adapt to the ending of free movement between the UK and the EU, the skill level threshold for Skilled Worker visas was lowered from Regulated Qualifications Framework (‘RQF’) level 6 (degree level roles) to RQF level 3 (A-level roles).
The decision to increase the skills level to RQF 6 will cause a substantial reduction of around 180 eligible occupations, and will therefore have a major impact on businesses who wish to sponsor migrant workers in occupations below RQF 6.
Transitional provisions for sponsored workers who are already in jobs below RQF level 6
Applicants can continue to be sponsored in occupations lower than RQF 6 if they are already in the route (or have been sponsored for an application which is later successful) when the changes come into effect, or where the occupation is on the Immigration Salary List (‘ISL’) or on the new interim Temporary Shortage List (‘TSL’) – for details of which, see below.
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Increase to salary rates
Salary requirements across the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, and Scale-up routes are being made in line with the latest (2024) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data, published by the Office for National Statistics.
The increased salary figures for Skilled Worker visa are:
- General threshold for Skilled Workers applicant will increase from £38,700 to £41,700
- General threshold for Skilled Worker applicants who hold a PhD in a subject relevant to the role will increase from £34,830 to £37,500
- General threshold for Skilled Worker applicants who hold a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the role, or the role is on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) role; or the applicant is a ‘New Entrants’ will increase from £30,960 to £33,400
- General threshold for Skilled Workers who were on the Skilled Worker route before 4 April 2024 will increase from £29,000 to £31,300
- General threshold for Skilled Worker applicants who hold a PhD in a subject relevant to the role who were on the Skilled Worker route before 4 April 2024 will increase from £26,100 to £28,200
It is also worth bearing in mind that all Skilled Worker settlement applications submitted after 22 July 2025 will have to meet the new salary requirements which largely correspond with the increase outlined above.
End of overseas Care Worker sponsorship from 22 July 2025
From 22 July 2025, sponsorship for ‘Care workers and home carers’ and ‘Senior care workers’ will only be permitted from applicants within the UK.
However, to meet the criteria, applicants must have been legally working for a sponsor in one of the SOC 2020 occupation codes for at least three months ending on the date the CoS was issued by the sponsor; and:
- the date of application must be before 22 July 2028, or,
- applicants must have permission as a Skilled Worker, sponsored in either of these SOC 2020 occupations codes (or the SOC 2010 occupation codes Care workers and home carers or Senior care workers).
Transitional provisions for existing Skilled Workers
For now, transitional arrangements in this Statement of Changes exempt workers who are already in the Skilled Worker route (or have been sponsored for an application which is later successful) when the changes come into effect for the increase to the skill threshold.
This will enable existing Skilled Worker visa holders to continue to renew their visas, change employment and take supplementary employment in occupations below RQF 6. These transitional arrangements will not be in place indefinitely and will be reviewed in due course.
However, there are no transitional arrangements relating to the updates to salary requirements, the government reasoning that pay of sponsored workers is expected to generally progress at the same rate as the pay of other workers in the UK, on which ASHE data are based. The Government will proceed to commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to undertake a thorough review of salary requirements (including discounts).
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Any decision about transitional arrangements relating to that review will be made after the MAC have made their recommendations and should not be inferred from this Statement of Changes.
Supplementary employment
After 22 July 2025, Skilled Workers are only permitted to take on supplementary employment in a job that meets RQF 6 or a job on the Immigration Salary List. The only exception is for Skilled Worker migrants who are on the route before 22 July 2025 and who have been holding leave as a Skilled Worker since then – they may still take on supplementary employment in a job below RQF 6 which are listed on the relevant occupation tables in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
Shortage occupations
The Immigration Salary List (‘ISL’), of what are commonly referred to as shortage occupations will be no more; replaced with a new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) incorporated within Appendix Skilled Worker.
The TSL has been produced in conjunction with the MAC, and is a lot longer than the ISL, because it now serves a different purpose – to bring within the scope of sponsorship a range of occupations which are RQF 3-5. Missing are several RQF6+ roles previously considered shortage occupations, which are still capable of sponsorship, but now under mainstream rules and salaries. Crucially, TSL occupations no longer attract salary discounts.
There are some oddities in the lists. For example, in the construction industry, previously-identified shortage roles such as masons, bricklayers, roofers, tilers and retrofitters, are gone; replaced by plumbers, builders, floorers, tilers, painters and decorators.
It is important to note that, from 22 July 2025, sponsored workers in TSL roles will not be able to bring dependants along with them.
Impact on Skilled Worker Visa to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
From 22 July 2025, the salary requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the Skilled Worker route will also align with the updated thresholds. Applications submitted on or after this date must satisfy the higher of the new general settlement thresholds or the refreshed “going-rate” for the occupation.
Key changes for ILR applicants and employers:
● Higher ILR Thresholds:
From 22 July 2025, Skilled Workers applying for ILR must also meet the new thresholds:
| ILR Option | Salary Requirement from 22 July |
| Option A | £41,700 |
| Option B | £33,400 |
| Option C | £31,300 |
● Full Going Rate: For ILR, only the full going rate in the new Appendix Skilled Occupations counts; the 70%, 80%, and 90% entry-stage discounts do not apply.
● Hourly Minimum and 48-Hour Cap: The £17.13 hourly minimum and the “first-48-hours-only” rule also apply at the ILR stage.
● Skill Level: Settlement generally requires the worker to be in an RQF 6 occupation. Workers in lower-skilled roles can still qualify if they held continuous permission under pre-22 July 2025 rules. New sub-degree sponsorships will not lead to ILR.
Updated Salary Thresholds for Skilled Worker Visa
Here’s a summary of the new salary thresholds in the UK – United Kingdom:
| Salary Band (Option) | Used For | Old Minimum (before 22 July) | New Minimum (from 22 July) |
| Option A | General Threshold (standard cases) | £38,700 | £41,700 |
| Option B | 90% rate – Immigration Salary List or STEM PhDs | £34,830 | £37,500 |
| Option C/D/E | 80% rate – New entrants & non-STEM PhD roles | £30,960 | £33,400 |
| Option F | New Entrant Absolute Floor | £29,000 | £31,300 |
| Option G | 70% rate – Limited cases | £26,100 | £28,200 |
| — | Universal hourly floor | — | £17.13/hour |
Impact on New Skilled Worker Visa Applications
For any Skilled Worker application relying on a CoS issued on or after 22 July 2025, the higher salary bands will apply. This means that employers will need to review and adjust their salary offers for new recruits to ensure compliance.
What employers need to know:
● Increased Pay Offers (£41,700)
● Occupation-Specific Going Rates
● £17.13 Hourly Floor
● Review Documentation
● SMS Training
Impact on Skilled Worker Visa Extensions
There are no transitional provisions for Skilled Worker visa extensions or changes of sponsor after 22 July 2025. This means that if you need to extend your permission or change employers, and your new CoS is dated on or after 22 July, you will be subject to the higher thresholds.
Important considerations for workers and employers:
● Current Pay Must Meet New Thresholds
● No Retrospective Uplifts
● Part-time Staff & Hourly Floor
● Record Keeping