Major updates to the UK’s immigration system are set for July 2025. The government plans to remove over 100 roles from the Skilled Worker visa list and shut down the care worker visa route. These changes are meant to lower immigration levels, raise skill standards, and encourage employers to focus on hiring workers from within the UK.
On July 1, 2025, the government introduced what it described as a major reset of immigration rules. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the aim is to have tighter control over who can work in the UK. If approved by Parliament, the new rules will begin on July 22, 2025, as part of a larger plan to reshape the job market and strengthen border security.
Roles No Longer Eligible for Skilled Worker Visas:
The UK is making a big change by taking 111 jobs off the Skilled Worker visa list. These jobs were part of the Shortage Occupation List, which made it easier and cheaper for foreign workers to apply.
By removing these roles, the government aims to cut down on dependence on overseas workers and boost local hiring. Here are some changes:
- Stopping visa access for care workers under the Skilled Worker route
- Increasing the required pay and skill levels for all approved jobs
- Removing lower-skilled roles unless they’re listed as essential
- Not allowing family members to come with workers under short-term job schemes
No More International Recruitment for Care Jobs:
One major change is that new care workers from overseas will no longer be allowed to apply for UK visas. This rule starts on July 22, 2025. Care workers already in the UK can keep working, but no new applications will be accepted. This move may have a big effect on the health and care sectors, which have often depended on foreign workers to fill job gaps.
New Short-Term Job List Launched with Tight Rules:
The old Shortage Occupation List is being replaced with a new Temporary Shortage List, which will be used until 2026. Only jobs considered vital to the country—like those in healthcare and infrastructure—will be included on this list.
Employers will need to show solid plans for training and hiring local workers, or they could lose the right to use this hiring route. Workers on the temporary list will face the following conditions:
- Family members not permitted
- Full visa fees apply
- No special salary exceptions
- Only jobs approved by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will qualify.
- Later this year, the MAC will review salaries, benefits, and shortage jobs to finalize the list.
Additional Updates:
- Employers will face higher immigration skill fees.
- English language rules will be tougher for all visa types.
- New rules will affect spouse and partner visa applications.
- These plans are designed to bring back control and stability to immigration, after a sharp rise in migration over the past four years.
Who Will Feel the Impact?
- Skilled workers from other countries looking for jobs in the UK
- Businesses that hire talent from overseas
- Care companies that employ workers from abroad
- Agencies handling visa and sponsorship tasks
- Families hoping to reunite with skilled migrants in the UK
Steps Employers and Migrants Need to Take Now:
- Look over your current visa sponsorship plans.
- Explore training options within the UK to depend less on overseas workers.
- Keep track of updates to the shortage occupation list.
- Get ready for stricter language exams and higher financial demands.