Weekly Roundup – 4 July 2025
UK immigration is set to undergo its most significant transformation in recent years, with sweeping reforms taking effect from 22 July 2025. These changes represent what the government has termed a “complete reset of the immigration system,” fundamentally altering the Skilled Worker route and introducing new restrictions that will have far-reaching implications for businesses and immigration practitioners alike.
The cornerstone of these reforms is the substantial elevation of the skills threshold from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6, effectively requiring all sponsored roles to be at graduate level or equivalent. This dramatic shift will result in the removal of approximately 180 occupations from the list of eligible sponsorable roles, marking a decisive departure from the more accommodating approach adopted post-Brexit. The original reduction to RQF Level 3 was implemented to help businesses adapt to the ending of free movement between the UK and EU, but the government now considers this transitional measure to have served its purpose.
Accompanying this skills elevation are significant increases to salary thresholds across multiple immigration routes. The general threshold for new Skilled Worker applicants will rise from £38,700 to £41,700, whilst those benefiting from discounted rates will see increases from £30,960 to £33,400. These adjustments reflect the latest Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data published by the Office for National Statistics and demonstrate the government’s commitment to ensuring sponsored workers receive competitive wages aligned with UK market rates.
The reform package includes specific provisions for different categories of applicants, with PhD holders in relevant subjects seeing their threshold increase from £34,830 to £37,500, whilst those with STEM PhDs, individuals in Immigration Salary List roles, or new entrants will face the revised £33,400 minimum. Notably, workers who entered the Skilled Worker route before 4 April 2024 will benefit from slightly lower thresholds, with the general rate for this cohort rising from £29,000 to £31,300.
One of the most significant sector-specific changes concerns the complete cessation of overseas recruitment for care workers. From 22 July 2025, sponsorship for care workers and home carers will only be permitted for applicants already present in the UK. To qualify under these new arrangements, applicants must demonstrate at least three months of legal employment with a sponsor in the relevant occupation codes, with applications required before 22 July 2028 unless they already hold Skilled Worker permission in these roles.
The government has introduced a new Temporary Shortage List to replace the existing Immigration Salary List, fundamentally changing how shortage occupations are managed. This new TSL, developed in conjunction with the Migration Advisory Committee, serves a different purpose from its predecessor, primarily bringing RQF 3-5 occupations within the scope of sponsorship. Crucially, roles on the TSL will no longer attract salary discounts, and workers in these positions will be prohibited from bringing dependants to the UK.
The construction industry will reflect the dramatic reshaping of eligible occupations, with previously identified shortage roles such as masons, bricklayers, roofers, and retrofitters being removed, whilst plumbers, builders, floorers, tilers, painters, and decorators have been added to the new arrangements. This sectoral rebalancing reflects changing labour market dynamics and the government’s evolving assessment of genuine skills shortages.
Transitional provisions offer some relief for existing Skilled Worker visa holders, allowing them to continue renewing their visas, changing employment, and taking supplementary employment in occupations below RQF 6. However, these arrangements are explicitly temporary and will be subject to future review. Importantly, no transitional provisions apply to the salary increases, with the government reasoning that sponsored workers’ pay should progress at the same rate as other UK workers.
The supplementary employment provisions represent another significant tightening, with Skilled Workers permitted to take additional work only in roles meeting RQF 6 standards or those listed on the Immigration Salary List. The sole exception applies to workers already in the route before 22 July 2025, who may continue taking supplementary employment in lower-skilled roles listed in the relevant occupation tables.
These reforms herald the beginning of what the government describes as a broader transformation, with further changes anticipated before the end of 2025. These include increases to the Immigration Skills Charge, higher English language requirements, a new family migration policy framework, and enhanced measures around asylum, border security, and immigration enforcement.
The implications for immigration advisers are profound, requiring immediate strategic reassessment of client portfolios and future planning approaches. Businesses relying on international talent will need to adapt quickly to the new reality, whilst advisers must prepare for increased complexity in case management and heightened scrutiny of applications. The government’s emphasis on greater employer accountability, including requirements to demonstrate robust domestic recruitment strategies and commitment to upskilling the UK workforce, signals a fundamental shift towards a more restrictive and demanding immigration environment.
These changes represent one of the most substantial tightening of UK immigration rules in recent memory, marking a clear departure from the relatively liberal approach adopted in the immediate post-Brexit period. For immigration practitioners, the coming weeks will be crucial for understanding the full implications of these reforms and preparing clients for the new immigration rules effective from 22 July 2025.
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For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, SEE BELOW
News
Major immigration reforms delivered to restore order and control – UKVI News
New rules to be laid in Parliament see skills and salary thresholds rise, overseas recruitment for care workers end, and more than 100 occupations no longer granted access to the immigration system. These changes, the first to be rolled out from the Immigration White Paper, represent a fundamental shift in the UK’s approach to immigration and restore order to the points-based system, focusing on higher skills, lower numbers and tighter controls. They are an important step in ending the UK’s reliance on overseas, lower skilled recruitment.
For full report, click here
Children crossing Channel from France exposed to teargas, report says – The Guardian
Children and babies coming to the UK on small boats from northern France have been teargassed and subjected to tactics such as the discharge of rubber bullets and the slashing of dinghies with knives, according to a report. The publication on Tuesday of We Want to Be Safe, by the French non-governmental organisation Project Play, came as the latest figures on daily crossings released by the UK government reached an all-time high of 19,982 for the first six months of the year, a 40% increase compared with the same period last year.
For full report, click here
UK food delivery firms step up checks after claims of illegal workers – The Guardian
The UK’s three largest food delivery companies have announced increased security checks for riders after ministers raised concerns about people working illegally for the firms. Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat have committed to increasing the use of facial verification checks and fraud detection technology in efforts to ensure only those with registered accounts can work on their platforms.
For full report, click here
UK government agency not accepting eVisas as ID from job applicants – The Guardian
The Home Office-sponsored agency that licenses hundreds of thousands of security guards has become the latest to confirm that it will not accept newly introduced eVisas from job applicants, the Guardian has learned. eVisas are designed to replace physical biometric residence permits that show proof of the right to reside, rent, work and claim benefits. However, the rollout has been beset with difficulties.
For full report, click here
Man criticises Home Office for keeping visa fee of wife who died before reaching UK – The Guardian
A grieving husband has criticised the Home Office for holding on to thousands of pounds in visa fees he paid for his wife to come to the UK, despite the fact that she died before she was due to arrive in the country.
For full report, click here
Keir Starmer says he ‘deeply regrets’ island of strangers speech – The Guardian
Keir Starmer has said he “deeply regrets” a speech in which he described the UK as being in danger of becoming an island of strangers without tough curbs on immigration. In an interview with the Observer, the Prime Minister said he should have read the speech more carefully and “held it up to the light a bit more”.
For full report, click here
Ukrainians who fled to UK being refused asylum on grounds it is ‘safe to return’ – The Guardian
Ukrainians who fled to the UK after the Russian invasion are being refused asylum by the Home Office on the grounds it is safe to return to Ukraine. Families are trying to obtain a route to settlement, which would enable them to build a life in the UK, commit their children to a British education and improve their prospects for jobs and housing. Some feel they have nothing to return to as they are from areas razed by conflict.
For full report, click here
Is the government meeting its pledges on illegal immigration and asylum? – BBC News UK
The Prime Minister has made tackling illegal immigration and “restoring order” to the asylum system a priority for the government. Sir Keir Starmer has promised to “smash the gangs”. It follows predecessor Rishi Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats”.
For full report, click here
Windrush daughter can take case to Court of Appeal – BBC News UK
A woman whose father came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation has been given permission to go to the Court of Appeal in an attempt to stay in the country.
For full report, click here
‘I can’t live in my own country with my partner’ – BBC News UK
The UK government is facing calls to scrap an immigration policy which puts “untold stress” on British citizens who choose to marry or cohabit with someone from abroad. Citizens and settled residents wanting to sponsor their partner’s visa application must earn a minimum income of £29,000 or have savings of £88,500.
For full report, click here
Case Law
Secretary of State for the Home Department v Borges [2025] EWCA Civ 784
The Court of Appeal ruled that for an individual to benefit from the highest level of protection against deportation under EU law (requiring “imperative grounds of public security”), they must have been an EU citizen throughout the entire 10-year continuous residence period preceding the deportation decision. The court rejected the argument that time spent as a third-country national family member of an EU citizen could count towards this 10-year requirement, emphasising that EU citizenship confers primary Treaty rights that are fundamentally different from the derivative rights of non-EU family members. The case was remitted to the First-tier Tribunal to consider whether there were serious grounds of public policy justifying Mr Borges’s deportation, as he was only entitled to the middle tier of protection having acquired Portuguese citizenship partway through his UK residence.
For full decision, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: National Age Assessment Board: caseworker has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Temporary Work – Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship: SMS manual 11 has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Reporting worker activity: SMS manual 9 has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Form: Worker and Temporary Worker priority service request form has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Form, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Defined certificate of sponsorship: SMS manual 12 has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Miscellaneous certificate of sponsorship functions: SMS manual 10 has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Manage your sponsorship licence: SMS manual 2 has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Applications, renewals and services: SMS guide 3 has been updated on 02nd July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Introduction to the sponsorship management system: SMS manual 1 has been updated on 01st July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Iran: country policy and information notes has been updated on 01st July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Transparency data: Visa fees transparency data has been updated on 01st July 2025. To view the updated Transparency data, click here
Policy paper: UK visa fees has been updated on on 01st July 2025. To view the updated Policy paper, click here
Guidance: Afghan citizens resettlement scheme has been updated on 01st July 2025. To view the updated, Guidance, click here
Guidance: Afghan citizens resettlement scheme: Separated Families Pathway has been updated on 01st July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Collection: Immigration Rules: statement of changes has been updated on 01st July 2025. To view the updated Collection, Click here
Guidance: Hong Kong: tuberculosis test clinics for a UK visa has been updated on 01st July 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Assessing age for asylum applicants: caseworker has been updated on 30th June 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Nigeria: country policy and information notes has been updated on 30th June 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: UK: tuberculosis test clinics has been updated on 30th June 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: China: country policy and information notes has been updated 27th June 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Offender management: caseworker has been updated on 27th June 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Written by Shareen Khan – Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
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Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration advisors should consult the full decisions and official policy documents when advising clients on specific cases.