On 1 July 2025, the UK Home Office laid before Parliament the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 997, introducing a significant set of amendments aligned with the government’s broader agenda of reforming immigration policy. These changes, based on the Immigration White Paper: Restoring Control Over the Immigration System, aim to enhance compliance, reduce exploitation, and refocus the UK’s immigration system on national priorities. The Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the statement provides an in-depth explanation of the rationale, structure, and intended impact of these reforms.
“This instrument amends the Immigration Rules, made under the provisions of section 1(4) and section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971, that are used to regulate people’s entry to, and stay in, the United Kingdom.” (Explanatory Memorandum, Section 4)
The official Statement of Changes outlines legislative amendments and their implementation dates. Below is a detailed breakdown of the changes and their policy context.
Read the complete Statement of Changes here
Read the Explanatory Memorandum of the Statement of Changes here
Overview of Changes
Statement of Changes HC 997 amends the Immigration Rules and applies across the United Kingdom, aiming to align immigration policy with evolving workforce needs, national priorities, and international obligations. The two significant developments addressed are:
- Adjustments to Skilled Workers and related work visa routes
- Closure of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) to new principal applications
Other minor clarifications and drafting amendments have also been introduced to ensure consistency and clarity across the Immigration Rules.
Key implementation dates
The Immigration Rules, laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State, serve as a statement of practice under the Immigration Act 1971. The Statement of Changes to the Skilled Worker and other work routes will come into effect on July 22, 2025. (Statement of Changes PDF, pg 2). Closure of ARAP to new principal cases implemented on 1 July 2025 (15:00 BST).
For transitional purposes, any application that (i) relies on a Certificate of Sponsorship assigned to the applicant before 22 July 2025, or (ii) falls under a route that does not require a Certificate of Sponsorship and is submitted before 22 July 2025, will be determined under the version of the Immigration Rules that was in force on 21 July 2025.
Key Updates in the Statement of Changes (HC 997)
The amendments to the Skilled Worker and other work routes are central to the Statement of Changes HC 997, driven by policy shifts outlined in the Immigration White Paper.
Skills and Salary Thresholds
A significant change is the reversal of the skill threshold for Skilled Worker applicants, which is being elevated back to Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 6 or above. This revisits the 2020 change that had lowered the threshold to RQF level 3. The rationale for this recalibration stems from observed growth in visa numbers and concerns about the exploitation of overseas recruits, particularly in occupations below RQF level 6. This adjustment results in the removal of approximately 180 eligible occupations.
However, transitional arrangements are a key feature for existing Skilled Worker visa holders. Those already on the route or those with a CoS assigned before 22 July 2025, when the changes take effect, will be exempt from the increased skill threshold. This provision allows them to continue renewing their visas, changing employment, and undertaking supplementary employment in occupations below RQF level 6. It is important to note that these transitional arrangements are not indefinite and will be subject to review.
Furthermore, routine updates to salary requirements are being implemented across the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, and Scale-up routes. These updates are aligned with the latest 2024 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data from the Office for National Statistics. As part of this update, the general Skilled Worker salary threshold will rise from £38,700 to £41,700, with corresponding proportional increases for reduced thresholds and occupation-specific going rates.
Similarly, the general salary threshold for the GBM Senior or Specialist Worker route will increase from £48,500 to £52,500. This is standard practice to ensure that salary requirements reflect the current pay situation for UK workers. The Appendix Skilled Occupations has been restructured to clearly present eligible occupations and updated going rates in separate tables for RQF level 6+ (tables 1,2, and 3) and RQF levels 3-5 (tables 1a, 2aa and 3a). There are no transitional arrangements for these salary updates, as sponsored workers’ pay is expected to progress in line with the broader UK workforce.
Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List
The Immigration Salary List, which identifies occupations with labour shortages and offers discounted salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas, is set to be replaced by a Temporary Shortage List. As an interim measure, occupations below RQF level 6 will remain eligible for the Skilled Worker route if they appear on either:
- An expanded Immigration Salary List, incorporating RQF levels 3-5 occupations identified as being in shortage by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in its 2023 and 2024 reviews.
- An interim Temporary Shortage List, which includes RQF levels 3-5 occupations deemed necessary for the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy by the Department for Business and Trade and His Majesty’s Treasury.
Both lists will include specified removal dates, primarily set at the end of 2026, except for adult social care, which will be subject to separate arrangements. The government reserves the right to amend these dates. The future content and terms of the Temporary Shortage List will be subject to MAC review, with inclusion conditional upon MAC advice, a workforce strategy, and the employer’s commitment to domestic recruitment.
A key change is that workers sponsored in occupations on either list at RQF levels 3-5 will not be permitted to bring dependants. This restriction does not apply to occupations at RQF level 6 or above, or to existing Skilled Worker route holders in RQF 3-5 occupations who were previously bringing dependants. Exemptions apply to dependent children born in the UK or where the Skilled Worker has sole parental responsibility.
Adult Social Care
Recognising concerns surrounding care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136), Statement of Changes HC 997 implements significant amendments. As stated in the Immigration White Paper, these changes close entry clearance applications for Skilled Workers sponsored under these occupation codes (Explanatory Memorandum section 5).
However, in-country applications for individuals switching from other visa routes will continue during a transitional period, which ends on 22 July 2028 (Explanatory Memorandum, section 5). After this date, these occupations will be removed from the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. A new requirement mandates that workers must have been legally employed by their sponsoring provider for at least three months prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Sponsorship. This measure aims to ensure continuity of employment, suitability of workers, and compliance with employment law, mitigating exploitation risks.
The requirement for sponsors to recruit from a pool of Skilled Workers seeking new sponsorship is being removed, resulting in the closure of all applications to which this condition previously applied. The transitional provision for in-country switchers will be continuously monitored to address emerging compliance concerns, including exploitation and inadequate employment safeguards. Monitoring will include the revocation of sponsor licences, tracking changes in displaced worker numbers, and incorporating feedback from Regional Partnerships.
To prevent circumvention, occupation code 6131 (Nursing auxiliaries and assistants) is now clarified to apply only to roles where registered nurse positions also exist. In line with the increase in the skills threshold, transitional arrangements will exempt existing Skilled Workers, as well as those who switch before 22 July 2028, from these specific changes. (Statement of Changes PDF, Pg 8)
Other Minor Updates
Minor amendments have been introduced to align the drafting across the Immigration Rules, primarily to enhance transparency, clarity, and consistency, rather than to implement policy changes. Neonatal care leave is also being added as a permissible reason for absences from sponsored work, reflecting its new statutory leave entitlement. In addition, minor drafting errors and incorrect paragraph references are being corrected.
Is This the End of Immigration Reform? Or Just the Beginning?
The Statement of Changes HC 997 marks a pivotal moment in the UK’s immigration landscape, introducing the first wave of reforms aligned with the government’s broader objective of restoring control over the immigration system. With significant adjustments to work routes, particularly the Skilled Worker visa, this update lays the groundwork for a more restrictive and compliance-focused framework.
However, this is only the beginning. The government has confirmed that further reforms are expected by the end of 2025, including an increase in the Immigration Skills Charge, higher English language requirements across visa routes, and the introduction of a new family migration policy framework. While these proposals have yet to be laid before Parliament, stakeholders should prepare for additional Statements of Changes and continued policy tightening in the coming months. Notably, the much-speculated extension to settlement timelines has not yet materialised, though, in this fast-moving landscape, it may only be a matter of time.
