Published on: July 2025
Introduction: Essential Changes in UK Immigration Rules (July 2025)
The UK Home Office’s latest Statement of Changes (HC 997, July 2025) has introduced sweeping reforms that affect international students, skilled workers, care sector applicants, dependants, and UK sponsors. The new rules, most of which take effect from 22 July 2025, close longstanding loopholes while providing grace periods and “grandfathering” protections for some. If you’re planning to study, work, or sponsor talent in the UK, here’s everything you must know.
Key Highlights – July 2025 UK Immigration Updates
- Skilled Worker Visa salary threshold increases to £41,700
- Temporary Shortage Occupation List (TSL): Still open for sponsorship, but only until 31 December 2026
- Student-to-care-worker switching route is now closed (strict new rules)
- New rules and deadlines for dependants, extensions, and salary bands
- “Grandfathering” allows certain existing visa holders to extend under old conditions
- Urgent: Act before deadlines to secure your UK plans!
New Salary Thresholds for Skilled Worker Visas
From 22 July 2025, the minimum salary requirement for most Skilled Worker applicants is:
- General threshold: £41,700 (previously £38,700)
- Special bands for NHS roles and specific regions (check your job code carefully)
- Salary “going rates” updated for all eligible occupations
- Extensions for current visa holders may qualify for old rates under grandfathering—see next section
Loopholes & Grandfathering: Who Can Still Apply Under Old Rules?
The Home Office has closed many routes but created transitional “grandfathering” exceptions:
- Skilled Workers already sponsored before 22 July 2025 (with continuous status) can extend or switch employers under specific job codes, even if those jobs are not eligible for new applicants.
- If your Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) or application was made before 22 July 2025, your case is decided under the previous rules—a brief grace window exists for last-minute applicants.
- TSL jobs remain eligible for sponsorship until 31 December 2026, but only if COS is assigned by this date. After that, roles must move to the main Skilled Worker list to remain open.
- “Continuous permission” applies even if you had minor overstaying covered by paragraph 39E exceptions.
- Family members/children can only extend or join if the main applicant is still eligible under the new or old rules.
Major Change: Students Can No Longer Switch to Care Worker Visa
A critical change:
From 22 July 2025, international students can no longer switch directly from a Student visa to a Care Worker or Senior Care Worker visa—unless they have already been legally working in that role for a UK sponsor for at least 3 months prior to application.
- Who is affected?
- All students in the UK planning to move to care sector jobs via the Skilled Worker route.
- Key restriction:
- You must be employed by a licensed sponsor as a care worker (SOC 6135/6136) for at least 3 months before your COS is issued.
- The application must be for “permission to stay” (not for entry from abroad).
- Deadline: applies to all new applications from 22 July 2025 onward.
- Why?
- This rule closes the previously-used “switching” loophole, preventing students from rapidly moving into the care sector without prior employment.
Temporary Shortage Occupation List (TSL): Limited Time to Apply
The TSL is a special government list for jobs with urgent skill shortages. TSL roles remain easier to sponsor—but only until 31 December 2026.
- To qualify:
- COS must be assigned before 31 December 2026 (no exceptions).
- After this, the roles will either close or move to the standard Skilled Worker list.
- Major TSL roles include:
- Logistics managers, IT operations, laboratory technicians, engineering, construction, welders, HR, advertising, designers, vehicle and electrical trades, and many more.
- Full TSL code-by-code list: (See section below)
Extension & Switching Rules: Who Is Protected?
- If you were already sponsored as a Skilled Worker or Scale-Up before 22 July 2025, you may continue under old conditions (“grandfathering”) as long as you have continuous status.
- NHS/health and government exchange scheme participants also have special rules for extensions and salary.
- Dependants/family: Only those attached to main applicants still qualifying under new or grandfathered rules can extend or join.
Full Temporary Shortage Occupation List 2025 (Sample)
(COS must be issued before 31 December 2026 to use these roles!)
- 1243 Managers in logistics
- 3111 Laboratory technicians
- 3113 Engineering technicians
- 3131 IT operations technicians
- 3412 Authors, writers and translators
- 3544 Data analysts
- 5213 Welding trades
- 5231 Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians
- 5241 Electricians and electrical fitters
Key Deadlines: Don’t Miss Out
- 22 July 2025: Most new rules become law—including student-care worker switching restrictions
- 31 December 2026: Final date to assign COS for TSL jobs
- Act early: Last-minute applications or sponsor requests are high risk. Check your eligibility NOW!
Action Steps: How to Protect Your UK Visa Plans
- Check your job code (SOC), sponsor status, and eligibility
- Apply early: Secure your COS or extension before new rules block your route
- If you’re a student: Understand you can no longer switch to the care sector after July 2025 unless you meet the strict new employment requirement
- Dependants/family: Review all extension and eligibility details with an expert
References
Full official document:
HC 997 – Immigration Rules Changes
Official Home Office Statement – HC 997, July 2025
UK Government: Immigration Rules Collection
Free UK Immigration Rules 2025 Eligibility Checklist
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