The UK skilled worker visa is for foreign individuals looking to work in the UK and for UK-based organizations looking to employ overseas employees. Such companies need to obtain a sponsor license
and then assign a certificate of sponsorship to the sponsoring employees, which is mandatory for foreign workers looking to apply for a skilled worker visa. Some changes were proposed in a white paper released in May 2025. We are going to discuss those changes in this article.
The Skilled Worker visa, which replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa, is a point-based visa for overseas nationals. The visa allows UK-based employers to employ non-UK nationals to work in their organization in the UK in eligible jobs and skilled roles. The individuals applying for a skilled worker visa must attain 70 points. The applicants are awarded points for meeting specific eligibility requirements such as skill and salary level, English language ability, and a qualifying job offer from a UK employer with a valid UK sponsorship licence.
The spouse or civil partner and children of the skilled worker visa holders can apply to join the main visa applicant as Skilled Worker dependents.
Skilled Worker workers are granted leave for up to five years, after which they may become eligible to apply for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain.
The new UK government under Keir Starmer has released a white paper in May 2025 in which Prime Minister Starmer has clearly stated his government’s goal to curb inward immigration and secure UK borders. There are proposed changes to the UK skilled worker visa as well. These changes are related minimum skill level threshold for the job, English language, ISL (Immigration Salary List), and settlement eligibility. Details and timings of these proposed new rules are yet to be confirmed.
From 22 July 2025, the minimum income threshold for a UK skilled worker visa has been raised to £41,700, from £38,600, or your job’s standard ‘going rate’. A lower discounted threshold applies as follows:
Please note that a thorough review of salary requirements (including discounts) will be undertaken to ensure they reflect the new changes to the UK’s immigration system
The skill threshold for the UK skilled worker visa was RFQ 3 level. However, the skill threshold for skilled worker visas is brought back to RQF 6 Please note, existing Skilled Worker visa holders will continue to be able to renew their visa, change employment, and take supplementary employment, in currently eligible occupations below RQF 6 level. However, applicants from overseas, or those applying to switch from other routes, will have to follow the new rules.
Temporary Shortage List
A new Temporary Shortage List has been created to provide time-limited access to the Points-Based immigration system.
For occupations that currently require skill level at RQF 3-5 (below degree level) where there have been long-term shortages, only the use of the Points-Based immigration system will be permitted on a time- limited basis.
Occupations below RQF 6 will be listed on the Temporary Shortage List in order to gain access to the immigration system. Only sectors that are key to the industrial strategy or delivering critical infrastructure, and following advice from the MAC, will be potentially added to the Temporary Shortage list.
Your approved UK sponsor must have a genuine vacancy to employ overseas workers. You must have been offered an eligible job. You can check whether your job is eligible through its 4-digit code here. You can check the 4-digit code on your CoS or ask your employer.
Please note, the number of eligible occupations has been reduced to around 180 occupations.
Your sponsor must assign you a valid certificate of sponsorship to your before you can submit your visa application to confirm that you and your role meet the sponsorship eligibility requirements. You need to use your CoS reference number when applying for your visa to the Home Office. Only licensed sponsors can assign a CoS.
This is a requirement for approved sponsors employing overseas workers. You must pay the immigration skills charge if the overseas workers are applying for a visa from:
How much does it cost?
The amount you need to pay is based on:
You need to pay £364 if you are a small or charitable organisation and you are sponsoring the worker for 12 months, and £182 for each additional 6 months.
You need to pay £1,000 if you are a medium or large organisation and the worker, and you are sponsoring the worker for 12 months, and £500 for each additional 6 months. Change has been proposed in the white paper. The government will increase the Immigration Skill
Charge for the first time since its introduction, by 32%, to bring the ISC rates in line with inflation.
Skilled worker visa applicants must meet the financial requirement in 2025. They must show that they can support themselves, their dependent partner, and children, if they are also applying without relying on public funds.
The applicants must have at least £1,270 in their bank account when they apply. This amount must have been held in their bank account for at least 28 consecutive days, with day 28 being within 31 days of making the visa application. They do not need to show the proof of £1,270 if they have been in the UK for at least 12 months with lawful status, or if their sponsor agrees to meet their costs of up to £1,270 during their first month in the UK.
Additional funds will be required for dependents if they are also applying. The spouse or civil partner of the main applicant will need to show funds of £285, and a further £315 if there is one dependent child applicant. If there is more than one child, the financial requirement must be met by showing funds of £200 per additional child.
You will need to meet the knowledge of the English language requirement to at least CEFR level B1 (intermediate level) unless you have proved it in your previous successful UK application.
You can meet this standard by being a national of an English-speaking country or having a degree that was taught or researched in English. The remaining cohort requires a recognised English test qualification from an approved test center.
However, the change proposed in the white paper states that English language requirements for Skilled Workers will be increased to CEFR level B2 from the existing CEFR level B1. A new English language requirement for all adult dependents at level A1 (Basic User) will be introduced.
Currently, skilled worker visa holders can apply for settlement after living for 5 years continuously in the UK on this visa. But a new requirement will apply in the future. As per the change stated in the white paper, applicants will be able to apply for settlement after 10 years instead of 5 years.
We will help you apply for a skilled worker visa with updated rules and requirements. We will ensure you meet the latest eligibility requirements to make your application successful. Our caseworkers will explain to you in detail about the updated rules and help you gather the supporting documents accordingly.
If you want to discuss your UK skilled worker visa application in 2025, you can contact us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261.
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