Immigration Blog/ Updates
The End of A-Levels? What the UK's New Degree-Level Visa Rule Means
For years, the UK's Skilled Worker visa route has been a primary pathway for overseas professionals to come and work in the country. But a significant and fundamental change took effect on 22 July 22 2025, which has altered who is eligible for this visa, and in doing so, has reshaped the UK's workforce. The change is simple but profound: the minimum skill level required for a new visa application rose.
What's Changing?
Previously, a job needed to meet a skill level of Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3—which is roughly equivalent to A-level qualifications—to be eligible for sponsorship. Under the new rules, all new applicants must be sponsored for a role graded at RQF Level 6, a standard that aligns with a UK bachelor's degree.
This strategic shift meant that a large number of jobs that were once on the eligible list are no longer a viable option for new applicants coming from overseas. Estimates suggest that between 111 and 180 occupations have been removed from the list, affecting a wide range of sectors, from hospitality and construction to administrative roles.
The government's rationale was clear: it was a calculated move to reduce net migration and to push UK employers to invest more in training and developing their domestic workforce to fill these roles.
What Does This Mean for Current Visa Holders?
The new rules create a two-tiered system for a transitional period. If you are already in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa in a role below the new degree-level threshold, you are protected by transitional arrangements. This means you can continue to be sponsored in your RQF 3-5 occupation, extend your visa, or even change employers within that same job code until at least 22 July 2028.
However, there is a crucial caveat for those seeking to stay long-term. While your skill level is protected, you are still subject to the new, higher salary thresholds when you apply for an extension or a new job. This puts pressure on both the worker and the employer to meet the new financial requirements, even if the job itself remains below the degree-level standard.
In essence, the UK has made a deliberate move toward a more selective and high-skilled immigration model. For employers, the message is clear: long-term workforce planning must now be built on a foundation of domestic talent and a highly selective approach to international recruitment.
For all your immigration needs, please contact UKImmigrationSpecialist at info@ukimmigrationspecialist.co.uk or 0203 818 5282.
The UK's Care Sector: Navigating a New Era in Immigration Policy
Significant changes are coming to the UK's immigration system, and one of the most profound shifts is taking place in the adult social care sector. From 22 July 2025, the UK government is closing the door on new overseas recruitment for care workers and senior care workers. This is a crucial policy reversal that will have a major impact on both the industry and the thousands of people who wish to work in the UK.
For years, the Health and Care Worker visa route was a lifeline for the UK's social care sector, which has struggled with chronic staff shortages. In 2022, the government expanded the visa route to include care workers, a decision that led to a massive influx of applications, approximately 648,100 people, including their families, applied between 2022 and 2024. While this helped fill vacancies, it also raised concerns about migrant exploitation and the overall rapid increase in immigration numbers.
The new policy is a direct response to those concerns. The government’s official stance is that UK employers should now focus on "investing in the skills of workers already in Britain" to meet their staffing needs. In effect, the government is signalling a definitive shift: the long-term solution to the care crisis must be found domestically, not through international recruitment.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
- For New Applicants: If you are an overseas care worker or senior care worker, you will no longer be able to apply for a new visa to come to the UK from 22 July 2025.
- For Current Visa Holders: The changes are not retroactive for those already in the country. If you are a care worker or senior care worker already on a Health and Care Worker visa, you can continue to work in your role, extend your current visa, or switch employers within your occupation code. These transitional arrangements are in place until at least 22 July 2028, providing a period of stability for the existing workforce.
- Rules on Dependants: A key change is the restriction on bringing family members. Individuals who switch into a care worker role after11 March 2024, are no longer able to have their dependents join them in the UK. However, those who were already in the route before this date can still have their dependents remain with them and apply for visa extensions.
- Other Roles: It is important to note that a handful of other healthcare roles have been entirely removed from the sponsorship system because they no longer meet the new, higher skill thresholds. These include roles like medical and dental technicians, ambulance staff (excluding paramedics), and dental nurses.
This policy shift marks a fundamental change in how the UK views immigration's role in filling critical labour gaps. It places a new burden on domestic industries to develop their workforces from within, while creating a clear and separate pathway for high-skilled professionals. For the social care sector, this new chapter will require a significant rethink of long-term workforce strategy.