Understanding the new Skilled Worker rules: case study examples

The May 2025 white paper set out a wide variety of proposed changes to the UK immigration system. Our short guide on the white paper provides a summary. 

New Skilled Worker rules started on 22 July 2025. The new Skilled Worker rules are not easy to navigate and work out which skill and salary thresholds will apply to your application.

This guide is intended to help you understand how the new rules work by using practical examples.

Timing - current or new rules?

The key thing in terms of whether the new rules apply to a Skilled Worker application is:

• The old rules will apply if the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) was assigned before Tuesday 22 July 2025. The visa application can be submitted after 22 July – the key thing is the CoS assignment date.
• The new rules will apply if the CoS is assigned on or after 22 July.

 

Minimum salary and skill level requirements – reminder of the basics

Before we get into the practical examples, here is a reminder of the basic things you need to know to help you understand the new rules.

Minimum salary
The minimum salary you need to pay is always (under the old and new rules) the higher of the following two thresholds:

• The general salary threshold. This is the one which for standard applications has often been £38,700 but there are other thresholds depending on when the person first got their visa and whether they qualify for a discounted amount.
• The going rate for the role. Appendix Skilled Occupations has tables which show lists of roles (which have a code known as an occupation code or SOC code) and the going rates. 

In terms of what the salary thresholds will be for a given application, please see the practical examples below. As you will see in the examples, which salary level is applicable is partly determined by whether the worker already has a Skilled Worker visa granted under the rules in place before or after 4 April 2024

Skill level

• Under the old rules until 21 July Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3 - 6 roles could be sponsored.
• Appendix Skilled Occupations lists out the job types and has different tables for different skill levels. 
• Under the new rules from 22 July only level 6 roles will qualify for a Skilled Worker visa unless the person meets certain criteria. Practical examples are given below but essentially from 22 July you can still sponsor someone in a role below level 6 if:
  • They have a Skilled Worker visa granted under the rules before 22 July (and have held their Skilled Worker status continuously since)
  • They are being sponsored for a role which is on the Immigration Salary List
  • They are being sponsored under the new rules from 22 July for a role on the Temporary Shortage List

 

APPLICATIONS WITH A CoS ASSIGNED ON OR AFTER 22 JULY 2025 UNDER THE NEW RULES

If the CoS for a Skilled Worker application is assigned on or after 22 July 2025, the new rules will apply.

New hires from 22 July

1. We have identified a candidate based outside the UK for a Skilled Worker visa, where do we look to know whether the role qualifies and what the minimum salary thresholds are?

Skill level
As the CoS will be assigned after 22 July, generally the role must be at level 6. You can see the level 6 roles at Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

You can only sponsor a role below level 6 if it is on the Immigration Salary List (see example 5) or Temporary Shortage List (see example 6).

Salary level
The standard general salary threshold will be £41,700 (Option A in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations). The general salary threshold will be £33,400 if the role is on the Immigration Salary List (Option D in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations, see example 5 below), or if the person is a new entrant (under 26 years old, held a UK student visa for a degree in the last 2 years, or will be working towards a UK regulated professional qualification) (Option E in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations).

The going rates for level 6 roles are shown in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

 

2. We would like to hire someone who is already in the UK with a Skilled Worker visa employed by a different company. Their first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules in place between 4 April 2024 – 21 July 2025. What are the rules?

Skill level
As the worker already has a Skilled Worker visa which was granted under the rules before 22 July 2025, they will be able to continue to apply on the basis of roles at level 6 or below.

As the worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules from 4 April 2024, you can see the level 6 roles at Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the roles below level 6 at Table 1a.

Salary
As this worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules from 4 April 2024, the general salary thresholds will be as set out in example 1.

The going rates for level 6 roles are shown at Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the going rates for roles below level 6 are shown at Table 1a.

 

3. We would like to hire someone who is already in the UK with a Skilled Worker visa employed by a different company. Their first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules in place before 4 April 2024. What are the rules?

Skill level
As the worker already has a Skilled Worker visa which was granted under the rules before 22 July 2025, they will be able to continue to apply based on roles at level 6 or below.

As the worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules before 4 April 2024, you can see the level 6 roles at Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the roles below level 6 at Table 2aa.

Salary
As this worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules in place before 4 April 2024 the salary thresholds will generally be lower than examples 1 and 2.

The standard general salary threshold will be £31,300 (Option F in Table 2 and Table 2aa of Appendix Skilled Occupations). The general salary threshold will be £25,000 if the role is on the Immigration Salary List (Option I in Table 2 and 2aa of Appendix Skilled Occupations, see example 5), or if the person is a new entrant (under 26 years old, held a UK student visa for a degree in the last 2 years, has a Graduate route visa, or will be working towards a UK regulated professional qualification) (Option J in Table 2 and Table 2aa of Appendix Skilled Occupations).

The new going rates for level 6 and above roles are shown in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The new going rates for roles below level 6 are shown in Table 2aa.

 

4. We would like to sponsor someone who is already in the UK with a non-Skilled Worker visa. What are the rules?

As this person does not currently have a Skilled Worker visa, the skill and salary levels would be as set out in example 1 based on Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

 

5. We want to hire someone for a role on the Immigration Salary List, what do we do, can their dependent family members apply for visas and are there any benefits of sponsoring a role on the Immigration Salary List?

Skill Level
For new hires, as the CoS for the application will be assigned on or after 22 July, the role must generally be at level 6. However, roles on the Immigration Salary List can be below level 6.

If the person already has a Skilled Worker visa for a job which was on a previous version of the Immigration Salary List (or shortage occupation list), they cannot rely on that – the job must be on the new Immigration Salary List.

It is likely the Immigration Salary List will be abolished from 1 January 2027 and roles could also potentially be removed before then.

Salary level
Immigration Salary List roles benefit from a lower general salary threshold, but not lower going rates.

If the person is applying for the first time or had a Skilled Worker visa first granted under the rules from 4 April 2024, the general threshold will be £33,400. The going rates (Option D) for level 6 roles are shown at Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the going rates for roles below level 6 are shown at Table 1a.

If the person had a Skilled Worker visa first granted under the rules before 4 April 2024, the general threshold will be £25,000. The going rates (Option I) for level 6 and above roles are shown in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The new going rates for roles below level 6 are shown in Table 2aa.

Family members
If the worker already has a Skilled Worker visa based on the rules before 22 July 2025, their dependent family members will be able to apply for visas. Whereas if this is the worker’s first Skilled Worker application their dependent family members will not be able to apply (except for children born in the UK and where the worker has sole responsibility for a child).

Benefits
As mentioned above, the general salary threshold is lower. Plus the UKVI visa application fee is slightly lower.

 

6. We want to sponsor someone for a role under the Temporary Shortage List – what are the rules, can their dependent family members apply for visas and what else do we need to be aware of?

Skill Level
For new hires, as the CoS for the application will be assigned on or after 22 July, the role must generally be at level 6. However, roles on the Temporary Shortage List can be below level 6.

Salary
The general threshold will be £41,700 (unlike for roles on the Immigration Salary List there is not a lower threshold). The going rates (presumably Option A) are shown at Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

Other features

• Visa. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will report to the government on its recommended terms and conditions for visas granted under the Temporary Shortage List. They are due to report by October 2025. At least until that time, it is understood the visas will be the same as other Skilled Worker visas – granted for up to 5 years and the possibility of settlement (indefinite leave to remain). Once the MAC reports and the government responds with its intended policy (including in relation to any transitional arrangements for people already granted a Temporary Shortage List visa) the situation will become clearer.
• Long term shortages. The new Temporary Shortage List is for roles where a long-term shortage has been identified. The current list is produced based on the government’s Industrial Strategy and will remain in place until 31 December 2026 (although roles could potentially be removed sooner). By July 2026 the MAC will advise the government on which roles should be on the list from 1 January 2027, aligned with industrial strategy and delivering critical infrastructure.
• Workforce strategy. The white paper envisages that to sponsor roles on the Temporary Shortage List, sponsors will need to comply with a new sector-specific workforce strategy. The workforce strategy will centre on sponsors needing to utilise the domestic/resident UK workforce before being able to recruit overseas labour. The workforce strategy will “detail steps to be taken on skills, training, and broader conditions, as well as engagement of the economically inactive domestic labour force.” The white paper and the new rules do not include detail on what this will involve for sponsors and the MAC will advise the government on the requirements by July 2026. For the time being, it appears there are not any additional workforce strategy requirements to sponsor roles on the Temporary Shortage List and possibly that will remain the case until 31 December 2026.
• Quota/cap. There is a suggestion that Temporary Shortage List visas will in future be subject to a quota/cap.
• Dependants. Dependent family members of workers with jobs on the Temporary Shortage List will not be able to apply for visas (aside from children born in the UK and where the Skilled Worker has sole responsibility for a child).
• Salary discounts and visa fees. For roles on the Temporary Shortage List there is not any discount to the required salary threshold or in relation to the UKVI application fees.

 

Extensions from 22 July

These examples are where the worker already has a Skilled Worker visa sponsored by you and they need to extend their stay (it assumes they have continuously held their Skilled Worker visa since it was first granted).

7. We have an employee whose first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules in place from 4 April 2024 – 21 July 2025. Their visa is about to expire, which rules will apply?

Skill Level
As the worker already has a Skilled Worker visa which was granted under the rules before 22 July 2025, they will be able to continue to apply on the basis of roles at level 6 or below.

As the worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules from 4 April 2024, you can see the level 6 roles at Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the roles below level 6 at Table 1a.

Salary
As this worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules in place from 4 April 2024, the general salary thresholds will be the same as those set out in example 1. The going rates for level 6 roles are shown at Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the going rates for roles below level 6 are shown at Table 1a.

 

8. We have an employee whose first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules before 4 April 2024. Their visa is expiring soon, which rules will apply?

Skill level
As the worker already has a Skilled Worker visa which was granted under the rules before 22 July 2025, they will be able to continue to apply on the basis of roles at level 6 or below.

As this worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules in place before 4 April 2024, you can see the level 6 roles at Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the roles below level 6 at Table 2aa.

Salary
As this worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted under the rules in place before 4 April 2024, the general salary thresholds will be the same as those set out in example 3. The going rates for level 6 roles are shown at Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the roles below level 6 at Table 2aa.

 

9. Since before 22 July 2025 we have been employing a Skilled Worker for a role which has been on the Immigration Salary List – which rules will apply for their extension application, can their dependent family members apply for visas and are there any benefits of sponsoring a role on the Immigration Salary List?

Skill Level
As the worker already has a Skilled Worker visa which was granted under the rules before 22 July 2025, the role can be at level 6 or below.

The new Immigration Salary List is for applications with a CoS submitted on or after 22 July.

If the person’s current Skilled worker visa was granted for a job which was on a previous version of the Immigration Salary List (or shortage occupation list), so long as they remain in the same job that is permissible as they are extending their stay with the same sponsor.

It is likely the Immigration Salary List will be abolished from 1 January 2027 and roles could also potentially be removed before then.

Salary level
Immigration Salary List roles benefit from a lower general salary threshold, but not lower going rates.

If the person had a Skilled Worker visa first granted under the rules from 4 April 2024, the going rates (Option D) for level 6 roles are shown at Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the going rates for roles below level 6 are shown at Table 1a. The general threshold will be £33,400.

If the person had a Skilled Worker visa first granted under the rules before 4 April 2024, the going rates (Option I) for level 6 roles are shown at Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the roles below level 6 at Table 2aa. The general threshold will be £25,000.

Family members
Dependent family members can apply for visas on the basis the worker’s first Skilled Worker visa was granted before 22 July 2025.

Benefits
As mentioned above, the general salary threshold is lower. Plus the UKVI visa application fee is slightly lower.

 

10. Which rules will apply to extension applications based on the Temporary Shortage List?

See example 6 for details of the Temporary Shortage List. As explained in example 6, the MAC will advise the government on the terms and conditions of visas granted under the Temporary Shortage List and which roles will feature on the list in the future. Until the MAC reports and the government publishes its chosen policies, it is not possible to say what the rules will be for extension applications under the Temporary Shortage List.

 

Further information 

Please note that this guide is for general information only and must not be used as a substitute for legal advice. You should always take legal advice which is tailored to your specific circumstances. Contact a member of the Kingsley Napley immigration team for more information.