Skilled Worker Visa: UK Introduces New Immigration Rules

The UK government has announced significant changes to its Skilled Worker visa regulations, primarily focusing on the care sector and salary thresholds. The new rules, which will come into effect on April 9, 2025, aim to curb exploitation, strengthen compliance, and prioritize the hiring of skilled workers already residing in the UK.

Key Changes to the Skilled Worker Visa Rules

1. Priority Hiring for Care Workers in the UK
   • Care providers in England must prioritize recruiting international care workers who are already in the UK before hiring from overseas .
   • This measure is designed to protect existing care workers, prevent job insecurity, and reduce the risk of exploitation by unscrupulous employers.
2. Increase in Minimum Salary Thresholds
   • Care workers must now be paid a minimum of £12.82 per hour , ensuring fair wages and preventing underpayment.
   • Salary thresholds for other health and education professionals, including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and teachers, have also been revised to reflect updated market standards.
3. Crackdown on Non-Compliant Employers
   • Since July 2022, the UK government has revoked more than 470 sponsor licenses in the care sector due to non-compliance with visa sponsorship requirements.
   • These enforcement actions have impacted over 39,000 workers since October 2020, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring proper treatment of international workers.
4. Changes to Student and Graduate Visa Routes
   • The government is also introducing measures to prevent abuse of the Student and Graduate visa routes.
   • Adjustments are being made to the Short-Term Student visa, which is primarily intended for English language courses lasting between 6 and 11 months, to close loopholes and prevent misuse.

Government’s Rationale and Future Implications

These changes are part of the UK’s broader immigration reforms aimed at:

• Preventing exploitation in the care sector
• Reducing reliance on overseas recruitment
• Ensuring fair wages and compliance with labor laws
• Enhancing the integrity of the UK’s visa system

By tightening regulations and enforcing stricter compliance, the UK government seeks to create a fairer and more sustainable immigration framework while continuing to attract skilled professionals in critical sectors.