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Economic Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
UK work and family visa applications fall after rule changes; study visas steady
Getty Images Provisional Home Office data for July 2025 shows a sharp decline in applications for Health and Care Worker visas, moderate changes in Skilled Worker visas, and mixed trends across study, family, and temporary work routes. The changes follow stricter immigration rules, increased employer scrutiny, and new eligibility thresholds. On 12 May 2025, the UK Home Office announced further changes to immigration rules in its Restoring Control over the Immigration System white paper. These measures, which came into force on 22 July 2025, affect both Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa categories. The Home Office stated that policy changes are one of several factors influencing visa application patterns. Higher skill threshold for Skilled Worker visas: To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, jobs must now meet the RQF level 6 skill requirement, equivalent to graduate-level roles. Exceptions apply for positions listed on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, jobs must now meet the RQF level 6 skill requirement, equivalent to graduate-level roles. Exceptions apply for positions listed on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Increase in salary requirements: The minimum annual salary for Skilled Worker visas has risen from £38,700 to £41,700. For Health and Care Worker visas, the threshold remains unchanged at £25,000. The minimum annual salary for Skilled Worker visas has risen from £38,700 to £41,700. For Health and Care Worker visas, the threshold remains unchanged at £25,000. Overseas recruitment for care workers ends: New international applicants can no longer apply for care jobs in the UK under the existing Health and Care Worker visa route. However, individuals already in the UK working as care workers or senior care workers can apply to switch to a different visa category until July 2028. Health and Care Worker visas see steep fallApplications from main applicants in this category dropped from 18,300 in August 2023 to 1,300 in July 2025. The decline began in March 2024 after the Home Office increased compliance checks on employers in the health and social care sector and acted against those not meeting legal obligations. Numbers fell further after policy measures in spring 2024 limited international recruitment for care followed a similar trend, peaking at 23,300 in August 2023 before dropping to 4,900 in July 2025. Under new rules announced in May 2025, no new overseas applicants can apply for care jobs under this visa route, although in-country switching will be allowed for certain roles until July 2028. Skilled Worker visas decline after stability Main applicant numbers were stable at around 6,000 per month from mid-2022 until early 2024. A temporary rise to 10,100 in April 2024 was followed by a gradual decline to 4,900 in July 2025. Dependants recorded 5,300 applications in the same month. The July 2025 immigration rule changes raised the minimum skill level to RQF 6 and the salary threshold from £38,700 to £41,700 for most roles, with exceptions for jobs on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Temporary work visas show mixed trends Applications for the Youth Mobility Scheme fell 10% year-on-year to 22,200 in the year ending July 2025. These numbers include the India Young Professionals Scheme, introduced in February 2023. Seasonal Worker visas increased 9% year-on-year to 38,600, remaining within the usual quota range of 30,000–40,000. These visas are tied to seasonal demand and do not permit dependants. Study visas steady, dependant numbers fall sharply Sponsored study visa applications from main applicants reached 428,900 in the year ending July 2025, down 3% from the year ending July 2024. Numbers tend to peak in August before the academic year, with a smaller peak in December. Dependants recorded 20,200 applications in the same period — an 86% drop from December 2023 levels. The decline followed a January 2024 rule change preventing most students from bringing dependants, except for postgraduate researchers or those on government-funded scholarships. Family visas fluctuate after income rule changeApplications rose from 7,500 in December 2023 to 12,700 in April 2024 after the government announced higher income requirements. Following the April 2024 implementation, applications fell to 5,100 in June 2024 but gradually recovered to 8,100 in July 2025. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Tariffs, tantrums, and tech: How Trump's trade drama is keeping Indian IT on tenterhooks Good, bad, ugly: How will higher ethanol in petrol play out for you? As big fat Indian wedding slims to budget, Manyavar loses lustre As 50% US tariff looms, 6 key steps that can safeguard Indian economy Stock Radar: JSPL forms Ascending Triangle pattern on weekly charts, could hit fresh 52-week high soon Nifty and business are different species: 5 small-cap stocks from different sectors with upside potential of up to 30% F&O Radar | Deploy Bear Put Spread in Nifty to play index's negative stance amid volatility Wealth creation: Look beyond the obvious in some things; 10 fertilizer sector companies worth watching
Scotsman
14-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
There's still time to lodge visa applications under the old rules
Changes to the immigration regime take effect from 22 July, says Ashley Fleming Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The key changes include an increase to the minimum skill level: New applicants must be sponsored in roles assessed by the Home Office at Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 (degree level), up from the current RQF level 3 (A-level). Whilst roles must be degree level, applicants themselves do not need a degree level qualification. These changes apply only to new applicants. Skilled workers already in the UK and sponsored in roles below RQF level 6 can renew their visas, change employment and take supplementary employment at the same level. The Government has warned that these transitional arrangements will be reviewed in due course. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Further exceptions to the increased skilled level are provided through updates to the existing Immigration Salary List (ISL) and the introduction of a new Temporary Shortage List (TSL). The ISL includes roles identified by the Migration Advisory Committee ('MAC') as experiencing labour shortages and eligible for salary discounts. Although the ISL will be phased out by the end of 2026, interim measures will allow RQF level 3-5 roles to remain eligible for the Skilled Worker route if they appear on: Ashley Fleming is a partner, Harper Macleod The expanded ISL, which includes existing roles plus those at RQF levels 3-5 which the MAC identified as being in shortage in its 2023 and 2024 reviews; or the interim TSL, which includes RQF levels 3-5 roles deemed important for the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy by the Department for Business and Trade and His Majesty's Treasury. A total of 52 occupation codes are on the new TSL. These roles will not benefit from salary discounts, unlike those on the former Shortage Occupation List. Furthermore, main applicants will no longer be eligible to bring their dependants to the UK, which may deter them from coming. Another change is that salary thresholds are rising. From 22 July, the general threshold will increase from £38,700 to £41,700, and the new entrants threshold increases from £30,960 to £33,400. Transitional provisions apply to those sponsored before 4 April 2024, with their salary threshold increasing from £29,000 to £31,300 when extending or changing employer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The changes are significant for the care sector. From 22 July, sponsors won't be able to bring in care (SOC 6135) or senior care workers (SOC 6136) from overseas. In-country applications will be permitted until 22 July 2028, but the skilled worker must have been legally employed by the sponsor for at least three months at the time the CoS is assigned, or already hold a skilled worker visa as a care worker and be moving sponsor.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UK Jobs: Construction industry in UK is still able to hire foreign workers under visa clampdown, ETHRWorld
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETHRWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App Construction workers from abroad will still be able to migrate to the UK despite tighter visa restrictions announced by the government, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, as Labour attempts to slash migration without damaging critical sectors of the to Parliament's Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Cooper said officials had already identified a series of occupations that would not appear on the new Temporary Shortage List . That list will allow employers to bring workers into the country who would not otherwise be eligible, because the job is classed as below degree the construction industry, and other sectors needed by the government to support its economic growth ambitions, will still appear on the list. That will come as a relief to firms in the UK who worried that restricting the migrant workforce would hamper their business.'Construction will continue to be on the Temporary Shortage List,' Cooper told lawmakers, adding that the industry would also have to develop a workforce strategy showing how it would train and recruit more British workers over time. Roles 'will only be able to go on the Temporary Shortage List if they are effectively in critical areas, for example those that are critical to the industrial strategy or something like construction.'Cooper's reassurance to the construction industry comes just weeks after the government unveiled its immigration white paper, which set out a series of changes to the UK's immigration system. Most employers will now only be able to recruit from abroad for roles which are degree level or above, and workers will have to stay in the country for 10 years, rather than five, before they can apply for settled restrictions were an attempt by Labour to stave off the anti-migrant Reform UK party, which has soared in popularity over the last year and won a slew of council seats in local elections last the UK has an Immigration Salary List which allows employers to recruit from abroad for over 1,300 roles where there is currently deemed to be a shortage. Being on that list means employers can recruit overseas nationals into those roles on a salary up to 20% below the general said that system was too lax, and had contributed to the unprecedented number of migrants coming to the UK while providing no incentive for businesses to hire or train out-of-work white paper abolishes the current system to replace it with the Temporary Shortage List. Cooper said the government will cut up to 180 occupations from the current Immigration Salary List — but that would still leave more than 1,000 on it.'We've already identified, as part of the immigration white paper, a series of occupations that will be taken off what used to be the immigration salary list,' Cooper said. 'The number of occupations on the temporary shortage list will be significantly lower than the number of occupations currently on the immigration salary list.'
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
A UK industry is still able to hire foreign workers under visa clampdown
Construction workers from abroad will still be able to migrate to the UK despite tighter visa restrictions announced by the government, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, as Labour attempts to slash migration without damaging critical sectors of the economy. Speaking to Parliament's Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Cooper said officials had already identified a series of occupations that would not appear on the new Temporary Shortage List . That list will allow employers to bring workers into the country who would not otherwise be eligible, because the job is classed as below degree level. ALSO READ: Rising costs and visa hurdles push international students beyond the US,UK by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Motivos para escolher um Sofá de Couro [Descubra] Fiori Sofás Saiba Mais Undo But the construction industry, and other sectors needed by the government to support its economic growth ambitions, will still appear on the list. That will come as a relief to firms in the UK who worried that restricting the migrant workforce would hamper their business. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) 'Construction will continue to be on the Temporary Shortage List,' Cooper told lawmakers, adding that the industry would also have to develop a workforce strategy showing how it would train and recruit more British workers over time. Roles 'will only be able to go on the Temporary Shortage List if they are effectively in critical areas, for example those that are critical to the industrial strategy or something like construction.' Live Events ALSO READ: Oxford University opens applications for Rhodes Scholarship Cooper's reassurance to the construction industry comes just weeks after the government unveiled its immigration white paper, which set out a series of changes to the UK's immigration system. Most employers will now only be able to recruit from abroad for roles which are degree level or above, and workers will have to stay in the country for 10 years, rather than five, before they can apply for settled status. Those restrictions were an attempt by Labour to stave off the anti-migrant Reform UK party, which has soared in popularity over the last year and won a slew of council seats in local elections last month. ALSO READ: UK plans stricter rules for migrants seeking permanent residency Currently, the UK has an Immigration Salary List which allows employers to recruit from abroad for over 1,300 roles where there is currently deemed to be a shortage. Being on that list means employers can recruit overseas nationals into those roles on a salary up to 20% below the general threshold. Cooper said that system was too lax, and had contributed to the unprecedented number of migrants coming to the UK while providing no incentive for businesses to hire or train out-of-work Britons. The white paper abolishes the current system to replace it with the Temporary Shortage List. Cooper said the government will cut up to 180 occupations from the current Immigration Salary List — but that would still leave more than 1,000 on it. 'We've already identified, as part of the immigration white paper, a series of occupations that will be taken off what used to be the immigration salary list,' Cooper said. 'The number of occupations on the temporary shortage list will be significantly lower than the number of occupations currently on the immigration salary list.'
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Starmer becomes a Farage tribute act on immigration
While it was Sir Keir Starmer who stood at the Downing Street lectern to talk about immigration, the speech could have been delivered by Nigel Farage. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Labour leader echoed the right‑wing slogans he once decried. He promised to 'take back control of our borders' and end what he called a 'one‑nation experiment in open borders conducted on a country that voted for control'. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer holds a press conference on immigration at Downing Street (Picture: Ian Vogler -) Instead of challenging Farage, Starmer appears determined to copy him. Recent political history teaches a brutal lesson: when mainstream parties validate the talking points of hard‑right insurgents, they do not deflate them, they clear the runway for them. Starmer may succeed only in making Farage seem like the authentic article while Labour looks like a pale copy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The practical damage begins immediately. Starmer's proposals will limit the care‑worker visa route, abolish the Immigration Salary List and raise skills and language thresholds. Scotland's care providers, already battling vacancies, call international recruitment 'a lifeline' and warn that removing it is 'cruel' and 'a crushing blow to an already‑fragile sector.' Unison reminds us the NHS 'would have collapsed long ago' without overseas staff. In some respects these moves are even more hardline than Farage. His immigration spokesperson Anne Widdecombe said, 'we never signed up to zero immigration,' and that essential NHS and care workers should be considered "exceptions" to immigration policy, providing the government makes "serious efforts' to up-skill British workers in the meantime. Starmer says employers are 'addicted to importing cheap labour rather than investing in our young people.' That caricature collapses when confronted with Scotland's demographics. Last year natural change would have cut our population by 14,500; only inward migration kept the total in positive territory. Remote rural communities still lose residents, skilled trades face chronic shortages and half of all projected employment growth this decade is in health and social care. The Scottish Government's Migration – Meeting Scotland's Needs strategy points out that maintaining even modest economic growth requires net migration of around 25,000 a year—levels that Westminster's new cap will make impossible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Business groups are blunt: hospitals, hospitality and the burgeoning renewables supply‑chain cannot be staffed from a working‑age population that is already shrinking. Yet Labour has just volunteered to cut the flow further than the Conservatives dared, while blocking SNP proposals for a bespoke Scottish visa route tailored to our economy. That is the definition of allowing Westminster politics to throttle Scotland's future. The irony is painful. Starmer entered politics citing moral duty and internationalism. Today he touts ten‑year waits for settlement, English tests for dependants and a policy to let migration 'fall' as far as required. In chasing voters who already prefer the original, Labour risks normalising the worldview of Faragists and if the polls hold, laying a red carpet from the Commons backbenches to Downing Street's front door. Scotland sees the danger clearly. Polling shows tolerance for immigration because people grasp the simple arithmetic of an ageing nation: without new arrivals our workforce and our tax base wither. Starmer's speech ignored both Scotland and reality. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is clear that governments of whatever stripes are not serving Scotland. It is time we extricate ourselves from the irreversible rightward-shift of the UK – by seizing the opportunities of internationalism, global justice, and economic opportunity as an independent nation in the EU. Angus Robertson MSP, Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Secretary
