Immigration rule changes announced
On Tuesday 1 July, changes to immigration rules were laid out before Parliament which will come into force from 22 July.
The first wave of immigration rule changes following the release of the Immigration White Paper have been announced and include skills and salary thresholds increases, the end of overseas recruitment for care workers, and more than 100 occupations no longer being able to access the immigration system.
Take a look at the latest news on the GOV.UK website.
Summary of announced rule changes
- Increasing the skills threshold for Skilled Worker Visas to RQF 6 (graduate level), removing 112 previously eligible RQF 3-5 occupations (across all sectors).
- Increasing the salary threshold for general skilled workers from £38,700 to £41,700.
- The salary threshold for most Health and Care Visa holders, who are paid according to national pay scales, remains unchanged at £25,000.
- Skilled Worker Visa holders who currently work in below degree level occupations can continue to work, extend their visas, bring dependants, change employment and take supplementary employment in occupations below RQF 6, as long as they meet occupation salary thresholds.
- Only allowing time-limited access to below degree level occupations through an expanded Immigration Salary List and interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL), with restrictions on bringing dependants.
- Closing the Social Care Worker Visa route to overseas recruitment for new applicants and removing the requirement to work with regional partnerships to employ displaced workers.
Further information about the announced immigration rule changes and actions for employers can be found on the NHS Employers website.
We will be updating our guidance once the immigration rule changes have come into force. If you have any questions regarding the immigration rule changes, please contact internationalrecruitment@nhsconfed.org
