Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules

01 July 2025 · Home Office

Proposed by Seema Malhotra Lab Co-op Feltham and Heston

Immigration

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The government is raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas to RQF level 6.
  • Salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas are being increased.
  • Transitional arrangements are being implemented for the changes to take effect.

Issue summary

The statement addresses changes to work visas and the Skilled Worker route as part of the first phase of reforms set out in the Immigration White Paper.

Action requested

The government is raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas to RQF level 6, increasing salary requirements, implementing transitional arrangements, closing certain visa routes, and phasing out the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).

Key facts

  • The threshold for Skilled Worker visas is being raised to RQF level 6.
  • Salary requirements are being increased in line with Office for National Statistics data.
  • An interim Temporary Shortage List provides conditional access to the Skilled Worker route below the new threshold.
  • Entry clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers will be closed, but transition period exists until July 2028.
  • The changes come into effect on 22 July 2025.
  • ARAP will close to new principal applications, and ACRS will also close with over 12,800 people resettled since 2021.
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