From 22 July 2025, the UK government has raised the minimum skill level for all new Skilled Worker sponsorships to RQF Level 6 (graduate level) or higher.

🧾 RQF Level 6 Sponsorship Requirement

From 22 July 2025, sponsors can only assign CoS for roles at RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) Level 6 (graduate level) or above. Around 180 lower-skilled roles will no longer be eligible.

✅ What this means:

You can only sponsor graduate-level jobs, unless they’re on:
- the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or
- the Temporary Shortage List (TSL)

🛡 Transitional Protections (For existing Skilled Workers):

If a worker was sponsored before 22 July 2025 in a now-ineligible role:

They can extend, switch jobs, or change employers under the Skilled Worker route
No need to meet the RQF 6 rule - but they must maintain continuous sponsorship.

👩‍💼 Existing Employees in Sub-RQF 6 Roles – Can They Stay?

Yes - employees in lower-skilled jobs sponsored before 22 July 2025 can:

Extend their visa
Switch employers (in similar roles)
Continue working in the UK under Skilled Worker

⚠️ They must stay in the route continuously. If they leave the Skilled Worker route, new rules will apply.

🧑‍🎓 Graduate Route Visa Holders – What You Need to Know

From 22 July 2025, Post-Study Work (PSW)/Graduate Route holders can only be sponsored in:

RQF Level 6 roles, or
Jobs on the ISL or TSL

💡 If you're planning to sponsor them later (e.g. in 2026), they’ll need to meet the new RQF 6 requirement at that time.

👪 What If Someone is on a Dependant Visa?

They can work freely in any job while on a dependant visa.
But if they want to switch to a Skilled Worker visa, the new rules apply:
- Role must be RQF Level 6 or above, or
- Be on the ISL or TSL lists.

💡 You can ask employees to voluntarily disclose their visa type to clarify eligibility - but this is not mandatory.

⏰ Do We Need to Act Before 22 July?

Yes - if you plan to sponsor someone for a sub-RQF 6 role, you must:

Assign their CoS before 22 July 2025.
After that date, any new sub-RQF 6 applications will be refused.

💰 Salary Thresholds - New Rules Apply to Everyone

Effective from: 22 July 2025, the new minimum salary for Skilled Worker sponsorship is:

£33,400 per year, or
£17.13 per hour

This applies to all new CoS issued from this date.

✅ Who Does This Apply To?

The new salary threshold applies to:

New hires (including from overseas)
Visa switchers (e.g. from Graduate, Student, or Dependant visas)
Anyone not already sponsored under Skilled Worker before 22 July 2025
Applicants changing employers

❌ Who Is Exempt?

The new salary rule does not apply to:

Existing Skilled Worker visa holders as of 21 July 2025
- They can extend, switch roles, or change employers
- They are covered by transitional rules
- They do not need to meet the RQF Level 6 requirement

No Salary Discounts or Transitional Pay Rules

There are no transitional arrangements for the salary requirement -
all new CoS issued from 22 July 2025 must meet the full pay threshold, even if:

The role was previously approved at a lower salary
The applicant was already working in the role

🚫 Overseas Sponsorship Closure – Care Workers

From 22nd July 2025, you will no longer be able to sponsor overseas applicants in these roles:

Care workers (SOC 6135)
Senior care workers (SOC 6136)

✅ Still eligible to switch in-country if:

Already working legally in the role for the same sponsor for 3+ months
Switching before July 2028

Please view this support guide for Health Care specific changes.

🧾 Immigration Sponsorship Rules from 22 July 2025

List	Who can be sponsored?	Can bring dependants?	How long does it apply?
ISL	Anyone - new or existing workers	✅ Yes (if job is graduate level or already had dependants before the change)	Ongoing, but being phased out
TSL	Only for specific lower-skilled roles	❌ No dependants allowed	Time-limited - ends 2026, subject to review
Removed roles not on either list	❌ Only people already sponsored before 22 July(and continuing in the same visa route)	✅ Yes - if they had this before	Covered by transitional rules, no new hires allowed