What changed in July 2025?
On 22 July 2025, the Home Office introduced restrictions on sponsorship for medium-skilled roles. Prior to this change, any eligible occupation code could be sponsored for overseas workers regardless of skill level. From July 2025, medium-skilled roles can only be sponsored in limited circumstances.
What is a medium-skilled role?
Medium-skilled roles are those classified at RQF level 3 to 5 (broadly equivalent to A-level standard up to a foundation degree). Many roles outside the traditional high-skill professions fall into this category, including some supervisory and coordinator roles in care and other sectors.
When can a medium-skilled role still be sponsored?
Sponsorship of a medium-skilled role is permitted where either of the following applies:
The worker is already in the UK on the Skilled Worker route and was first sponsored, or assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship, on or before 22 July 2025
The role appears on the Temporary Shortage List published by the Home Office
If neither condition is met, the role cannot be sponsored.
Care sector implications
SOC codes 6135 and 6136 (Care Workers and Senior Care Workers) are classified as medium-skilled. However, these roles have their own specific rules and are covered separately in Articles 2 and 3. The July 2025 medium-skilled restrictions apply most visibly to roles outside the core care worker codes — for example, care coordinators, residential support workers, and some supervisory positions.
Checking the Temporary Shortage List
The Temporary Shortage List is published and updated by the Home Office. Sponsors should check the current list before submitting a CoS request for any medium-skilled role, as inclusions on the list can change.
SOC code assessment
Where there is uncertainty about whether a role qualifies, a detailed job description should be submitted to Borderless for assessment. The Home Office uses the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, and the correct code is determined by the actual duties performed rather than the job title alone.
Government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations