UK to implement new visa rules for immigrants from today
Updated: Jul 22nd, 2025
The UK government is set to enforce the first phase of immigration reforms from Tuesday, aiming to reduce net migration.
The changes apply to workers assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) on or after July 22, 2025, include:
- Reduced skilled worker occupation list: Employers will no longer be allowed to sponsor overseas workers for roles classified as medium-skilled (RQF levels 3–5), unless those jobs are granted exceptions by the Migration Advisory Committee. The revised list will apply until the end of 2026.
- Ending overseas applications from care workers and senior care workers
- Increasing salary thresholds
As per the White Paper published on May 12, the upcoming reforms propose several significant changes affecting international students and universities.
These include stricter compliance requirements for universities to retain their sponsorship licences, a potential levy on income generated from international student tuition—subject to parliamentary approval—and a reduction in the post-study Graduate visa duration from two years to 18 months.
Additionally, the Home Office plans to implement tougher English language requirements by the end of the year, which will also apply to dependents of work visa holders.
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