What employers need to know about new immigration rules
As new government rules for immigration take effect, the CLA’s Charles Trotman examines how revised salary thresholds and skill level requirements might impact your rural business
The UK Government has signalled its intention to tighten immigration rules for migrant labour and incentivise employers to employ a domestic workforce. The proposed changes came in this week and could impact a number of CLA members’ businesses.
The changes
The government’s objective is to reduce net migration and the number of migrant workers arriving to perform below graduate-level roles – Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level five and below. Several changes have been made to the Skilled Worker visa route, coming into effect on 22 July. These include:
- The general salary threshold for Skilled Worker applicants increases from £38,700 to £41,700
- The general salary threshold for applicants who were on a Skilled Worker route before 4 April 2024 increases from £29,000 to £31,300
- The minimum skills threshold for eligible occupations under the Skilled Worker route has been changed to RQF level six (degree-level). This change means the removal of around 180 eligible occupations from the Immigration Salary List (ISL), formerly the Shortage Occupation List
Workers who already hold a Skilled Worker visa
Those workers who already hold a Skilled Worker visa will only be affected when they require a new Skilled Worker visa, for example, when their existing visa is up for renewal, or they are changing role or employer. If a rural business already employs sponsored skilled workers who hold visas, they do not need to immediately change the worker’s role, or increase the respective salary. The exact criteria that individuals will need to meet when they renew their visa can be found in the statement of changes document.
Migrant workers already on a Skilled Worker visa but work in a below degree-level role
Skilled Worker visa holders who were already sponsored before 22 July (or who had an initial application made before this date which is later successful) will be able to renew their visa and continue working in below degree-level roles where they meet other criteria. This includes any increase to the relevant occupational salary threshold. But, these changes are provisional and are to be reviewed.
Sponsoring new workers at roles below degree-level
The government has announced a series of interim measures enabling firms to continue sponsoring workers for certain roles below degree-level. This is on the condition that the role is part of the expanded ISL, containing existing entries plus occupations between RQF levels three to five which were identified as having a shortage by the Migration Advisory Committee. Information on eligible roles and their respective salary thresholds can also be found in the statement of changes document.
When the immigration transition period finishes at the end of next year, a new Temporary Salary List will be introduced. This will provide time-limited access to work visas for roles below RQF level six where set criteria are met, such as there being evidence of an approved sector workforce strategy.
Further changes to the immigration rules expected
Other changes that are likely to come in this year are:
- A 32% increase the Immigration Skills Charge
- Increase to language requirements across the immigration system
The publication of a new family policy framework to Parliament, although the exact implementation dates are not yet known
