Increase to immigration skills charge and other changes to immigration system
The immigration skills charge will increase by 32%.
The change is proposed in the Government's white paper: Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025.
The paper proposes other significant changes to the immigration system, including:
- raising the skilled worker threshold from RQF3 (A-Level or equivalent) to RQF6 (graduate level) or above;
- abolishing the immigration salary list and replacing it with a temporary shortage list to include roles below graduate level that could be eligible for sponsorship;
- closing social care visas from overseas (subject to transitional arrangements until 2028); and
- strengthening English language requirements for visa applications, including the need for adult dependents to meet requirements.
It is not known when the various measures will come into force, although on 12 May 2025 the Government stated that they "will be delivered over the course of this Parliament to strengthen the UK's immigration system, with the first changes set to be introduced in the coming weeks".
See Immigration rules and right to work for further details.
