01.07.2025 - Closure of care worker route to new entrants from 22 July 2025
People will no longer be able to come to the UK as care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136) as these roles are closed to entry clearance applications from 22 July 2025. The explanatory memorandum states that:
The changes also provide for in-country applications, for those switching from other visa routes, to continue for a transition period until 22 July 2028, at which point these occupations will be removed from the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Workers must have been legally working for the provider that is sponsoring them for at least 3...
01.07.2025 - New temporary shortage list
From the white paper that Appendix Immigration Salary List is to be replaced with a new, time limited, Temporary Shortage List for roles below RGF level 6. This statement of changes puts in place some interim measures:
- an expanded Immigration Salary List, containing the existing entries plus occupations at RQF levels 3-5 which the MAC identified as being in shortage in its 2023 review and 2024 rapid review
- an interim Temporary Shortage List, containing occupations at RQF levels 3-5 which the Department for Business and Trade and His Majesty’s Treasury have identified as being impo...
01.07.2025 - Skills and salary thresholds to rise from 22 July 2025
The qualification threshold for skilled workers, lowered to RQF level 3 in 2020, is being returned to RQF level 6. The explanatory memorandum states that this will mean a drop of around 180 eligible occupations, but the press release says it will be 111 fewer roles on the list in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
These changes will not affect people already in the routes in roles below RQF level 6, however the explanatory memorandum states that these “transitional arrangements will not be in place indefinitely and will be reviewed in due course”.
Routine salary increases are also being made to the...
01.07.2025 - Closure of Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy from 3pm today
Eligible applicants who submitted their application before 15:00 BST on 1 July 2025 will still be able to make eligibility applications for their immediate family members and additional family members after this date.
No explanation is provided as to why it was necessary to close the scheme seemingly without any advance notice. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme is also being formally closed, although it was not possible to apply under that anyway.
25.06.2025 - Private Life effective from 29 July 2025
Under the new rules, children who have lived in the UK for seven years will now qualify for settlement after five years.
Continuous Residence requirements for a child born in the UK applying for settlement on the Private Life route, the period of continuous residence may include time spent in the UK with or without permission.
This development is of great utility to families with young children, and young people who came to the UK at an earlier age and are looking to make the UK their permanent home.
Additionally, young people granted permission in the UK on the basis of their family or priv...
24.06.2025 - EU Settlement Scheme - changes to permitted absences
Changes effective from 16 July 2025 the definition of “continuous qualifying period" to change the position on permitted absences.
To simplify the assessment of continuous residence, these changes enable a pre-settled status holder to be granted settled status where they have been resident in the UK for at least 30 months in total in the most recent 60-month period. This can be any 30 months within that 60-month period.
24.06.2025 - Continuous Residence effective from 29 July 2025
Although this particular section has been substantially redrafted, there is only one notable change, and that is that time spent in the Crown Dependencies (the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey), on a route equivalent to those in the UK, will count as lawful presence in the UK in future.
10.06.2025 - No more 90-day Vignettes (stickers) for some main applicants from 15 July 2025
From 15 July, main applicants for the following visas will only get an eVisa (no 90-day vignette in their passport):
• Students (including short-term up to 11 months)
• Global Business Mobility
• Global Talent
• International Sportspersons
• Skilled Workers (including Health and Care)
• Temporary Workers
• Youth Mobility Scheme
Dependants and children will still get both a vignette (sticker) and an eVisa.
Simpler process for people with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR/Settlement)
In response to stakeholder feedback, the Home Office simplified the process for getting ...
03.06.2025 - High Court rules sponsor should have been given chance to make representations before licence revocation
The High Court in R (TJ Trading Express Limited) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 1274 (Admin) held that before revoking the sponsor’s licence for non-compliance, the Home Office should have given the business an opportunity to make representations in response to its allegations.
Background
The claimant is a company that runs a petrol station and shop which was granted a Skilled Worker licence on 27 September 2022. The company’s director is Mr Jayaganth Ragunathan, who was also a Level 1 user, meaning he was authorised to take actions in respect of the company’s licence...
12.05.2025 - The immigration white paper
The immigration white paper has been published containing proposals for future legislation. The summarised proposals from the paper are set out in full below but some of the main changes are the standard period for settlement in points based system routes is to be doubled to ten years, graduate visas will be reduced to 18 months, the immigration skills charge is to increase by 32%.
A new “temporary shortage” occupation list will be used for roles below RGF6 and the social care visa route is to be closed. Some sort of talent beyond boundaries scheme is to be introduced. English language require...
