The UK Home Office has released the Statement of Changes HC 997, marking a major milestone in the government’s 2025 immigration reforms. The 140-page update brings several key changes into effect from 22 July 2025, significantly reshaping the Skilled Worker route, salary thresholds, and eligibility for care workers.
In this blog, we summarise the most important updates for UK employers—particularly care providers and sponsor licence holders—and explain what you need to do now to stay compliant.
📢 Join our upcoming webinar: From White Paper to Policy: Understanding Immigration HC 997 – Live on Tuesday, July 15th at 11:00 AM.
What Is the Immigration Statement of Changes HC 997?
The Immigration Rules: Statement of Changes HC 997, issued on 1 July 2025, enacts several of the reforms first proposed in the 2025 Immigration White Paper. The government says these changes are designed to "restore order and control" to the UK immigration system.
The key focus areas include:
- Raising the minimum skill and salary thresholds for sponsored workers
- Reducing reliance on international recruitment for care roles
- Tightening dependant rights for sub-degree workers
- Overhauling shortage occupation lists
These changes will affect how employers sponsor overseas workers—especially in the care, hospitality, and other RQF Level 3–5 sectors.
Key Changes Introduced by HC 997 (Effective 22 July 2025)
1. Higher Skill Threshold for Skilled Worker Visas
From 22 July 2025, all Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for new applicants under the Skilled Worker visa must relate to roles classified at RQF Level 6 (graduate level) or above.
- Previously eligible RQF 3–5 occupations (e.g. care workers, hospitality supervisors, warehouse operatives) are now excluded—unless listed on one of two new shortage lists.
- Appendix Skilled Occupations has been split:
- Tables 1–3: Only RQF 6+ roles now generally eligible for sponsorship
- Tables 1a, 2aa, 3a: Sub-degree roles eligible under limited concessions
The Home Office states this will remove 100–180 job types from sponsorship routes.
2. New Salary Thresholds for Sponsored Workers
Minimum salaries have been increased in line with the 2024 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
Key points:
- Applies to all Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, and Scale-up visa routes
- No transitional protection: existing sponsored workers extending or switching roles must meet the new thresholds
- For most employers, this means revising salary bands immediately to remain eligible to sponsor workers
3. New Shortage Occupation Lists Introduced
Until a permanent model is in place, two new temporary shortage lists have been introduced:
- Immigration Salary List (ISL) – Includes RQF 3–5 jobs deemed in shortage by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)
- Temporary Shortage List (TSL) – Covers roles critical to the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy
Important:
- Both lists expire on 31 December 2026
- The government reserves the right to shorten or revise them
Temporary Shortage List (TSL) Occupations
To help you identify eligible roles, here’s the complete list of SOC codes and job titles included in the Temporary Shortage List (TSL):
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4. Care Workers No Longer Eligible for Sponsorship
This is the most significant blow to the care sector:
- From 22 July 2025, SOC Codes 6135 (Care Workers) and 6136 (Senior Care Workers) will be removed from the Skilled Worker eligible occupation list
- No new out-of-country CoS can be issued for these roles after this date
- In-country switching will remain only until July 2028, and only where:
- The worker has already been employed with the sponsor for at least 3 months
- The role existed prior to the cut-off
5. Dependant Rights Removed for Most Sub-Degree Roles
Also from 22 July:
- Workers sponsored into RQF Level 3–5 jobs via the ISL or TSL can no longer bring family dependants
- This mirrors existing rules for care workers
- RQF 6+ jobs are unaffected
Join the HC 997 Webinar: What the Changes Mean for Employers
To help employers stay ahead of these rapid changes, the Borderless immigration team is hosting a live session:
📅 From White Paper to Policy: Understanding Immigration HC 997
Date: Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM (UK time)
Register here: View webinar details
In this session, we’ll cover:
- What’s actually changed under Immigration Statement of Changes HC 997
- Which roles are no longer eligible for sponsorship after 22 July
- What happens to care workers from 2025 to 2028
- Changes to salary thresholds and skill level requirements (RQF 6 and above)
- New rules on dependant visas
- How to update HR, onboarding and SMS workflows
Whether you’re an HR lead, registered manager or care provider, this is your chance to get clarity directly from compliance experts.
What Employers Need to Do Now
The July 2025 changes are significant—and urgent. Employers should:
✅ Audit current employee salaries against the new thresholds
✅ Check upcoming CoS assignments against RQF level and shortage lists
✅ Review offer letters, HR documentation, and onboarding packs
✅ Train staff on changes to SMS workflows and Right to Work checks
✅ Monitor future consultations on English language requirements and the Immigration Skills Charge
🎓 Join our webinar: From White Paper to Policy: Understanding Immigration HC 997 for a full walkthrough of what’s changing, who it affects, and how to protect your business.
Need Help Staying Compliant?
At Borderless, we help over 350+ UK employers stay compliant, sponsor with confidence, and simplify immigration.
📅 Book a demo with our immigration team to see how we can help.
