Home Office – Future Border & Immigration System Programme

23 July 2025

Source: Home Office – Future Border & Immigration System Programme
Restoring Control Over the Immigration System – White Paper

The UK Home Office has announced the implementation of key reforms from the Immigration White Paper, with several important Immigration Rules changes taking effect today. These updates aim to strengthen the UK’s immigration system while maintaining its openness to global talent and investment.

Key Changes Introduced:

• Expansion of the UK Expansion Worker Route (GBM):
  The number of workers an overseas business can send to the UK under the Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker route is being doubled, easing the process for businesses establishing new UK branches or subsidiaries.

• Skilled Worker Visa Threshold Raised:
  The Skilled Worker visa eligibility now returns to RQF Level 6 (degree level), ensuring the route focuses on genuinely high-skilled roles.

• Salary Threshold Increases Across Routes:
  Thresholds across the Skilled Worker, GBM, and Scale-up routes have been uplifted, with a broader review underway by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

• Introduction of the Temporary Shortage List (TSL):
  A new TSL provides time-limited access to the immigration system for specific sectors with evidenced shortages.

• Closure of the Adult Social Care Visa Route:
  The route is now closed to new overseas applications, following persistent concerns around exploitation in the sector.

The Migration Advisory Committee is also conducting a comprehensive review of salary thresholds and the Temporary Shortage List, following a request by the Home Secretary on 2 July 2025. This review will inform future decisions on occupation-specific immigration access, based on workforce needs and shortages.

The Home Office continues to engage extensively with businesses and employers to support their adaptation to these changes.

For more detailed information, visit the official Immigration White Paper.