On 4 December 2023, the Government announced changes to the UK immigration rules which will affect those on Skilled Worker and family routes. These changes are set to be implemented in Spring 2024.
In this blog post, we will outline what we know so far about the proposed changes, expected dates for these changes, how this might affect those already in the UK on the existing routes, and what can be done to campaign against these changes.
What we know so far about the proposed changes to UK immigration rules
Changes to Skilled Worker routes
The Government has announced three major changes to the Skilled Worker routes.
- Changes to the minimum salary threshold
The minimum salary threshold is set to increase from £26,200 to £38,700. This means those wishing to apply for a Skilled Worker visa must be on track to earn a salary of at least £38,700 with the role they are going to be sponsored for. - Changes to the Shortage Occupation List
The current Shortage Occupation List is to be scrapped and replaced with a new Immigration Salary List. This means there will still be some occupations which are exceptions and will need to meet a lower salary threshold. However, the plan is for the current occupations on the Shortage Occupation List to be reviewed and reduced to create the new list – therefore, there will likely be a smaller number of exceptions. - Changes to dependant entitlement for care workers
Once the new rule changes come into effect, care workers will no longer be allowed to bring dependants with them to the UK.
Changes to family routes
On 21 December 2023, it was announced that the minimum income requirement for people wishing to have family members or partners live with them in the UK will initially rise to £29,000, rather than £38,700 as originally announced. The minimum income requirement will continue to be increased in incremental stages until it reaches £38,700.
Expected dates for the changes to UK immigration rules to come into effect
Changes to Skilled Worker routes
The earliest change to come into force is regarding the dependant entitlement for care workers. From 11 March 2024, care workers arriving in the UK will no longer be able to bring immediate family with them.
Following this, on 4 April 2024, the minimum salary is set to increase.
Changes to the Shortage Occupation List are also set to come into effect in April 2024, though an exact date is not yet confirmed.
Changes to family routes
The minimum income requirement is due to increase to £29,000 on 11 April 2024, then increase again to £34,500 at a later, unspecified time in 2024 , and finally it will increase to £38,700 by early 2025.
You can view these dates and answers to frequently asked questions about the changes here.
How might the proposed changes affect individuals already on the impacted routes?
The Government have said they will set out “transitional arrangements” for people already in the UK on a Skilled Worker or family visa. Furthermore, on 13 December 2023, Home Secretary James Cleverly said that the proposals will be “forward looking not backward looking”. This seems to suggest that the changes will be implemented in a similar way to previous changes, where there has been a transitional period which meant that individuals already on the affected route would not have to meet the new requirements, even at the point of renewal.
Ultimately, it seems likely that the Government will be considering how the changes will impact those already on the affected routes when deciding what requirements they need to meet at the time of renewal. However, this is not yet confirmed and could be subject to change.
What can be done to combat the proposed changes?
The proposed changes are significant and will undoubtedly have major implications for individuals wanting to relocate to live in the UK, regardless of if they are a Skilled Worker, a family member, or a partner. Many people will understandably be feeling uncertain and worried after the changes were announced.
If you would like to express your concern with the proposed changes, we encourage you to contact your MP. If enough people contact their MP campaigning against the changes, it may encourage further discussion and revisions before the changes are implemented. If you would like to do this but are unsure of who your local MP is, you can find your MP and their contact details by following the link.
There are also organisations out there who will be offering support to those affected, and campaigning against such drastic changes being implemented. Individuals on partner visa routes, for example, might find it helpful to reach out to an organisation such as Reunite Families UK , who support those navigating the partner visa process and raise awareness of the impacts the immigration rules can have on applicants.
To summarise
The Government have announced significant changes to the UK immigration rules which will undeniably have a big impact those on Skilled Worker routes and family routes. Once the changes come into effect, Skilled Workers will need to meet an increased minimum salary threshold of £38,700, the Shortage Occupation List will be scrapped and replaced with a shorter Immigration Salary List, care workers will not be able to bring dependants with them to the UK, and those on family routes will need to meet a revised minimum income requirement of £29,000 initially which will then rise in increments to £38,700.
The changes will start to be implemented in March 2024, with some changes continuing to be made incrementally throughout the year and into early 2025.
If you want to express any concerns or worries you might have about the proposed changes, you might want to consider contacting your MP (template provided by Reunite Families UK) or reaching out to relevant organisations.
Got questions?
Understandably, you might still have questions about these changes and how they might affect you. Contact us today to arrange an advice consultation with one of our regulated immigration advisers who can answer your questions and provide you with advice tailored to your specific circumstances.