Significant Immigration Rules Changes from 22 July 2025: What Employers and Sponsors Need to Know
From 22 July 2025, the UK’s immigration landscape will undergo significant changes that will directly impact employers, sponsors, and visa applicants. These reforms, introduced by the Home Office, are largely restrictive and place a greater emphasis on compliance and control.
At Sterling Law, we are closely monitoring these developments to ensure our clients are fully informed and prepared. Below is a summary of the key changes and and what they mean for you.
Key Changes to Business Immigration Rules
- Increased Salary Thresholds for Skilled Worker visas, making it more challenging — and more costly — to sponsor overseas workers.
- Closure of the Social Care Worker visa route, which will significantly impact the health and social care sector.
- New restrictions on supplementary employment and dependant rights, reducing flexibility for visa holders and their families.
- Launch of the Temporary Shortage Occupation List (TSL) — a targeted, time-limited route for critical below-degree-level roles, subject to stricter conditions.
Cooling-Off Period Extended to 24 Months
In a major compliance update, the Home Office has introduced a 24-month cooling-off period for:
- Any sponsor whose licence has been revoked more than once, or
- Any individual named as Key Personnel (e.g., Authorising Officer, Key Contact, Level 1 User) who has been associated with multiple revoked sponsor licences.
This change underscores the Home Office’s increasing focus on accountability and sponsor suitability. It is now more critical than ever to maintain strong internal systems and avoid repeated compliance breaches, which can lead to long-term exclusion from the sponsor system.
How We Can Help
Our Business Immigration team is available to advise employers and HR teams on navigating these changes, reviewing your sponsorship duties, and future-proofing your workforce strategy.
If you have concerns about how these updates may affect your business or require support with ongoing or future applications, please contact us today: oksana@sterling-law.co.uk .
