UK Immigration Update (2) - July 2025

Last week’s Bulletin focused on changes to the minimum skills threshold for Skilled Workers, transitional arrangements and the creation of the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) to include roles currently on the Immigration Salary List.

This Bulletin focuses on some key changes to the minimum salary thresholds principally in the Skilled Worker Category and some sub-categories of the Global Business Mobility (GBM) routes, all effective from 22 July 2025.

1. What are the key changes to the base minimum salary thresholds for Skilled Workers?

The base threshold rises from £38,700 to £41,700 (capped at a maximum 48 hours’ week) or the going rate for the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020 occupation code, whichever is higher. As previously, there are sub-categories including for New Entrants and roles on the newly created TSL, (see below) where lower thresholds will apply.

2. Have there been significant increases to Going Rates under the SOC 2020 occupation code?

The current increases are based on Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data albeit the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been commissioned to undertake an in depth review of salary thresholds such that the latest changes may be subject to change.

Examples of increases to some Going Rates include, approximately:

• 18% for Information Technology professionals not elsewhere classified (COP 2139) to £52,300
• 7.7% for Marketing and Commercial Managers (COP 2432) to £50,100
• 7% for Human Resources and Managers / Directors (COP 1136) to £52,900
• 6.2% for IT Business Analysts, Architects and System Designers to £54,900 (COP 2133)
• 4.5% for Management Consultants and Business Analysts (COP 2431) to £50,200

3. How will the changes impact applications by New Entrants and roles on the TSL?

The  historic definition of New Entrants is unchanged and as set out in last week’s Bulletin, (save where covered by the Transitional Arrangements) all roles will  need to meet the higher skills threshold of RQF6. The minimum base salary threshold for New Entrants rises from £30,960 to £33,400 or 70% of the going rate in the applicable Code of Practice (COP), whichever is higher.

For the TSL, save where covered by the Transitional Arrangements  or roles where the minimum skills thresholds of RQF3-5 still apply, the minimum salary threshold increases from £30,960 to £33,400. Notable current inclusions on the TSL include Human Resources and Industrial Relations Officers COP 3571, Business Sales Executives COP 3552, Advertising and Marketing Associate Professionals COP 3554, IT Operations Technicians COP 3131, IT User Support Technicians COP 3132 and Quality Assurance Technicians COP 3115. The changes will apply for all CoSs assigned on or before 31 December 2026 albeit realistically some variation of the TSL will be in place beyond that date.

4. Have minimum salary thresholds under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) been impacted?

The base salary threshold for applicants under the GBM, Senior/ Specialist category (the successor to the Intra Company Transfer route) for those with 12 months’ continuous tenure overseas will increase to £52,500 or the applicable minimum salary threshold under the relevant COP, whichever is higher. As previously, certain allowances including Mobility Premiums and a proportion of accommodation allowances can be included to meet the threshold. The “High Earners“ threshold for those with less than 12 months’ continuous overseas tenure remains £73,900. The existing skills threshold under this category is RQF6 which remains unchanged.

For those applying under the GBM Graduate Trainee route, the minimum salary threshold will rise to £27,300.

More relevant to prospective UK employers establishing a presence in the UK, under the GBM Expansion Workers route the minimum salary threshold for those with 12 months’ continuous tenure with the overseas business will rise to £52,500 and the “High Earners“ threshold for those with less than 12 months’ continuous tenure with the overseas entity remains at £73,900.

For further information and advice on all UK immigration issues, please contact Jonathan Chaimovic or your regular Team contact.