New Immigration Rules For Skilled Workers: What's Changing In April 2025?

On 12 March 2025, the UK government published the latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 733), introducing significant amendments to the Skilled Worker visa route. These changes primarily affect care workers and senior care workers, alongside broader updates to salary thresholds and compliance requirements. Employers and applicants must take note of these developments to ensure compliance and understand their implications.

1. New Recruitment Rules for Care Workers in England

A major update concerns the recruitment of care workers and senior care workers in England. From 9 April 2025, care providers who want to recruit a new worker from overseas must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This measure is designed to ensure that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so while also reducing reliance on overseas recruitment.