Following the publication of the Government’s immigration white paper in May, a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules was released on 1 July 2025, heralding a wide range of important changes for Skilled Workers which will come into force on 22 July 2025.

The changes will affect all applications relying on a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued on or after 22 July. Employers now have a brief window of time to assign CoS and lodge applications under the current, more flexible rules. Once the deadline passes, the new, stricter criteria will apply to both first-time applicants and those seeking extensions, unless protected under limited transitional provisions.

Applications made before 22 July 2025, using a CoS assigned before that date, will continue to be assessed under the current Immigration Rules. This includes applications for roles that will no longer qualify under the revised system and allows reliance on lower salary thresholds and broader occupational eligibility.

Employers should urgently identify any future or planned hires that may be affected and ensure that CoS are issued and visa applications are submitted before the cut-off date. It is also essential to check whether the organisation has enough CoS allocation to cover additional demand. Where necessary, requests for allocation increases should be submitted as soon as possible, bearing in mind that the Home Office is expected to receive a deluge of similar requests during this period.