News29 January 20262 min read
Home Office confirms major Immigration Rules updates raising Skilled Worker skill levels to RQF 6 and salary thresholds to £41,700+. Changes affect GBM and Scale-up routes too, effective 22 July 2025 per VisaHQ reports. Over 100 mid-skill jobs removed from eligibility lists.
The Home Office has outlined extensive revisions to the Immigration Rules, targeting the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility (GBM), and Scale-up visa categories. These updates, detailed in secondary legislation laid before Parliament, generally aim to prioritise higher-skilled roles, according to analysis by WestBridge Immigration Services as reported by VisaHQ on 29 January 2026.
These details represent general information from official sources and are not legal advice. Rules can change, and individual circumstances vary—consult the Home Office website for the latest.
| Visa Route | New Minimum Salary |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (general) | £41,700 |
| Global Business Mobility | £52,500 |
| Scale-up | £39,100 |
Most changes take effect from 22 July 2025, though the legislation was only recently presented to Parliament. Employers and applicants typically need to meet these criteria for new applications or extensions, per Home Office statements via VisaHQ.
Reports of visa agents offering fabricated jobs for up to £13,000 underscore the need for genuine compliance, according to Home Office probes covered by VisaHQ and The Times.
Generally, it aligns with degree-level qualifications, as defined in UK occupational standards per Home Office rules.
The rules state updates typically affect new applications and extensions from the effective date, according to VisaHQ summaries.
Thresholds are the minimum annual salary generally required, with some allowances for discounts, as outlined in Immigration Rules.
Track official Home Office statements for confirmation, as proposals like fee increases remain subject to approval.
Home Office confirms major Immigration Rules updates raising Skilled Worker skill levels to RQF 6 and salary thresholds to £41,700+. Changes affect GBM and Scale-up routes too, effective 22 July 2025 per VisaHQ reports. Over 100 mid-skill jobs removed from eligibility lists.
The Home Office has outlined extensive revisions to the Immigration Rules, targeting the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility (GBM), and Scale-up visa categories. These updates, detailed in secondary legislation laid before Parliament, generally aim to prioritise higher-skilled roles, according to analysis by WestBridge Immigration Services as reported by VisaHQ on 29 January 2026.
These details represent general information from official sources and are not legal advice. Rules can change, and individual circumstances vary—consult the Home Office website for the latest.
| Visa Route | New Minimum Salary |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (general) | £41,700 |
| Global Business Mobility | £52,500 |
| Scale-up | £39,100 |
Most changes take effect from 22 July 2025, though the legislation was only recently presented to Parliament. Employers and applicants typically need to meet these criteria for new applications or extensions, per Home Office statements via VisaHQ.
Reports of visa agents offering fabricated jobs for up to £13,000 underscore the need for genuine compliance, according to Home Office probes covered by VisaHQ and The Times.
Generally, it aligns with degree-level qualifications, as defined in UK occupational standards per Home Office rules.
The rules state updates typically affect new applications and extensions from the effective date, according to VisaHQ summaries.
Thresholds are the minimum annual salary generally required, with some allowances for discounts, as outlined in Immigration Rules.
Track official Home Office statements for confirmation, as proposals like fee increases remain subject to approval.