New UK Work Visa Rules Effective This August – Everything You Need to Know Now!

Published On: August 6, 2025

New UK Work Visa Rules Effective This August

Something big just dropped in the UK immigration scene—and if you’re planning to work in Britain, you need to know what’s changed.

Starting August 2025, the UK has officially rolled out tougher new visa rules for foreign workers—and let’s just say, the bar’s been raised.

Whether you’re eyeing a high-skilled job in London’s finance scene, hoping to land a care worker role, or planning to switch from a student visa, here’s what’s changing, what it means for you, and what to watch out for.

Let’s cut through the jargon and break it down, real-world style.

What’s Changing in the UK Work Visa System?

The UK government says it’s all about “managing migration” and “reducing net inflows.”

Translation? Stricter rules, fewer low-wage visas, and higher salary thresholds.

Here are the major changes effective from August 1, 2025:

1. Salary Threshold Raised to £38,700

That’s the new minimum salary for most sponsored Skilled Worker visas. Previously, it was £26,200.

It’s a massive jump, and yes—it’s already causing ripples across industries like care, retail, and hospitality.

Exception: Health and care worker roles (like nurses and carers) can still be paid less under special rules—but even those are under review.

2. No More “Shortage Occupation” Discounts

Before, certain job titles (like chefs, social care workers, welders, etc.) could get visa approval with a lower salary due to being on the Shortage Occupation List.

Not anymore. The discount is gone. Everyone must meet the full salary threshold, unless under a new transitional route (still unclear as of August).

3. Care Workers Can’t Bring Dependents Anymore

One of the biggest (and most controversial) changes: care workers and senior care workers can no longer sponsor spouses, partners, or children to join them in the UK on a dependent visa.

This move alone is expected to drastically reduce migration numbers—but it’s a tough pill to swallow for many immigrant families.

4. Stricter Rules for Student Visa Switches

International students can no longer switch into a work visa before completing their studies.
Previously, you could change to a Skilled Worker visa once you got a job offer—even if you were still studying.

Now, you must finish your course and graduate before applying to switch visa categories.

5. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Is Higher

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)—which you pay as part of your visa application—has gone up to £1,250 per year.

If you’re bringing dependents, each one pays the same.
So yeah, it adds up fast.

Who Does This Affect?

Skilled workers across most industries
International students hoping to stay after graduation
Care workers and healthcare sector applicants
Employers sponsoring foreign talent
Anyone applying to bring dependents or family members

If you fall into any of these buckets—you’ll want to plan carefully and double-check updated salary requirements and eligibility.

What About Health and Care Workers?

The UK is still desperate for healthcare professionals—but even here, the system’s getting tighter.

Care workers can still apply under the Skilled Worker route, and are still exempt from the £38,700 salary requirement—but:

They can’t bring dependents
Their sponsoring employer must now register with CQC (Care Quality Commission)
The government is cracking down on fake job offers and unregulated care homes

So if you’re a nurse, carer, or healthcare assistant, make sure your job offer is 100% legit and meets all new sponsor requirements.

Summary Table: What’s New for UK Work Visas (Effective August 2025)

Change	Old Rule	New Rule (Aug 2025)
Salary threshold	£26,200/year	£38,700/year
Shortage Occupation discount	20% lower salary accepted	No discount – full salary required
Care workers bringing dependents	Allowed	Not allowed
Student visa switching	Allowed before graduation	Only allowed after graduation
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	~£624/year	£1,250/year

Final Thoughts: Is the UK Still Worth It?

Depends.

If you’re in a high-demand, high-paying field like tech, finance, engineering, or NHS medicine—you’ll still find solid opportunities in the UK. But if you’re aiming for lower-wage or entry-level roles, the path just got a lot tougher.

For students, it means you’ll need to finish your degree and land a high-paying job before you can switch. And for care workers, the system now expects a lot more with fewer benefits.

The bottom line? Do your homework, check the updated rules, and don’t rely on old advice. Immigration policies move fast—and missing a detail could cost you your chance.