Another year and another change for UK immigration and the Skilled Worker visa UK. Imperative changes and updates have been made to regulations, compliance, and workforce mobility. Let’s explore the latest updates and how you can effectively adapt to these. From ETA to sponsorship costs requirements, here’s what you need to know to grow smoothly in the UK.
UK Immigration 2025
Sponsorship and Skilled Worker Visa UK Changes
From the past few years, UKVI has become stricter regarding enforcing sponsor compliance as its top priority. In 2024, they had a much more focused approach, after which 513 skilled worker sponsor licenses were revoked, surpassing the total of 377 revocations in all of 2023.
The UK government has also implemented an imperative policy regarding sponsorship costs for skilled workers. This change is there to oversee work-related debt and exploitation. The following costs are now prohibited from being passed:
Sponsor License Fee: The fee for new sponsor license applications or adding the Skilled Worker route to an existing license submitted from December 31, 2024, onwards is now prohibited from being passed on to sponsored employees.
CoS fee: the fee for a certificate of sponsorship is now prohibited from passing as well.
However, other immigration related costs, such as home office commercial partner service charges, visa application fees, and immigration health surcharges can still be redeemed by the employer.
Employer responsibilities
To ensure compliance, the employers should take the following steps:
- Review and update policies
- Budgetary considerations
- Review and update agreements
- Stay In the Loop
Transition to eVisas
UKVI is transitioning to a fully digital immigration system. This process began in 2024, when physical documents like the BRP were being replaced with digital e-visas. UKVI also announced that expired documents will be valid for international travel for just a limited time until March 2025.
How Can I Get a Work Visa For the UK?
Those seeking employment in the UK have the Skilled Worker visa UK as their primary route, and to qualify for that, they must follow the following new rules of 2025
Job offer: They must secure a job offer from an employer working in the UK, who is approved by the Home Office.
Certificate of sponsorship: get yourself a certificate of sponsorship listing a detailed overview of your job.
Eligible occupation: Make sure that your job comes under the umbrella of eligible occupations.
Salary requirements: you need to meet the minimum criteria for the salary threshold, which is £38700 per year. However, few of the roles listed have a lower requirement of £30960 pr year.
Command in the English language: you must have a B1 level in English to proceed.
Financial requirements
If you are an applicant, ensure that you have £1,270 in your bank at the time of application and when you arrive in the UK.
Application fees
The application fees in the process range from £719 to £1639, depending on the specific circumstances. Moreover, the annual fee to access the National Health Service (NHS) is £624 annually.
Durations and extensions
If you have a skilled worker visa uk then you are allowed to reside in the UK for five years straight. However, you can also apply to extend your stay or even switch to another visa according to your eligibility criteria.
Permanent Residency
You can also apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), after your continuous stay in the UK for 5 years, which will lead to permanent residency.
Electronic Travel Authorization ETA
At the beginning of April 2025, all visitors from visa-exempt countries will be requiring an ETA in order to travel to the UK. But note that if you are applying for a skilled worker visa uk then you don’t need an ETA.
Application Process
- Complete the visa application form online
- Provide essential documents such as salary details, job offer, identity, English language test and other financial documents.
- Attend a visa application center to register your fingerprints and submit photographs
- Depending on your visa type, now you need to wait 3-8 weeks for a decision from the Home Office.
Looking Ahead?
New year and new changes have been promised to UK immigration. Like any other time, the immigration process for a skilled worker visa in the United Kingdom remains complex and detailed, which is why Farani Taylor Solicitors, one of the best immigration law firms London, is here to help you out. Our expert and top immigration lawyers London will guide you through the UK work permit visa requirements, so your process can be error-free and successful.
