Afghan scheme closed immediately and major changes to skilled worker route – statement of changes: HC 997

As trailed in the immigration white paper but mysteriously absent from last week’s statement of changes, the skilled worker route is being overhauled with a view to far fewer people being able to use it. Yes that’s right, a mere week after the last lot, we have yet another statement of changes. You can find the whole thing here along with the explanatory memorandum. At least we had a bit of notice this time, the press release is here. With the exception of the Afghan scheme noted below, all changes take effect from 22 July 2025, with applications made before that date considered under the rules in place at 21 July 2025.

What wasn’t trailed in the press release or anywhere else that I am aware of is the immediate closure of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy to new main applicants. The scheme closes at 3pm today and applications must be submitted to the Ministry of Defence before then.

Closure of Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy from 3pm today

The explanatory memorandum states:

This instrument amends Appendix ARAP of the Immigration Rules in order to close the relocation route to the UK under the ARAP to future principal applications. It does so by amending the eligibility requirement in Appendix ARAP 3.3 to require that new principal applications by an Afghan citizen must have been submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on or after 1 April 2021 and before 15:00 BST on 1 July 2025 to be considered eligible under Appendix ARAP. Eligible applicants who submitted their application before 15:00 BST on 1 July 2025 will still be able to make eligibility applications for their immediate family members and additional family members after this date.

No explanation is provided as to why it was necessary to close the scheme seemingly without any advance notice. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme is also being formally closed, although it was not possible to apply under that anyway.

Skills and salary thresholds to rise

The qualification threshold for skilled workers, lowered to RQF level 3 in 2020, is being returned to RQF level 6. The explanatory memorandum states that this will mean a drop of around 180 eligible occupations, but the press release says it will be 111 fewer roles on the list in Appendix Skilled Occupations.

These changes will not affect people already in the routes in roles below RQF level 6, however the explanatory memorandum states that these “transitional arrangements will not be in place indefinitely and will be reviewed in due course”.

Routine salary increases are also being made to the skilled worker, Global Business Mobility and scale-up routes, in line with the 2024 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data. There are no transitional arrangements relating to these increases and so those already in the route will also need to ensure that they are earning the correct amount when they next apply.

New temporary shortage list

We know from the white paper that Appendix Immigration Salary List is to be replaced with a new, time limited, Temporary Shortage List for roles below RGF level 6. This statement of changes puts in place some interim measures:

• an expanded Immigration Salary List, containing the existing entries plus occupations at RQF levels 3-5 which the MAC identified as being in shortage in its 2023 review and 2024 rapid review
• an interim Temporary Shortage List, containing occupations at RQF levels 3-5 which the Department for Business and Trade and His Majesty’s Treasury have identified as being important for the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy

To find the roles on the Temporary Shortage List you need to look in the statement of changes for the change APP SW7 which will insert the list as new paragraph SW 6.1A.

So we now have not one but two shortage occupation lists. Eventually Appendix Salary List will be phased out, for now the main difference between the two is that roles on the Temporary Shortage List are set to be removed from the list at the end of 2026, with the government explicitly reserving the right to bring that date forward. Those applying for roles in these lists will not be permitted to bring dependants (this will not apply to those already in the skilled worker route in any of these roles).

Closure of care worker route to new entrants

People will no longer be able to come to the UK as care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136) as these roles are closed to entry clearance applications from 22 July 2025. The explanatory memorandum states that:

The changes also provide for in-country applications, for those switching from other visa routes, to continue for a transition period until 22 July 2028, at which point these occupations will be removed from the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Workers must have been legally working for the provider that is sponsoring them for at least 3 months before the date their certificate of sponsorship was issued to them by their sponsor. This requirement supports continuity of employment, and provides assurance that workers are suitable to be sponsored to work in the sector, and that sponsors and workers have been in an employer-employee relationship for a reasonable period of time, allowing both parties to demonstrate compliance with basic employment law (including National Minimum Wage regulations) and mitigate risks relating to potential exploitation.

The ability for people to switch into this roles in country will be kept under review. As there will be no more entry clearance applications, the requirement for sponsors to try to recruit from the existing pool of skilled workers in need of a new sponsor before sponsoring someone from overseas is being removed. 

What next?

The press release says that the expected changes to the immigration skills charge, increased English language requirements, and the ominous sounding “unveiling a new family policy framework” will be implemented before the end of the year. The press release also states that “further measures on asylum and border security to be announced later this year”.