UK Immigration Rule Changes 2025 | Guide for Malayalees

UK Immigration Rule Changes 2025: What Every Malayalee Needs to Know

The United Kingdom has always been a magnet for talent from across the globe, a place where countless individuals have built thriving careers, pursued top-tier education, and raised their families. For our vibrant Malayalee community, in particular, the UK has been a cherished second home, with thousands making invaluable contributions to its economy and society. But if you’re looking to move to or stay in the UK, listen up: the immigration landscape is about to shift dramatically. From July 22, 2025, the UK is rolling out its toughest immigration reforms in a decade, changes that will profoundly impact professionals, students, and families from Kerala who are either here or hoping to come.

This article is your deep dive into these new regulations. We’ll break down why these changes are happening, what they actually mean, and, crucially, how they’ll affect our Malayalee brothers and sisters.

The New Rules: What’s Changing, and Why It Matter

These aren’t just minor tweaks; we’re talking about a significant overhaul of various visa routes, designed to raise standards and tighten eligibility. Getting a handle on each element is vital for anyone planning their future in the UK.

1. Much Higher Pay for Skilled-Worker Visas

This is perhaps the most immediate and significant change. The general salary floor for the Skilled-Worker visa is jumping sharply from £38,700 to a new minimum of £41,700. That’s a serious increase, and it’s going to be a tough hurdle for many, especially those looking at entry-level or less senior roles.

• “New Entrants” and PhD Holders Aren’t Exempt: While there used to be some leeway for “new entrants” to the job market or those with PhDs, those discounted rates are also going up proportionally. The message is crystal clear: only higher-earning positions are going to qualify for sponsorship.
• It’s Not Just the Floor, It’s the “Going Rate”: Don’t forget, £41,700 is just the minimum. Employers still have to pay the higher of this new floor or the updated occupation-specific “going rate.” This “going rate” is based on average salaries for specific job types (determined by the ONS). For many skilled roles, that “going rate” already blows past the new general minimum, so employers will still need to meet that higher figure. This two-pronged approach is designed to ensure migrant workers aren’t undercut compared to their UK colleagues.

2. Only Degree-Level Skills (RQF 6) Will Count

This is a big one. The minimum skill level for sponsored jobs is rising. Previously, roles at RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) Level 3 (think A-levels) were eligible. But come July 22, 2025, only jobs at RQF Level 6 (degree level) or higher will qualify for Skilled-Worker sponsorship.

• Hundreds of Jobs Gone: This change effectively removes over a hundred medium-skilled jobs from general sponsorship eligibility. That means a whole host of roles, previously open to non-graduates or those with vocational qualifications, will no longer be available for overseas recruitment via the Skilled-Worker route. The government wants to see these roles filled by UK workers who are trained domestically.
• Existing Visa Holders Get a Breather: If you already have a Skilled Worker visa in an RQF 3-5 level job, or your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) was issued before July 22, 2025, you’ll benefit from transitional arrangements. You can keep working, extend your visa, bring dependants, and even change jobs within occupations below RQF 6, as long as you meet the old salary thresholds. But remember, these arrangements aren’t forever and are subject to review.

3. New Overseas Recruitment for Care Workers Is Ending

This is arguably the most impactful change for our Malayalee community, given how many Keralites have found fulfilling careers in the UK’s social care sector. The UK is stopping new overseas recruitment for care-worker (SOC 6135) and senior-care-worker (SOC 6136) roles.

• When It Happens: From July 22, 2025, no new visas will be issued for these specific roles to applicants from outside the UK.
• What If You Already Have This Visa? If you’re currently on a Care Worker or Senior Care Worker visa, you’ll be able to extend your visa in the UK until July 22, 2028. This gives existing visa holders a vital window to figure out their next steps – maybe upskill, or explore other visa options. However, the government has warned that this transition period will be monitored, particularly if there are concerns about compliance or exploitation. Also, it’s becoming harder to switch into these roles from other visa types unless you’ve already been working for your sponsor for at least three months.
• Why the Change? The Home Office has pointed to concerns about exploitation within the care sector and the rapid increase in visa numbers for these lower-skilled jobs. The focus is now squarely on building up the UK’s own care workforce and reducing its reliance on international recruitment for these specific roles.

4. The “Temporary Shortage List” (TSL): A Limited Lifeline

With the new, higher skill threshold, the government is introducing a Temporary Shortage List (TSL). This is a very narrow, time-limited pathway for some below-degree (RQF 3-5) roles to still get into the immigration system.

• Very Specific Criteria: Occupations will only make it onto the TSL if they are deemed “critical to the UK’s industrial strategy or crucial infrastructure” and if there’s clear evidence of persistent shortages and a genuine commitment to reducing reliance on overseas workers.
• No Dependants for TSL Workers: Here’s the big catch: if you’re sponsored under the TSL, you cannot bring your family (spouse or children) to the UK. This mirrors the rules already in place for care workers (since March 2024) and further restricts family migration for lower-skilled jobs.
• No Fee Discounts: Unlike previous shortage occupation lists, roles on the TSL will not get any salary or visa fee discounts. That means higher costs for both employers and applicants.
• It’s Temporary: The TSL is initially set to expire at the end of 2026. Whether occupations stay on it beyond that will depend on recommendations from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), who review the UK’s labour market needs.

5. Continued Crackdown on Student Visas

The student visa route has already seen significant tightening, and that trend isn’t stopping.

• Dependant Ban for Taught-Course Students: Since January 1, 2024, if you’re coming to the UK for a standard taught Master’s degree or other taught course, you cannot bring your spouse or children as dependants. This was introduced to stop what the government saw as misuse of the student route for family migration.
• Who Can Bring Dependants? Only postgraduate research students (like those doing a PhD or MRes) and government-sponsored students on courses lasting over six months still have the privilege of bringing their families.
• Graduate Visa Under Review: Ministers are also actively reviewing the two-year Graduate visa. This visa currently lets international students stay and work in the UK for two years after graduating. While no definite changes have been announced, potential cuts to its length (e.g., to 18 months) or stricter eligibility rules are definitely on the table.
• Tougher Rules for Universities: The government is also making it harder for universities to keep their license to sponsor student visas, bringing in stricter compliance rules to prevent any abuse of the system.

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How Will These Rules Directly Affect Malayalees

Our Malayalee community is deeply embedded in various UK sectors, and these changes will hit different groups in different ways.

2.1. Health Professionals (NHS & Private Healthcare)

For the legions of Malayalee nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals, the news is largely positive. These roles mostly remain secure.

• Still Eligible, Mostly: Roles like registered nurses, doctors, radiographers, physiotherapists, etc., typically fall under RQF 6 (degree level) and are paid according to NHS pay scales. Crucially, the £41,700 general salary floor doesn’t apply to most Health and Care Visa holders who are on national pay scales (their threshold remains much lower, around £25,000, though specific “going rates” still apply). This means hospital recruitment from Kerala should continue largely as before, unaffected by the new salary hikes.
• A Note for Care-Home Nurses: While qualified nurses are generally safe, if you’re a nurse in a care home, make sure your sponsor is paying you the correct NHS-aligned rates to avoid any issues with your visa. The sector is under increased scrutiny to ensure fair pay.
• Some Health Roles Removed: It’s worth knowing that a handful of health-related roles, like healthcare practice managers, medical and dental technicians, ambulance staff (not paramedics), and dental nurses (who often weren’t RQF 6), have been removed from the eligible lists and aren’t on the TSL. So, new overseas recruitment for these specific roles will stop.

2.2. Social-Care Workers – A Huge Impact

This is where the new rules will be felt most acutely by many non-graduate Malayalees.

• A Pathway Closes: The end of new SOC 6135/6136 visas removes a very significant route that many in our community used to come to the UK, especially those without a degree who sought opportunities in the care sector. It had become a primary channel for migration from Kerala in recent years.
• Current Visa Holders: Plan Strategically: If you currently hold this visa, your absolute priority needs to be maintaining continuous employment and securing your visa renewals before that July 22, 2028, deadline. Now is the time to explore options for upskilling to RQF 6 roles if you can, or looking into other sectors that might still offer sponsorship and where you meet the new higher salary and skill levels. Also, don’t expect it to be easy to switch into these roles from other visa types if you’re not already working for your sponsor.
• New Applicants: Upskill or Rethink: For anyone hoping to come to the UK via the care worker route, the door is essentially closing. You’ll now need to significantly upskill to meet RQF 6 requirements for other Skilled-Worker roles, or explore different sectors that are still eligible for sponsorship and where you can meet the higher salary and skill thresholds.

2.3. IT, Engineering & Finance Graduates

These are highly popular fields for Kerala’s strong graduate workforce. The main impact here is financial.

• Higher Starting Salaries: If you’re a new applicant, jobs in IT, engineering, finance, and other professional sectors now demand starting salaries of at least £41,700, or the specific job’s “going rate”—whichever is higher. This means you’ll need to negotiate strongly and have a very realistic understanding of what these jobs actually pay in the UK.
• Get Your CoS Early – A Clever Trick: Here’s a crucial tip: if you have a job offer, push your employer to issue your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before July 22, 2025. A CoS issued up to three months in advance locks in the current (lower) 2024 salary threshold rules, even if you apply for your visa after the new rules kick in. This is a small window of opportunity, so act fast!
• More Competition: While these are high-skilled sectors, companies will still have to justify paying these increased salaries, which could mean even tougher competition for sponsored roles.

2.4. Hospitality & Chefs

The hospitality industry, including many chef roles, is facing considerable hurdles under these new rules.

• Vanishing from Sponsorship: Most chef and hospitality roles typically sit below RQF 6. This means they’ll largely disappear from general sponsorship eligibility unless they are specifically included on the new, highly restricted Temporary Shortage List (TSL).
• TSL’s Big Catch: Even if a job does make it onto the TSL, workers sponsored under this list cannot bring their dependants. That makes moving particularly difficult for those with families.
• Rethink Your Strategy: For Malayalees considering hospitality, you’ll need a serious re-evaluation. Options might include planning to move as a single person, or perhaps exploring UK study routes that could lead to higher-skill management or specialist roles after graduation, which would then allow for dependant visas.

2.5. Students from Kerala

The student visa route has already tightened its grip on dependants, a policy that affects many Keralite families.

• Dependants Are Restricted: If bringing your family (spouse or children) is non-negotiable, you must now only target PhD or Master’s by Research (MRes) programmes. These are the sole academic pathways that still allow dependants.
• Taught-Master’s Students: If you’re planning a standard taught Master’s, you’ll need to budget for living alone or seriously consider other international destinations where student family migration rules are more flexible, at least until UK policy might (possibly) soften.
• Graduate Visa Uncertainty: The ongoing review of the Graduate visa adds another layer of doubt. Any cut to its two-year duration or stricter eligibility criteria could significantly impact post-study work opportunities, which are often a huge draw for international students.

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Your Practical Checklist: Before You Say “Yes” to a UK Job Offer

Navigating these new rules demands careful planning and vigilance. Before you commit to any UK job offer, make sure you’re clear on these crucial points:

• Confirm the SOC Code and RQF Level: Always ask your potential employer for the specific Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code for the job and confirm its RQF level. Remember: only RQF 6 jobs or those explicitly on the TSL will qualify. Don’t move forward until this is crystal clear.
• Verify the New Pay: Get absolute confirmation from HR on how your offered salary meets or exceeds the new £41,700 general salary floor OR the role’s specific “going rate”—whichever is higher. Get this in writing. Be aware that “going rates” for many jobs have also increased substantially.
• Get Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Early: This is a tactical move. If your CoS is issued before July 22, 2025, your visa application will generally be assessed under the current (2024) rules. A CoS is typically valid for three months from its issue date, so factor that into your application timeline.
• Plan for Your Family’s Visas: Understand exactly what these rules mean for your family. If the job is on the TSL or if you’re coming on a taught-course student visa, dependants are no longer allowed for new applicants. If your family is joining you, make absolutely sure your visa route (e.g., RQF 6+ Skilled Worker, PhD student) still permits dependants.
• Budget for Rising Fees: The UK government has indicated further increases to the Immigration Skills Charge (paid by sponsors) and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) are coming later this year. Make sure you budget for these potential rises, as they add a considerable amount to the overall cost of a UK visa.

Looking Ahead: Adapt, Learn, and Stay Agile

The changes kicking in this July are just one part of a bigger, ongoing push by the Home Office to “regain control” of the immigration system and bring down overall migration figures. The government’s white paper, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System,” published in May 2025, outlines even more reforms that are expected to roll out in phases:

• Even Higher Immigration Skills Charge: Expect the levy paid by employers who sponsor visas to go up again, possibly by another 32% or more.
• Stricter English Tests: There are proposals to raise the bar for English language requirements across the entire immigration system. This could mean tougher tests for applicants, and potentially even requiring partners of work visa holders to show basic English skills for a dependant visa.
• Longer Path to Permanent Residency: A major proposed change is extending the standard time it takes to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as settlement or permanent residency. It could go from the current five years to ten years for many visa routes. While there might be “earned settlement” provisions for those who contribute significantly to the UK economy and society, the default path will be much longer. This means a more extended commitment for anyone seeking to settle permanently.
• New Family Visa Rules: A consultation is expected later this year to completely reshape the family visa route, potentially closing “loopholes” and introducing more demanding English language and income requirements for family members joining their relatives.
• Focus on UK Skills: Underneath all these changes is a clear message: UK employers need to invest more in training and upskilling their own workforce, rather than always looking overseas, especially for medium and lower-skilled jobs. The government expects sectors that rely heavily on international recruits to develop solid long-term workforce strategies.

For Malayalees, and indeed all international migrants, these reforms demand a proactive and adaptable approach. You’ll need to stay meticulously informed about policy updates, constantly assess your career plans against the UK’s evolving requirements, and, if possible, invest in further education or skills that align with the UK’s identified high-skill needs. Despite these tightening rules, the UK absolutely remains a land of opportunity, especially for highly skilled professionals who are ready and willing to meet these new, more demanding criteria.

Have these new rules affected your plans, or are you navigating a move to the UK amidst them? Share your story, questions, or insights with the UKMalayalam community in the comments below. Together, we can help Kerala’s global family keep moving forward—legally, confidently, and strategically. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly immigration bulletin to stay completely up-to-date!