Work in the UK
Skilled Worker visa and Sponsorship: how the Rules changed in July 2025 and proposed changes in 2026. Work visa alternatives without a job offer. Entry to the UK, switching, extension, Settlement. Help with transitional arrangements for employers and workers.
Skilled Worker visa and Sponsorship
Upcoming changes in 2026 - 10 years to Settlement
The new Rules were proposed on 20 November 2025 and the consultation ended 12 February 2026. Now we have to wait for the formal Rules. The main change is changing the qualifying period for Settlement from 5 to 10 years. If you are eligible – apply now!
The new Rules are expected to start in the autumn 2026, but there are no details yet, such as how they affect the existing workers or those very close to Settlement.
Important! 10 years will only include qualifying visas, such as Skilled Worker, or permitted combinations like Skilled Worker + Global Talent. It won’t include Graduate, Student or Dependant visas. For that reason, the ILR based on 10 years Long Residence (almost any visas) will also be abolished. If you are eligible – apply as soon as possible, at the moment you can still combine Student and Graduate to achieve a total of 10 years.
Care workers and medium-skill workers - 15 years to Settlement
As part of the proposals the Governments is planning to extend the qualifying period for ILR to 15 years for care workers and workers on the jobs at Level 3 and 4, ie below degree-level. Those who claimed benefits, or overstayed a visa in the past (even if approved after that), may have to wait 20 years to ILR.
Changes already started on 22 July 2025
Only Level 6 jobs (degree level jobs) are allowed for a Skilled Worker visa, instead of Level 3 (A Level) jobs that were allowed before that. It doesn’t refer to a worker having a degree, but a job being seen as a skilled at a degree level on Government database. For example, an accountant working as an accountant will be seen as a degree-level job. But accountant working as a carer will be seen as carer and won’t be eligible. Salaries went up for all, see more below. For extensions/settlement it doesn’t mean an immediate payrise, but a raise before the next application. Care worker visas are closed to new applicants from abroad.
Workers who started before 22 July 2025
Fortunately, there are some transitional arrangements! This group can keep being sponsored on Level 3 jobs for extension, change of employment and settlement. With the updated salaries, though. There are different salary rules for those who started before 4 April 2024 and before 22 July 2025.
Most of these workers can still bring dependants, except care workers where the main migrant started in this category after 11 March 2024. Workers who started in this category after 22 July 2025 (other than care workers) can only bring dependants if they are sponsored in a Higher Skilled job (degree level).
Sponsorship guidance for employers
At 1st 4Immigration we have vast experience in offering legal advice to British businesses, wishing to hire migrant workers. We can work with the employer, a worker or both at the same time. We even used to have our own Sponsor Licence until our workers happily settled in the UK. We analyse a job on the type and salary (whether it qualifies), help with a Sponsor Licence application, request a correct Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) and prepare a visa application.
Switch to Skilled Worker
If you find a Sponsor (employer), you can switch from most categories inside the UK, such as Student, Graduate, Youth Mobility Scheme. You can also change employment but your new employer has to go through the same Sponsorship process. There are concessions (more relaxed rules) for sponsoring students, graduates and those aged under 26.
Come to the UK as a Skilled Worker
You need a company, willing to sponsor you for this visa. There is an official register of all licensed employers, it also helps if your skills are on the Immigration Salary List (“shortage” list) A very popular route is a Student visa, then Graduate visa for 2 years, then a sponsored Skilled Worker visa, then Indefinite Leave.
Health and Care Worker visa
It is for specific occupations, such as nurses, doctors, care workers. This sub-category is faster and cheaper than the main Skilled Worker visa. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge to pay and the minimum salary is lower.
From 22 July 2025 it is no longer possible to apply as a care worker outside the UK. Only possible to extend if you were already on this visa before 22 July 2025. Also possible to switch if you are in the UK on another visa (Dependant, Student) and have worked as a carer for 3 months, and this employer is willing to sponsor you for a Skilled Worker visa.
Settlement - Indefinite Leave to Remain
Currently, and until at least autumn 2026 (without a specific date) Indefinite Leave to Remain is possible after 5 years in this category or permitted combinations with other visas, such as Global Talent. As above, it will be extended to 10 years for most and 15 years for some. Settlement eligibility is subject to detailed rules on continuity of residence, absences, gaps between visas, criminality. English language level will be increased to B2 for applications from end of March 2027.
Salary
New workers
Extension and change of Sponsor
Indefinite Leave - Settlement
Your partner and children
Known as Dependants, your family can apply for Dependant visas, which will be for as long as your main visa. This covers your spouse, partner of 2 years as well as children under 18 years of age (on the date of the first application). This is a different category from the main Skilled Worker visa. Main is main, dependant is dependant, you can switch from one to the other, but cannot combine them towards 5 years for settlement. Currently, it is still 5 years, but may be extended to 10-15 years, as above.
Proposed changes
Other than waiting 10 or 15 years (as above), it has been proposed that Dependants would need B2 English and minimum level of earnings during the 3 years before ILR application, currently set at £12,570 pa. Those who don’t earn enough would qualify for extension (instead of ILR), which would involve paying more in Government fees and Immigration Health Surcharge.
#1 for UK visa advice
We advise on the Rules, we train other lawyers and we do it well! We also had our own Sponsor Licence in the past until our workers settled in the UK. We are accredited by The IAA, formerly called The OISC, at the highest Level 3. Our reference number is F200800152, in which 2008 stands for the year of accreditation. From our London office, we serve customers of all nationalities to work in the UK. We advise businesses all over the UK on sponsoring migrant workers.
Self-sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa
Can you sponsor yourself? Yes, or rather your own company can sponsor you. You can own 100% of the business and be a director. This option works best if you are already in the UK on another visa, such as Student, Dependant, Tier 1 Entrepreneur, Global Talent, or a work visa sponsored by someone else. You can establish your own business, have it growing for a year or two, then apply for a Sponsor licence and then a visa. You will need to employ a settled worker (British, with ILR etc) to operate the Sponsor licence. Most importantly, your business has to be genuine!
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) refunds - who is eligible?
Examples when you could claim a refund of IHS: if you paid twice for the same period of time, such as if you changed a job before your previous Skilled Worker visa expired. If you are working for the NHS on a visa like Partner, ie not sponsored by employer. If you are an EU citizen and a full-time student.
Also, if you are an EEA citizen and moved to the UK after Brexit (after 1 January 2021), and you have an S1 form. For example, if you are an EEA citizen, married to a UK citizen and are in the UK on a Spouse visa.