The proposals come from the Migration Advisory Committee, which reviewed how salary thresholds apply under the Skilled Worker visa route and related immigration pathways.

The recommendations are not yet policy and will only take effect if approved by the UK government.

At the centre of the review is a change to how minimum pay levels are set for specific jobs. The committee proposes shifting occupation-specific salary thresholds from the current median earnings benchmark to the 25th percentile.

In practical terms, this would reduce the minimum salary many employers must offer to sponsor foreign workers.

The overall salary requirement would remain in place. The MAC suggests keeping the general threshold at £41,700, while also presenting a higher option of £48,400 for consideration by policymakers.

A separate proposal introduces a lower entry point for new applicants. Under this plan, younger professionals and recent graduates would qualify under a single salary threshold of £33,400. The aim is to make early-career recruitment easier for employers struggling to fill roles.

The committee also recommends scrapping existing salary discounts for PhD holders. Where postdoctoral concessions are still deemed necessary, it suggests a capped threshold of £41,700, applied for no more than four years.

The changes go beyond the Skilled Worker route. For the Global Business Mobility system, the MAC proposes aligning salary requirements for Senior or Specialist Workers and UK Expansion Workers with median pay levels in each occupation.

Graduate Trainees would also fall under the £33,400 threshold, with occupation-based variations removed entirely.

For roles on the Temporary Shortage List, the committee sets out a minimum salary level of £30,900. Employers would still be expected to pay market-aligned wages, even where immigration support is allowed for shortage occupations.

The recommendations are closely tied to ongoing labour shortages in the UK. Employers in healthcare, information technology, engineering, construction, and education report difficulties in recruiting staff.

Lower thresholds could expand access to overseas candidates, including professionals from countries such as Nigeria and India, where demand for UK work routes is strong.

Nothing changes immediately. The UK government still has to decide whether to adopt the proposals through the UK Home Office.

Alongside the salary review, visa costs in the UK have also been increasing. Short-term visit visas of up to six months now cost £135, up from £127.

Longer-term options have also increased, with two-year visas at £506, five-year visas at £903, and ten-year visas at £1,128. The adjustments cover several categories, including study, transit, and family routes.

Instead, successful applicants will be issued a digital eVisa—a secure, online record of their immigration status. 

This new system takes effect from July 15, 2025 and applies only to study or work visa applications submitted on or after the date. 

Those who apply before then will still receive the traditional vignette sticker and follow the current process, including passport submission at the Visa Application Centre (VAC). Visit visa applications will continue to receive the visa vignette sticker for the time being.

This change marks a major step in the UK Government’s transition to a modern, digital immigration system.

Despite the removal of the vignette for study or work visas, all applicants must still attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide their biometric information as part of the visa processing procedure.

Once a decision is made on their visa application, applicants will receive an email from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) with the outcome and instructions to create a UKVI account, to access their eVisa.   

Chargé d’Affaires, Gill Lever OBE, British High Commission in Abuja said:

“We’re making it easier and faster for Nigerians to travel to the UK. From 15 July 2025, most people applying for study or work visas will get a digital eVisa instead of a visa sticker in their passport. This is a further big step to a fully digital UK immigration system, making the process more secure, more efficient, and more convenient for students, professionals, and families.

“However, if you’re applying as a dependant, like a spouse or child, of someone who is studying or working in the UK or if you are applying for a visitor visa, you’ll still receive a visa vignette sticker in your passport for the time being.”

Additional Information

The UK eVisas for Nigerians have already replaced Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) for individuals granted leave for over six months. Customers with a UKVI account can use the View and Prove service to securely share their immigration status with third parties, such as employers or landlords (in England).

What Applicants Need to Do

• Apply online and submit application through the official website via gov.uk
• Attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to submit your passport and biometrics information.
• If your visa does not require a visa vignette sticker, you can take your passport home the same day
• After your visa is granted, follow the instructions in your decision notification. If advised create a UKVI account and link it to your current passport.

Released on Monday, May 12, 2025, the Whitepaper outlined changes across work visas, international study, asylum policy, enforcement, and long-term settlement.

One of the most significant changes is that “Legislation will be brought in to make clear that the Government and Parliament – not courts – determine who should stay, tackling misuse of Article 8 (right to family life) to block deportations.”

Here are 12 things you should know concerning the proposed changes to UK immigration rules:

1. 10-Year Residency for Settlement

Migrants must now live in the UK for 10 years before qualifying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), up from 5 years.

2. Ban on Overseas Care Recruitment

Care homes can no longer hire staff from abroad. Estimated to reduce migration by 100,000 annually.

3. Stricter English Language Rules

All adult dependents must now meet higher English standards. No more silent partners.

4. Digital ID & E-Visas

Digital systems are replacing physical permits — for better monitoring and compliance.

5. Skilled Worker Visa Limitations

Only graduate-level occupations now qualify. Employers must focus on local talent.

6. Increased Visa & NHS Fees

Visa fees up by 5–10% and NHS surcharges have risen. Better check your budget.

7. Tougher Family Visa Conditions

Stricter requirements for spouses and dependents — including tougher language and integration checks.

8. Tighter Deportation Rules

Courts can no longer easily overturn deportation orders using human rights claims

9. Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

If you’re visiting from a non-visa country, you’ll now need an ETA – like the US ESTA system.

10. No Migration Cap, Just Action

No fixed number, but these policies aim to sharply cut down net migration.

11. Salary Thresholds Going Up

The Immigration Salary List, which previously allowed reduced salary requirements for certain jobs, is being abolished. Migrants will now have to meet higher salary thresholds with no discounts.

12. Graduate Stay Period Reduced

The UK will reduce the time international graduates can stay after their studies to 18 months, limiting post-study opportunities.

Also, important notes to take before the new UK Immigration rules come to effect, are;

1. These reforms are still part of an immigration Whitepaper aimed at reducing migration and strengthening borders.

The focus is to reshape the system toward those who contribute most to economic growth, prioritizing higher skill standards.

2. These policies form part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, to be delivered over the course of this Parliament. Some of the first changes will be introduced in the coming weeks.

3. What I’ve outlined here is my own understanding and interpretation of the policies. Techeconomy encourage our readers to read the official documents on the UK government website for the most accurate and updated information.

Commenting, a British High Commission spokesperson in Nigeria said:

“The UK enjoys strong, long-standing people to people links with Nigeria. We are proud that the UK is still considered a top destination for Nigerians to work, study, visit and settle – and value the contribution this brings to the UK.”

“The UK White Paper sets out reforms to legal migration, including restoring order, control and fairness to the system, bringing down net migration and promoting economic growth. Changes to the system will happen over a period of time and we will engage with relevant partners in the Federal Government of Nigeria once more information about implementation details are available.”

“We have a proud tradition as an outward-looking nation, investing and trading abroad, and welcoming the creativity, ideas and diversity of those who come to contribute here.”