The Government has laid the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, setting out the wide-ranging amendments which will take effect from 4 April 2024. The main changes had been announced in late 2023, leading to a rush by many employers to obtain licences and sponsor individuals before the new rules take effect.
What does the statement of changes to immigration rules include?
The statement of changes laid today, 14 March 2024, sets out the detail of the changes to the skilled worker route which include:
- Increasing the skilled worker general salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700.
- Going rates will be raised from the 25th percentile to the median rate of pay based on the latest ONS pay data.
- For anyone already sponsored as a skilled worker, the 25th percentile threshold will continue to apply and is being increased in line with the latest pay data from £26,200 to £29,000.
- Workers sponsored for the Health and Care Worker visa and those subject to national pay scales will be exempt from the general salary threshold, and instead will have a general threshold of £29,000 (the 25th percentile), unless another exception applies.
- The Shortage Occupation List is being removed and replaced with an Immigration Salary List which will offer a discounted salary threshold ranging from £38,700 to £30,960 or £29,000 to £23,200, depending on which applies to the individual.
- There will no longer be a reduction to the going rate for any roles which would have been on the old Shortage Occupation List and the new Immigration Salary List.
- All other salary discounts for the tradeable points options will remain but will be subject to increases using the latest ONS pay data.
- Importantly, the threshold for new entrants will increase to £30,960 and the going rate reduction of 70% will remain.
- Salary thresholds for other work routes are being increased in line with the latest ONS pay data; for example, Senior or Skilled workers on the Global Business Mobility route will have a threshold of £48,500 (up from £45,800).
- The Standard Occupation Classification codes are being updated to the 2020 SOC Code system – this will result in Appendix Skilled Occupations being updated. Employers should take care to check they will be using the most up-to-date code when creating a Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Asylum seekers who are allowed to take up work will only be able to work in roles listed on the Immigration Salary List, as the Shortage Occupation List is being removed. Employers should check whether roles which used to be on the Shortage Occupation List will be on the Immigration Salary List before they confirm an offer of employment.
The increase to the salary threshold is likely to affect many sponsors recruitment plans and there is a lot to consider with the various tradable points, changes to going rates and updated SOC codes.
