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The biggest change for many businesses is a huge increase in the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa applicants – rising from £26,200 to £38,700 from 4 April 2024. This will particularly affect businesses relying on middle-income international workers, including in the hospitality industry.

The current Shortage Occupation List will also be replaced by a new, more restrictive Immigration Salary List. This change is among those likely to affect businesses in the health and social care sector, along with a ban on some workers bringing dependants and new regulatory requirements for sponsors.

There is some good news for existing sponsors, however – sponsor licences due to expire on or after 6 April will now be automatically extended by ten years. 

In addition, the replacement of the Shortage Occupation List presents a problem for businesses in the health and care sector, many of whom rely on international workers to fill roles facing the most acute recruitment challenges. The new Immigration Salary List will reduce the number of shortage occupations and end the 20% going rate salary discount currently applicable to shortage occupations.