The United Kingdom has barred foreign workers from filling more than 100 jobs as part of a major move to cut net migration and create more opportunities for British workers.
The Home Office announced the changes on Saturday, saying the move is part of a plan to build what it called a fairer, skills-focused immigration system.
“Cutting net migration means getting the fundamentals right,” the Home Office said. “More than 100 occupations are no longer eligible for overseas recruitment — opening up more jobs for British workers. A fairer, skills-focused system is now taking shape.”
The new rules, which took effect on July 22, 2025, raised the minimum salary for general Skilled Worker visas to £41,700. Health and care roles will continue to have a lower salary requirement of £25,600, but employers are expected to meet stricter conditions to keep their sponsorship licences.
The ban affects mid-level roles across several industries, including hospitality, logistics, healthcare support, creative fields, and administrative jobs. Only jobs at degree level or higher will generally qualify for new Skilled Worker visas unless they are included on a special Temporary Shortage Occupation List or the Immigration Salary List.
The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, introduced the policy weeks after taking office in July 2024. The government said the change is expected to reduce migration numbers by about 100,000 people each year.
However, critics have warned that the new rules could worsen worker shortages in sectors that rely heavily on foreign staff, such as healthcare and social care. Industry experts have also raised concerns that the speed of the changes has left employers and foreign workers unsure about their status, with some sponsorship applications already facing delays.
For Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking opportunities in the UK, the policy means that jobs in mid-level roles such as chefs, care support workers, administrative assistants, and certain creative positions will no longer qualify for visa sponsorship unless salaries are significantly increased or the roles are listed as temporary shortage jobs.
Workers whose jobs are no longer eligible will not be able to renew their visas in the same field once their current sponsorship ends. Those in jobs that still qualify but do not meet the new salary threshold risk losing their legal status if their employers cannot adjust to the new pay requirement.
