Why opt for UK Immigration?

• Sixth Largest economy in the world
• 1.3 Million Job openings
• FREE Healthcare service through NHS
• High quality of life
• 1.5 Million visas issued in 2023

UK Visas & Immigration

The UK has one of the fastest-growing economies, known for its high quality of life. The country has one of the most scalable destinations for skilled individuals looking for a settled future.

Some of the largest cities in the country are as follows:

• London
• Manchester
• Birmingham
• Edinburg
• Leeds
• Glasgow
• Liverpool
• Southampton
• Belfast
• Bristol

Some of the most common pathways to migrate to the UK are as follows:

• Migrate through a Work Visa (UK skilled migration)
• Migrate through the Student Route
• Migrating through a Family Visa
• Migrating through a UK Business Visa
• Migrating through a UK Investor visa

Types of UK Visas

Some of the UK work visa options to migrate to the UK are given below:

• UK Visit visa
• UK Student visa
• UK Skilled worker visa
• UK Business visa
• UK Innovator Visa
• HPI Visa
• GTI Visa

New UK Immigration Rules

The UK government has announced major updates to its immigration rules impacting skilled workers, international students, and sponsoring employers. These changes will take effect from July 22, 2025.

UK Skilled Worker Visa: Key Updates

1. Higher Skill Level Requirement

Applicants must now apply for job roles at RQF Level 6 or above to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa.

2. Increased Salary Thresholds

The minimum salary requirements for Skilled Worker visa applicants have been raised. These updated thresholds will also apply to applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) submitted after July 22, 2025:

Applicant Type New Salary Threshold	Updated salary requirement
General Skilled Worker	£41,700
PhD in relevant field	£37,500
STEM PhD / ISL / New Entrant	£33,400
Workers pre-4 Apr 2024	£31,300
PhD holders pre-4 Apr 2024	£28,200

3. Restrictions on Second Jobs

Skilled Worker visa holders can take on a second job only if it is:

• Listed on the Immigration Salary List (ISL), or
• At RQF Level 6 or higher

4. Transitional Provisions

Applicants who registered for the Skilled Worker route before July 22, 2025, may continue working in roles below RQF Level 6 if these roles appear in the Appendix Skilled Occupations.

Current visa holders and those with pending applications can still renew their visas, switch employers, or work in lower-skilled roles, provided they meet the revised salary requirements.

UK Student Visa: Important Changes

1. Reduced Graduate Route Duration: The Post-Study Work Visa (Graduate Route) has been shortened from 2 years to 18 months.

2. International Student Fee Tax: A 6% tax will now apply to tuition fees for international students.

3. English Requirement for Adult Dependents: Adult dependents of skilled workers are now required to demonstrate A1 level English proficiency.

4. Stricter University Compliance Rules: UK universities must adhere to tighter compliance standards. Failure to comply could lead to the loss of their sponsorship license.

5. Decline in International Student Enrolments: These changes are projected to reduce annual international student enrolments by over 31,000.

UK Sponsorship Visa: New Rules

1. Higher Skill Level for Sponsorship

The minimum skill level for sponsorship has increased from RQF Level 3 to RQF Level 6.

2. Updated Salary Thresholds for Employers

Employers must meet the new salary thresholds when sponsoring applicants, which will apply to most new sponsorship cases.

Visa Applicant	Updated salary threshold
General threshold	£41,700
PhD (relevant field)	£37,500
STEM PhD / ISL role / New Entrants	£33,400

3. Care Worker Sponsorship Restrictions

From July 22, 2025, employers will no longer be able to sponsor Care Workers and Senior Care Workers from overseas. Sponsorship within the UK will only be permitted if:

• The worker has been employed by the sponsoring employer for at least three months, and
• The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is issued before July 22, 2028, or the applicant holds valid Skilled Worker leave.

4. Transitional Provisions for Sub-RQF 6 Roles

Employers registered before July 22, 2025, may continue to sponsor workers in roles below RQF Level 6. These workers may also renew visas or change employers under transitional arrangements.

5. Temporary Shortage List (TSL) Replaces ISL

The Immigration Salary List (ISL) will be replaced by the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), covering RQF Level 3 to 5 roles. Workers filling TSL roles will not be permitted to bring dependents to the UK.

 

Jobs in the UK

The table given below has the list of top in-demand occupations in the UK, along with their average salaries:

Occupation	Salary
IT & Software	£55,000 – £85,000
Marketing & Sales	£53,000 – £70,778
Engineering	£50,000 -69,000
Hospitality	£48,000 – £65,000
Healthcare	£45,000-£68,000
Accounting & Finance	£65,000 – £84,000
Human Resources	£55,000 – £75,000
Construction	£50,000 – £65,000
Professional and Scientific Services	£63,000 – £95,100

Benefits of migrating to the UK

UK being one of the top immigration hubs in the world, offers plenty of options for individuals who wish to settle in the UK.

Some of the benefits of migrating to the UK are given below:

• Superior quality of life
• Better career prospects
• World’s renowned education system
• Innovation hub
• Strong economy
• Well-funded healthcare system
• Strong immigrant community
• Flourishing business opportunities
• Fast-evolving employment landscape

Eligibility for UK Immigration

The UK government introduced a points-based system in 2020 that acts as eligibility criteria for UK Immigration.

Generally, for UK immigration, the major requirement is a minimum score of 70 points for a UK work visa.

The score is calculated based on the following factors:

• Language skills
• Education
• Experience
• Age
• Employment in the UK
• Adaptability

UK Immigration points calculator

Applicants are offered a minimum of 50 points if they have an employment contract in the UK and can fluently communicate in English. Any of the following factors can acquire the additional 20 points:

• Candidates with a job offer and a salary of 26,000 pounds per annum
• A PhD is rewarded with 10 points, while a PhD in STEM is rewarded with 20 points.
• An employment offer for a position in any skill shortage occupation is 20 points.

Category	Maximum points
Job offer	20 points
Job at appropriate skill level	20 points
English speaking skills	10 points
Salary of 26,000 and above or a relevant PhD in a STEM subject	10 + 10 = 20 points
Total	70 points

*Check your eligibility for UK immigration with the Y-Axis UK Eligibility points calculator.

UK Immigration Requirements

The requirements to migrate to the UK are as follows:

• Age: You should be 18 years or above.
• Points: You must have a minimum score of 70 in the UK Points Calculator
• Educational qualifications: You should have the minimum educational qualifications equal to higher secondary education in the UK.
• Language proficiency tests: You should score the minimum marks in language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• Work Experience: You should have a minimum of one year’s work experience in the field for which you are applying.
• Job offer in the UK: You can immigrate to the UK with or without a job offer.

Migrate to the UK

You can follow the simple steps given below to apply for UK immigration:

Step 1: Check your eligibility.

Step 2: Arrange the requirements.

Step 3: Apply for the visa

Step 4: Await a decision on the visa status.

Step 5: Migrate to the UK

UK Visa Fees

The processing fee for a UK visa differs based on the type of application and visa. The table given below has the visa fees for each category:

UK Visa category	Fees
Visit visa	£100 to £837
Student visa	£200 to £490
Child student visa	£490
Family visas	1,048 to £1,538
Skilled worker visa	£625 to £1,423
Health and care worker visa	£1,270
Global talent route	£623
Graduate route	£715
High Potential Individual (HPI) visa	£715
India Young Professionals Scheme	£259 to £940
Innovator Founder	£1,036 to £1,292
Creative Worker	£259 to £624
Scale-up Worker	£1,270

UK Visa Processing Time

The processing time for the UK visa usually takes 3 to 8 weeks and differs based on the application type.

UK Visa category	Processing time
Visit visa	8 weeks
Student visa	8 weeks
Child student visa	8 weeks
Family visas	8 weeks
Skilled worker visa	8 weeks
Health and care worker visa	8 weeks
Global talent route	8 weeks
Graduate route	8 weeks
High Potential Individual (HPI) visa	8 weeks
India Young Professionals Scheme	3 weeks
Innovator Founder	8 weeks
Start-up	8 weeks
Creative Worker	8 weeks
Scale-up Worker	8 weeks
Standard Visitor	3 weeks

Y-Axis: Best UK Immigration consultants in Dubai

Y-Axis, One of the top immigration companies in the UAE, provides unbiased immigration services to every client based on their interests and requirements.

Our impeccable services include:

• Free eligibility check through the UK Skilled Immigration Points Calculator
• Expert guidance/counselling for UK Immigration
• Coaching services: Expert  IELTS Coaching 
• Free career counselling; Book your slot today
• Avail Job Search Services for UK job assistance.