UK Immigration Rule Changes April 2025: Key Updates for Swiss Nationals

The UK immigration system continues to undergo significant reforms, impacting individuals from across the globe—including those based in Switzerland. Whether you are a Swiss resident preparing to apply for a UK visa, or a Swiss national already living in the UK, it is essential to stay informed of the latest changes to UK immigration law and policy.

UK Immigration Rule Changes

A new set of UK immigration rule changes took effect in April 2025. These span multiple visa routes, including the Skilled Worker visa and Global Talent visa, introduce new fees and restrictions, and affect both employers and applicants. This article outlines the most important immigration updates as they relate to Swiss residents seeking to move to the UK, as well as Swiss citizens already in the UK.

For the full technical details, the UK Government’s Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 733) and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum are available on GOV.UK. Below is a practical summary tailored to Swiss applicants and UK-based Swiss nationals.

Global Talent Visa Route: Changes to Endorsement Criteria

Swiss-based professionals in fields such as fashion, digital technology, arts, architecture, or film and television often consider the UK Global Talent visa to live and work in the UK. As of 9 April 2025, new requirements apply to Global Talent visa applicants, particularly those seeking endorsement in creative sectors.

Applicants must now submit a detailed professional CV and three letters of support. Each letter must clearly demonstrate a relevant professional relationship with the applicant in their field—for example, in a fashion design capacity for fashion applicants, or an architectural capacity for architecture applicants.

Fashion designers applying under the ‘Exceptional Promise’ criteria will now find broader definitions of “media recognition” and must provide two examples of industry recognition, such as press coverage or awards for graduating collections.

For digital technology applicants, there are no major policy changes, though references to Tech Nation have been removed. A new endorsing body for the Digital Technology route is expected to be announced.

Swiss residents exploring the UK Global Talent visa route should review these changes carefully or seek professional advice before applying.

Skilled Worker Visa: New Employer Responsibilities and Salary Rules

The UK Skilled Worker visa remains one of the most common routes for Swiss professionals and entrepreneurs relocating to the UK. However, April 2025 has brought in important updates for both applicants and UK-based sponsors.

Employer Costs Cannot Be Passed On

Employers are now prohibited from passing on the following fees to sponsored Skilled Workers:

• Sponsor licence application or renewal fees;

• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assignment fees;

• Immigration Skills Charge (ISC).

Attempting to recover these costs from the worker may result in the revocation of the sponsor licence, potentially affecting the immigration status of existing sponsored employees.

Employers may still pay other immigration costs on behalf of workers, including visa application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and charges for services from UKVCAS, TLScontact, or VFS Global.

Self-Sponsorship Salary Deductions

Swiss nationals pursuing self-sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa should be aware of stricter salary assessment rules. Payments made by the applicant to the sponsor (or affiliated organisations)—including loans, investments, or deductions—will now be subtracted from the salary when assessing eligibility. The aim is to prevent individuals from funding their own salaries through business arrangements.

Voluntary deductions unrelated to immigration or business—for example, salary sacrifice schemes—will not affect salary calculations.

Health and Care Worker Visa: Local Recruitment Prioritised in England

New UK immigration rules now require care providers in England to demonstrate efforts to recruit from within the domestic workforce before hiring overseas care workers. This applies to care worker and senior care worker roles and introduces a requirement for employers to obtain confirmation from local regional partnerships before sponsoring a new overseas worker.

These changes do not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Nor do they affect current visa holders in England switching employers or visa categories, provided they have worked lawfully for at least three months.

Swiss citizens interested in the Health and Care Worker visa route should consider the regional differences and the new local recruitment requirement when planning their move to the UK.

Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold Increased

As of April 2025, the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa applicants has risen from £23,200 to £25,000 per year, equivalent to £12.82 per hour. The new threshold applies across most roles, except for healthcare and education jobs governed by national pay scales.

The new salary level is based on updated pay data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) and is designed to ensure Skilled Worker salaries remain above the National Living Wage.

In addition, if an applicant applies for a reduced ‘new entrant’ salary while training for a recognised professional qualification, the qualification must now be completed in the UK.

Swiss residents applying for jobs in the UK under the Skilled Worker route should ensure that job offers meet the new minimum salary requirements.

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS): Identity Documents and Sponsorship Clarified

There are several updates to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), which may affect Swiss citizens and their non-EEA family members.

Non-EEA nationals can now use a UK biometric residence card or permit that expired up to 18 months ago as valid proof of identity when applying to the scheme. In addition, they will not be required to re-enrol their biometrics if already held by the Home Office.

The rules have also been clarified to state that individuals who only became EU, EEA or Swiss nationals after the end of the Brexit transition period cannot sponsor a family member’s EUSS application. However, applicants with pending administrative reviews will not be removed from the UK during that process.

Swiss citizens in the UK sponsoring non-EEA family members under the EU Settlement Scheme should seek advice to confirm eligibility and documentation requirements.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Definition of ‘Parent’ Narrowed

For Swiss residents in the UK hosting Ukrainian families under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, there is a new restriction on who qualifies as a “parent.” As of April 2025, only biological or legal parents with lawful residence in the UK are eligible. Stepparents are no longer included in the definition of “parent” under the scheme.

This change aligns the definition across the Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Permission Extension schemes and brings them in line with the wider UK immigration system.

April 2025 UK Visa Fee Increases

UK visa application fees have increased across multiple categories. These include:

• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): from £2,885 to £3,029;

• Naturalisation: from £1,500 to £1,605;

• Sponsor Licence (large organisations): from £1,476 to £1,579;

• Certificate of Sponsorship: from £239 to £525;

• Entry Clearance (Skilled Worker, up to 3 years): from £719 to £769;

• ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation): from £10 to £16;

• Visitor Visa (standard): from £115 to £127.

Swiss citizens and residents planning to apply for a UK visa in 2025 should ensure they are budgeting according to the updated fee structure.

For a complete breakdown of current UK visa fees across all immigration routes, see our detailed post: UK Visa Application Fees 2025: What Swiss Residents Need to Know.

UK Immigration Advice for Swiss Citizens and Residents

If you are a Swiss citizen already living in the UK, or a resident of Switzerland looking to relocate, understanding the April 2025 changes to UK immigration law is vital. From visa fees to Skilled Worker salary thresholds and Global Talent endorsement rules, these changes can significantly affect your plans.

At Richmond Chambers Switzerland, our immigration lawyers specialise in advising Swiss nationals and residents on UK visa applications, sponsorship issues, and long-term immigration planning. Contact us for personalised advice on +41 21 588 07 70, by email to info@richmondchambers.ch or by completing our online enquiry form.