Immigration

Policy

The Labour Party Manifesto promises to reduce net migration by reforming the points-based immigration system “with appropriate restrictions on visas and by linking immigration and skills policy.” On 12 May 2025, the Government published a White Paper, ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’, which included broad changes for immigration policy across work, study, settlement, citizenship and human rights. Following several Statement of Changes put before Parliament the following proposals have, or will be, implemented:

• Minimum skill level – The Government raised the minimum skill level for Skilled Workers from RQF level 3 (high-school leaver or above) to RQF level 6 (degree-level or above) with effect from effect on 22 July 2025. This does not affect those already on the Skilled Worker route in roles with skills levels below RQF level 6, who are free to extend, change employers in the same role, and qualify for settlement. For new joiners to the Skilled Worker route after 22 July 2025 with jobs that are between RQF 3 and 5 where there are critical shortages, a Temporary Shortage List has been created to allow sponsorship on a time-limited basis. They are not permitted to bring dependants and the route does not lead to settlement. Employers with roles on this list will need to have a workforce strategy in place to ensure they play their part in improving recruitment from the UK in terms of skills, training and conditions before recruiting from abroad. The aim is that once UK skills shortages are addressed, the lower skilled roles will no longer be eligible for sponsorship and the Temporary Shortage List will come to an end.

• Care workers – It is no longer be possible to sponsor new care workers from overseas under the Skilled Worker route since 22 July 2025. Visa extensions and in-country switching under this route will be permitted for a transition period until 2028. Increased sponsor licence enforcement has already affected the care sector as part of a crackdown on worker exploitation. Revocation of sponsor licences has left approximately 39,000 care workers without sponsorship or work – the Government had therefore already introduced a new requirement that employers seeking to sponsor new care workers from outside the UK must have first tried and failed to recruit from the existing pool of workers already in the UK who need new sponsorship.

• The Immigration Skills Charge – Paid to sponsor workers under the Skilled Worker route and the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker route, will increase by 32% from 16 December 2025. The increase means the Skills Change will be £480 per year for a small sponsor or £1,320 per year for a large sponsor.

• English language – The minimum standard of English required to qualify for a Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual and Scale-up routes will rise from CEFR level B1 to B2 from 8 January 2026. These are broadly equivalent to GCSE level and A-level English respectively. Those who have already obtained a permission where they were required to show a B1 level, will continue to be subject to a B1 level requirement where they are seeking an extension on the same route. Nationals of majority English speaking countries can meet the requirement automatically or it can be met through a degree that was taught in English or by passing an approved Secure English Language Test.

• Settlement – The Government proposes to increase the minimum qualifying period for settlement from 5 to 10 years, with the possibility of shorter qualifying periods based on individuals’ contributions to the UK economy and society. The Government plans to consult on the content of these requirements later this year. The higher B2 English language requirement will apply to these applications.

• Graduates – Visas to work in the UK after completing studies at UK universities will be shortened from 24 months to 18 months to applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027, with PhD graduates continuing to receive three years of leave.

• Non-sponsored routes – The Global Talent route has been amended to include additional evidence, the Student route now permits those switching into the Innovator Founder route to be self-employed/establish a business once endorsed, and the number of overseas education institutions covered by the High Potential Individual route has now doubled from 50 to 100.

• Sponsor licence compliance – The White Paper proposes to raise minimum compliance metrics for Student sponsors and introduce a levy on tuition fees. Alongside this, the Government has doubled down on promises of stricter enforcement against employers who abuse the visa system, rules around illegal working and employment law. In 2024, UK Visas & Immigration revoked 1,620 licences to sponsor workers and temporary workers compared with 347 in 2023 (an increase of 367%).  Suspensions of licences for workers and temporary workers also increased 215%.

• Review of IT and engineering roles – In August 2024, the new Government asked the Migration Advisory Committee (‘MAC’ – the independent expert body which advises the Government on immigration policy) to review UK employers’ reliance on international recruitment for engineering, IT and telecommunications roles. This is expected to be the first of several reviews focusing on sectors heavily dependent on business immigration. The report was held back until after the White Paper was published as it contradicted parts of it, concluding that employers in these sectors used immigration proportionately, with no evidence of misuse, though it did suggest targeted reforms could improve responsiveness to labour market needs and support domestic workforce development. The MAC has also been asked to explore differentiated regional immigration approaches in the tech roles review.

• Youth Mobility Scheme – The Government has not confirmed any proposals, but media reports suggest that a short-term Youth Mobility option for EU citizens is being discussed.

• Illegal working – Right to work checks will be extended to certain non-employees, including gig economy workers. This is included in an amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

• Family visas – The current Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) to sponsor a partner on a family visa is likely to stay at £29,000 despite the MAC review, published in July 2025, suggesting a lower MIR threshold between £23,000–£25,000 as more reasonable. Family members of British citizens are expected to be exempt by the increase to the settlement qualifying period and to still be able to qualify after five years.

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Timing and developments

Some of the changes in the White Paper will take a long time to finalise and implement as they require consultation and primary legislation (e.g. changes to settlement). Other changes require secondary legislation (e.g. the increase to the Immigration Skills Charge), so come into force by the end of 2025. Changes to the Immigration Rules (e.g. affecting skill level and English language) tend to come into force quickly and have already been implemented.