The Government's White Paper, 'Restoring Control over the Immigration System', published on May 12, 2025, sets out several key proposals aimed at reducing net migration, prioritising skilled workers, ensuring fairness, enforcing rules, and promoting integration. Here's a summary of the main proposals:
Work Routes:
• Higher Skills Threshold: The minimum qualification level for a Skilled Worker visa will increase from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (Bachelor's degree equivalent). This aims to ensure that sponsored workers fill graduate-level roles.
• Increased Salary Thresholds: Salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas will rise, although specific figures have not yet been announced. This will also apply to those wishing to bring dependents.
• End to Overseas Social Care Recruitment: The Health and Care Worker visa route will no longer be open to new applicants from overseas. A transition period until 2028 will allow in-country extensions and switching for existing care workers.
• Abolition of the Immigration Salary List: This list, which allowed certain occupations to have lower salary thresholds, will be replaced by a new Temporary Shortage List.
• Temporary Shortage List (TSL): This list will provide time-limited access to the Points-Based System for occupations below RQF Level 6 experiencing long-term shortages, subject to endorsement by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a workforce strategy, and employer commitment to domestic recruitment and training. Dependents of workers on the TSL may face restrictions.
• Increased Immigration Skills Charge: This charge, paid by employers sponsoring overseas workers, will increase by 32% to incentivise investment in the domestic workforce.
• Workforce Strategies: Sectors with high levels of overseas recruitment will require workforce strategies outlining how employers will invest in domestic skills and training.
• Refugee Employment: The government will explore allowing a limited number of UNHCR-recognised refugees and displaced people to apply for employment through existing skilled worker routes.
• Highly Skilled Routes: Plans include expanding routes for highly skilled individuals and accelerating entry for those with critical skills, including a potential doubling of qualifying institutions for the High Potential Individual (HPI) route.
Student Routes:
• Graduate Route Shortened: The post-study Graduate visa will be reduced from two years to 18 months.
• Stricter Sponsor Requirements: Higher education institutions sponsoring international students will face strengthened compliance requirements and a new "Red-Amber-Green" banding system based on their Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) performance.
• Higher Education Levy: The government is considering a new levy on tuition fees for international students.
Family Immigration:
• Revised Family Policy: A revised family immigration policy is expected by the end of 2025.
• Stricter Suitability Criteria: Reforms to the Suitability Rules will aim to ensure applicants meet a clear standard of good character.
• English Language Requirements for Dependents: Adult dependents of workers and students will face a new English language requirement at A1 level initially, progressing to A2 for visa extensions and B2 for settlement.
• Bereaved Parent Route: Individuals in the UK on a family visa who have lost a child will be eligible for immediate Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Settlement and Citizenship:
• Longer Route to Settlement: The standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will double from five to ten years for most work routes.
• Earned Settlement: Individuals may have the opportunity to shorten the qualifying period for ILR and citizenship based on demonstrable contributions to the UK economy and society, with a consultation on this planned.
• Stronger Emphasis on Integration: Increased focus on English language proficiency and civic integration, with a review of the Life in the UK test.
Enforcement and Compliance:
• Fair Work Agency: A new agency will be established to target exploitative employers and give sponsored workers the right to switch employers in cases of abuse.
• Enhanced Penalties: Stronger financial penalties and sanctions for noncompliance.
• Digital Visa System: Rollout of a universal eVisa platform to record entries and exits, providing real-time data to relevant authorities for compliance checks.
These proposals indicate a significant tightening of the UK's immigration policies, focusing on reducing overall numbers, prioritising higher-skilled workers, and increasing the emphasis on integration and compliance. Many of these changes will require further legislation and amendments to the Immigration Rules to be implemented.
[Note: Summary created with the assistance of Google's Gemini AI]
The full White Paper can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6821aec3f16c0654b19060ac/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper.pdf
A summary can also be found here: https://www.ein.org.uk/news/ government-unveils-major-immigration-reforms-newly-published-white-paper