A lot has been written about the UK’s new immigration plans. Here’s a clear summary of what the government has set out, and what it means for students, graduates, employers, and families.
1) What’s already changing now
From 22 July 2025 the Home Office began the first phase of reforms. Two
big moves went live:
a) Shorter sponsor-eligible job list under the Skilled Worker route: roles classed as “medium-skilled” (RQF 3–5) no longer qualify. This tightens the gateway to sponsorship.
b) No new overseas recruitment for care workers under Skilled Worker. Existing sponsored care workers aren’t affected, but new overseas hires in this route are closed off
c) These steps are part of a wider plan to lower net migration further, and they arrived via a formal Statement of Changes (so they’re real law, not just ideas).
2) What the White Paper proposes next
On 12 May 2025, the government published the immigration White
Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System. It is a policy plan;
most items need rule changes to take effect.
a)
Graduate Route trimmed to 18 months
Plan: reduce the post-study stay for undergrad and taught master’s graduates
from 24 to 18 months (PhD stays at 3 years)
b)
Tougher sponsor compliance for
universities (BCA metrics)
Current pass/fail thresholds: visa refusal < 10%, enrolment ≥ 90%,
completion ≥ 85%. Proposal is to tighten each by 5 percentage
points to < 5%, 95%, and 90%. A
public red-amber-green rating would show how each university is
doing, and using the Agent Quality Framework would become mandatory.
c)
6% levy on international tuition
The technical annex models a 6% levy on international student fee
income (paid by institutions) to be reinvested in UK skills and higher
education
d)
English language rules
For adult dependants of workers and students:
new A1 English requirement at entry. For main work
visas where English already applies: standard rise from B1 to B2.
e)
Settlement (ILR) period extended
For most Points-Based System routes (e.g., Skilled Worker), the standard
wait for settlement would double from 5 to 10 years, with an “earned
settlement” fast-track for people who make defined contributions
f)
Skilled Worker raised back to
graduate-level jobs
Skill threshold moves from RQF 3 → RQF 6. That also pushes up the
minimum salary in line with higher-skilled roles.
g)
Charges and talent routes
Immigration Skills Charge: planned increase of about 32% (e.g.,
~£1,320 per sponsored year for large employers)
3) Keep the headlines vs. the law straight
A White Paper is a plan, not a law. Several items above need a
Statement of Changes (or an Act) to become real
Bottom line
The UK is moving to fewer visas, higher skills, stronger English,
and longer routes to settlement.
For students and employers who plan ahead, success is still very possible, but the margin for error is smaller, and the details now matter!
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