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Darren Faife ● May 19, 2025
What the UK’s new immigration White Paper means for your business
The UK government’s 2025 immigration White Paper outlines major reforms that will significantly impact how businesses hire from overseas, manage compliance, and retain foreign workers. While these are not yet law, they signal the government’s direction and are likely to become policy.
Darren Faife ● May 19, 2025
What’s changing?
Skilled Worker visas
- The threshold for Skilled Worker roles will be raised to graduate level (RQF Level 6), from the current RQF Level 3.
- Adult dependants of workers and students must meet A1 English level, increasing to A2 for extensions and B2 for settlement.
- The English Language requirement will increase to Level B2.
- 180 currently qualifying job roles will consequently be removed from the eligible occupation list.
- Salary thresholds will increase accordingly.
- All those already in the UK under the current Skilled Worker visa rules will not be subject to these new rules.
Immigration Salary List abolished
- A new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) will be created for jobs at RQF Level 3–5, giving them time-limited access to the points-based system.
- These decisions will be made by the new Labour Market Evidence (LME) Group, made up of government and industry bodies including the MAC.
- In future, RQF Level 6 roles may also face restrictions if there is evidence of over-reliance on overseas workers.
- While the full system is being established, the TSL will include roles the MAC identifies as in shortage or vital to industrial strategy.
- TSL roles may face caps, time limits, and restrictions on dependants.
- Only sectors critical to the UK’s industrial strategy or infrastructure will be included, with continued advice from the MAC.
- Any role below RQF Level 6 must be on the TSL to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa.
- In future, RQF Level 6 roles may also face restrictions if there is evidence of over-reliance on overseas workers.
Over time, it appears the visa scheme may become limited to employers who are actively engaged with the LME group, can show they are training UK workers to fill skills gaps, and have carried out a Resident Labour Market Test.
Social care route closed
The adult social care visa route will be closed to new overseas applicants. However, until 2028, individuals already in the UK on this visa will still be able to apply for extensions or switch to other eligible routes.
Immigration Skills Charge to increase
For the first time since 2017, the Immigration Skills Charge will rise by 32% to reflect inflation. Currently, the charge is £364 per year for small or charitable sponsors and £1,000 per year for medium or large sponsors.
Dependants and family routes
- An updated family migration policy will be introduced by the end of 2025 to apply to all UK residents, including British citizens, settled individuals, work visa holders and refugees.
- Special protections will be in place for current and former members of HM Armed Forces and their dependants, in line with the Armed Forces Covenant.
- Financial requirements will be reviewed and extended to more dependant routes to ensure families can support themselves without relying on public funds.
- Applicants will need to meet English language requirements to support community integration.
- This will include clear relationship criteria to ensure only genuine relationships qualify, with safeguards against forced marriage and support for domestic abuse victims.
Visa admin and compliance
- eVisas will be used to track visa expiry dates and send reminders to encourage compliance.
- 1,000 additional staff have been redeployed to boost enforcement and returns activity.
- Immigration Enforcement will use eVisa data and biometric technology during raids.
- Enforcement efforts against illegal working will increase, targeting high-risk sectors like the gig economy.
- Action will be taken against individuals who overstay or fail to renew their visas.
Global Talent and HPI visas
- The number of workers overseas businesses can send to the UK to establish a presence will be doubled.
- The Graduate visa period will be reduced from two years to 18 months.
- The HPI route may be expanded with a cap, potentially doubling the number of qualifying institutions while maintaining a focus on high-impact individuals.
- The Innovator Founder visa will be reviewed to better support entrepreneurial students at UK universities.
- The Global Talent visa will be simplified for top scientific and design professionals.
- Additional places will be made available for research interns, including in Artificial Intelligence.
- More individuals will be admitted via high-talent and fast-track routes to boost growth in key industries.
Indefinite leave to remain and citizenship
- Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will be integrated into the points-based system with a standard 10-year qualification period.
- The Life in the UK test will undergo a review.
- Citizenship will also move under the points-based system, with longer qualifying periods and faster routes for high contributors.
- Spouses of British citizens will still be eligible for ILR after five years, if they meet compliance requirements.
- The ILR timeframe may be shortened for individuals who make significant contributions to the UK economy and society, with further consultation planned for late 2025.