12/05/2025
U.K. New immigration rules announced earlier today.
Work
- removal of 180 skilled worker visa occupations below degree level
- immigration salary list to be scrapped
- visa holders in affected codes will be able to renew, change employment and take supplementary employment in occupations below RQF 6
- applicants from overseas or switching from other routes will have to follow updated rules
- intro of new time limited Temporary Shortage List. MAC to play key role in this
- overseas recruitment for adult social care visas to end.
- transition period for ASC visa extensions and in country switching will be until 2028 and kept under review
- Immigration Skills Charge to increase by 32%
- New requirements to be launched for workforce strategies for key sectors overly reliant on migration.
- aim to increase number of people arriving on high talent routes (ie innovator founder, global talent, HPI) not much detail as to how.
Students
- minimum pass for sponsors CBA to raise to 95% and course completion rate 90%
- Overseas agents engaged must sign up to AQF
- sponsors will need to show they are considering local impact when making decisions on int recruitment
- potential levy on HE income from international students to be reinvested into skills. (won't this just bring up int student tuition fees?)
Graduates
- Graduate Route to be reduced to 18 months
English
- New and higher English language requirements and evidence of progress required for main applicants & dependents, for extensions and settlement
Residency
- Standard qualifying period to increase from five to ten years
- Partners of British citizens will remain at five
- PBS applicants will have chance ro reduce qualifying period.
- Consultation to occur later this year.
- Life in UK test to be reviewed
