UK Government Unveils Major Changes to Visa and Immigration Laws

The UK government is set to implement significant changes to its visa and immigration policies, aiming to reduce migration levels and enforce stricter controls over who can reside and work in the country. This reform is part of a broader strategy to limit the number of individuals entering the UK through legal immigration routes.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration views this overhaul as essential to correcting what it describes as a "failed experiment" in mass immigration. The government’s goal is to lower net migration, which reached 728,000 people in the year leading up to June 2024. Amid rising concerns over immigration and the growing influence of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, Starmer emphasized the need to regain control of the immigration system. His stance focuses on ensuring that only those contributing meaningfully to the UK economy and society are allowed to remain.

In an announcement made on Sunday, May 11, ahead of the official release of the Immigration White Paper in Parliament on Monday, Starmer’s government laid out the key components of this immigration reform.

Key Changes to the UK Visa System

End to Overseas Care Worker Recruitment

A major component of the new visa regulations includes halting the recruitment of overseas care workers. Yvette Cooper, the UK’s Interior Minister, revealed that the government would shift the responsibility for filling care worker positions to UK businesses. These companies will be expected to hire British workers or extend the visas of current care workers already residing in the country. This policy aims to ensure the UK does not rely on foreign labor for essential roles such as caregiving.

Cooper explained that care providers could recruit from the existing workforce, including individuals on different types of visas who are already living in the UK. She highlighted the need to move away from a system that has historically depended on lower-paid foreign workers instead of investing in the domestic workforce.

Fast-Tracking Skilled Workers

The government is also tightening its approach to skilled worker visas. Under the new proposal, skilled worker visas will be granted only to individuals with graduate-level qualifications. The focus will be on attracting high-skilled professionals—such as doctors, engineers, and those in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence—who comply with the country’s immigration rules and contribute to the economy.

This shift aims to ensure that foreign workers entering the UK bring specialized skills and qualifications. Furthermore, the educational requirements for skilled workers will be raised to ensure that only graduates meet the eligibility criteria.

Stricter Language Requirements

Another significant change involves enhancing English language proficiency requirements for visa holders and their dependents. All adult dependents of visa holders will be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of English upon arrival in the UK. This will include passing an A1-level English test, which assesses comprehension of simple phrases and basic personal questions.

Additionally, when visa holders and their families apply for visa extensions, dependents will need to pass an A2-level test, which evaluates their ability to use everyday language for immediate needs.

Longer Path to Settlement

The proposed changes also introduce stricter rules regarding settlement and citizenship. Under the new guidelines, individuals will need to live in the UK for a minimum of 10 years before they can apply for settlement or citizenship, doubling the current five-year requirement. This policy shift aims to make the path to permanent residency more challenging and to ensure that those seeking to settle in the UK have truly integrated into society and contributed to the economy.

Currently, many foreign workers are eligible for indefinite leave to remain after five years of legal residence. The new policy will ensure that this right is not automatically granted and must be earned through sustained contributions to the country.