The U.K. government proposed several changes to immigration laws, including changes to UK visa and settlement rules based on the 2025 immigration white paper. There is no overall timetable for the white paper proposals to come into force. Here are some recent changes proposed in the 2025 immigration white paper.
An initial reduction to the list of jobs eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship took effect on 22 July 2025. The revised list will be in place until the end of 2026. The Migration Advisory Committee is reviewing which medium-skilled jobs should be on the list beyond that.
Overseas recruitment of social care workers also ended on 22 July 2025.
Graduate visas will only last 18 months if the person applies on or after 1 January 2027. The maximum stay will be 18 months if the applicant has completed a course at a UK bachelor’s degree or master’s degree level, but 36 months if they have a PhD.
Graduate visas do not require sponsorship but cannot be extended. Some people on a Graduate visa are expected to transition from that visa onto a sponsored Skilled Worker visa, potentially with their existing employer.
If that person’s occupation was removed from the Skilled Worker eligibility list in July 2025, that option is no longer available. This has affected Graduate visa holders in medium-skilled jobs in sectors such as transport, dentistry and prisons.
New applicants for Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual visas will need B2 English (a higher standard than the current B1) from 8 January 2026. With effect from January 8, 2026, the English language proficiency criterion for the High Potential Individual, Skilled Worker, and Scale-up pathways has been raised from B1 Level to B2 Level.
Yash Dubal, Director, A Y & J Solicitors, London, UK says, “The main proposals in the UK Government’s White Paper would restrict work visa opportunities for low- and medium-skilled workers, with a significant reduction in the number of eligible sponsored job roles.
However, there remain strong opportunities for highly skilled professionals and those in specific shortage occupations, which still include several construction roles.
From next year, the English-language requirement for skilled workers is expected to rise to the equivalent of A-level standard in the UK — a considerable increase that applicants should take into account before applying for sponsorship.”
Seasonal workers can now work in the United Kingdom for no more than six months each rolling 10-month term, as opposed to any rolling 12-month period under prior laws. This change is effective November 11, 2025.
Some liberalization of the High Potential and Global Talent routes will take effect in November 2025. Effective November 4, 2025, the High Potential Individual route will double the number of qualifying institutions and cap annual applications at 8,000.
In addition, regulations to increase the immigration skills charge will begin their parliamentary approval process and a new framework for family visas is due by the end of 2025.
Indefinite Leave to Remain
Will migrants have to wait ten years for indefinite leave to remain? The standard qualifying period for permanent residence will be increased under the government’s proposals. The default will be indefinite leave to remain after ten years, rather than five years at present, but some people will be able to qualify earlier. Under this “earned settlement” proposal, there will be a shorter pathway than ten years for people who have made “Points-Based contributions to the UK economy and society.
The white paper did not say how these points would be earned or how much of a reduction on the ten-year qualifying period would be available. But the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has since said that relevant factors will include being in work, National Insurance payments, not claiming benefits, good English, a clean criminal record, and “giving back” in the community.
The government has not formally confirmed whether people already in the immigration routes affected will have to wait longer for settlement, as opposed to the change only applying to those arriving after the implementation date.
There are explicit exemptions for partners of British citizens, who will continue to qualify for settlement after five years, and for victims of domestic abuse. In addition, people with post-Brexit residence rights under the EU Settlement Scheme have the right to permanent residence after five years under Article 15 of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.
UK Immigration White Paper
On 12 May 2025, the government published a white paper policy document called Restoring control over the immigration system, announcing eight major proposals:
Shortening the list of jobs for which employers can sponsor a worker from overseas for a Skilled Worker visa.
Ending an existing exemption for social care workers, so that employers are no longer allowed to recruit them from abroad.
Exploring a levy on English universities’ income from international student fees.
Making it harder for universities to keep their licence to sponsor student visas by introducing tougher compliance rules.
Reducing the standard length of the Graduate visa, for international students to stay on and work in the UK, from two years to 18 months.
Stricter English language rules: higher standards for those already taking language tests, and requiring the partners of people moving to the UK on work visas to have basic English to qualify for a ‘dependant’ visa.
Increasing the standard qualifying period for permanent residence (also known as indefinite leave to remain or settlement) from five to ten years, with some people qualifying sooner based on criteria yet to be confirmed.
Making it easier for people to come to the UK on certain visas aimed at highly skilled migrants, such as the Global Talent and High Potential routes.