In brief
- 2025 saw some major changes to the UK's immigration system, following Labour's immigration White Paper and several changes to the immigration rules.
- The Government introduced further restrictions to the Skilled Worker route, which included higher salary thresholds, higher skills criteria, and an increase to the Immigration Skills Charge ("ISC") fee.
- The English language requirement for the Skilled Worker, Scale‑up and High Potential Individual routes increased from B1 to B2 for new applications from January 2026.
- The High Potential Individual ("HPI") visa was expanded, opening up to overseas graduates from the world's top 100 universities.
- The Home Office proposed a new "earned settlement" system, which could double the standard Indefinite Leave to Remain ("ILR") timeline from five to 10 years and add new suitability, integration and financial contribution requirements. Changes may be introduced from April 2026.
- Further changes are expected throughout 2026 impacting both individuals and companies. Early workforce planning and careful structuring of immigration pathways will be essential.
The below timeline walks through the most significant changes of 2025.
January - March 2025: Growing pressure for change
During the first quarter of 2025, debate intensified around net migration and potential abuse of certain work routes. Reports highlighted the UK's reliance on overseas workers, and raised concerns about exploitation under some sponsorship arrangements. This contributed to increased scrutiny of the sponsor licence system as a whole.
May 2025: Immigration White Paper
On 12 May 2025, the Government published its immigration White Paper, 'Restoring Control over the Immigration System'. It set out a multi-year reform plan covering work, study, family and settlement routes.
Key strategic proposals included:
- Skilled Worker route: raising the minimum skill and salary thresholds for sponsorship: the Skilled Worker route is the UK's most popular work-based visa route and permits overseas nationals to work in the UK with a licensed sponsor, provided they meet the relevant salary, skill and English language requirements. The Government has consistently tightened requirements to the route over recent years, upping skill and salary thresholds and reducing the number of lower-skilled/lower-paid occupations that qualify.
- Shortage occupations: phasing out the Immigration Salary List ("ISL"), which allows certain roles considered to be in shortage to be sponsored at lower salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker route, and replacing it with a Temporary Shortage List ("TSL"). Under the TSL, only roles with a higher threshold of labour shortage may qualify for concessions.
- Graduate route: the Graduate visa permits international students who have completed an eligible UK degree to remain in the UK for two or three years to work or look for work without sponsorship. The Government proposed restricting the scope of the route.
July 2025: First major Statement of Changes
On 1 July 2025, the Government published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules to implement several elements of the White Paper. Most of these changes took effect on 22 July 2025. The impact of these changes was felt immediately by employers and applicants alike.
- Skilled Worker and shortage policy
The July changes reshaped how shortages and salary levels are set:
The ISL was expanded to cover more sub‑degree (RQF 3–5) roles with recognised shortages. A new time‑limited Temporary Shortage List was introduced as an interim measure, offering no salary discounts and applying stricter rules, with roles expected to remain only until the end of 2026 unless extended by the Migration Advisory Committee.
- Dependants and below‑degree roles: tighter family rules
Most below degree level roles on the TSL no longer allow sponsored workers to bring dependants, reflecting a move to reduce family migration for lower-skilled work.
September 2025: Another Statement of Changes
On 4 September 2025, the Home Office introduced a further Statement of Changes, clarifying aspects of the July reforms. These changes were framed as technical but had 'real world' implications for employers and visa holders.
Key points included:
- Youth Mobility Scheme ("YMS"): the YMS visa allows eligible 18–30/35‑year‑olds from certain countries to live and work in the UK for up to two years without needing employer sponsorship. The YMS expanded to more countries and adjusted annual quotas, increasing opportunities for young people to live and work in the UK on a temporary basis.
- Electronic Travel Authorisation ("ETA"): the ETA is a pre‑travel clearance required for certain non‑UK nationals who do not need a visa to enter the UK. The ETA requirements were clarified and a rollout timetable was confirmed, embedding ETA as a standard pre‑travel requirement for many non‑visa nationals.
- Student route: updated financial evidence rules and stricter dependant eligibility with only limited categories of postgraduate student able to bring family members to the UK.
- Skilled Worker route: technical corrections to salary and skill thresholds for consistency.
October 2025: Further Statement of Changes
On 14 October 2025, a further Statement of Changes was published, further implementing elements of the May White Paper and fine-tuning work and visit routes. Some measures began in late 2025, while others were scheduled for early 2026.
Headline updates included:
- HPI route: the HPI visa is designed for graduates of leading global universities and grants two years' permission to stay (three for PhD holders) without sponsorship. The route has been expanded to almost double the list of eligible institutions and is subject to an annual cap of 8,000 places.
- Visitor visa route: Botswana nationals added to the list requiring a UK visitor visa, with a six-week transition period from 14 October 2025.
- Immigration Skills Charge ("ISC"): the ISC is a mandatory fee employers pay for each year they sponsor a worker under the Skilled Worker route. The fee increased by 32%, further raising sponsorship costs, especially for small and medium‑sized employers.
- English language requirement: for Skilled Worker, HPI, and Scale-up routes raised from B1 (basic workplace communication) to B2 (higher, more fluent upper‑intermediate standard).
- Implementation timelines: some Skilled Worker changes delayed until early 2026, allowing a short window to apply under previous Immigration Rules.
'Earned settlement': framework for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK
The Home Office opened a consultation on proposals for a new "earned settlement" framework that would significantly change the requirements for ILR.
- Proposed changes would increase the standard qualifying period for ILR from five to 10 years for most applicants.
- New mandatory requirements including a clean criminal record, no government debt or litigation, being able to speak English to a high standard and earning a minimum taxable income of £12,570 for three to five years before applying.
- Qualifying periods may be reduced for positive factors, such as for those earning above a certain income threshold, or who are on visa routes such as Global Talent or Innovator Founder. However, qualifying periods may also be extended where certain factors apply, such as claiming public funds or entering initially on a visit visa/illegally.
It is unclear whether transitional arrangements will be put in place for those already mid-way through their immigration journey. Changes may come into force from April 2026, and further detail is likely to emerge once the current consultation has closed in February 2026.
The big picture: where UK immigration is heading
UK immigration policy is shifting towards a more selective, high-skilled system aligned with industrial strategy. Multiple Statements of Changes have reshaped work, study, and visit routes, with 2026 set to bring higher thresholds and a new approach to long-term residence.
For workers, students, families and employers, the message is the same: planning ahead is essential. Understanding the new thresholds, timelines and eligibility criteria is crucial for anyone who wants to work in, hire for, or move to the UK in the coming years.
The Labour Government has also taken a tougher stance on compliance, revoking more than twice as many sponsor licences in its first year than in the previous 12 months. Between July 2024 and June 2025, 1,948 licences were cancelled, compared with 937 the year before, signalling significantly stricter enforcement for employers hiring overseas workers.
Taking proactive steps now will place sponsors in the strongest position to stay compliant and safeguard their licence as enforcement becomes increasingly stringent.
For further information contact:
Roberta Imperial
Managing Associate, Business Immigration
Dean Joshua Oamen
Associate, Business Immigration
Harry Evison
Paralegal, Business Immigration