UK Immigration Reform: Key Proposals from the May 2025 White Paper

The UK government has announced major proposed changes to its immigration system through its May 2025 white paper, “Restoring Control Over the Immigration System.” These wide-ranging reforms signal a significant tightening of immigration pathways, with potential implications for employers, education providers, and individuals looking to live or work in the UK. Below, we break down the main proposals and what they might mean in practice.

Overview of the White Paper’s Key Areas

The proposals centre around five major themes:

• Settlement Qualifying Period to be extended from 5 years to 10 years for certain routes
• Tighter restrictions on the Skilled Worker visa
• Phasing out the Health and Care Worker visa for new overseas applicants
• Graduate Visa length to Be Shortened
• Stricter English language requirements

Settlement Qualifying Period Extended

Currently, migrants on work visas can apply for settlement after five years of lawful residence, subject to criteria such as income, English proficiency, and life in the UK knowledge.

Proposed Changes:

• Longer Residency Requirement: the standard qualifying period for settlement under immigration routes covered by the Points-Based System may increase from five to ten years. This change affects commonly used routes such as the Skilled Worker visa and Health and Care Worker visa.
• Introduction of ‘Earned Settlement’: The government plans to introduce a new model where some applicants may qualify earlier by meeting contribution-based criteria. These could include tax contributions, the nature of employment, or community involvement (such as volunteering). This will be based on a new points-based assessment framework, with more details expected following a public consultation later in 2025.

Tighter restrictions on the Skilled Worker visa

The Skilled Worker route, a core part of the UK’s points-based immigration system, is set to undergo major reforms designed to tighten eligibility criteria and limit the range of qualifying applicants.

Proposed Changes:

• Education Level Raised:
  Eligibility will shift from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (bachelor’s degree level), limiting access to graduate-level roles and above. This is a reversion back to the old standard.
• Salary Thresholds Increased:
  Salary minimums will rise in line with the increased skill requirements, though the exact figures have yet to be released.
• Replacement of the Immigration Salary List:
  The current list, which allows for lower salary thresholds in high-need roles, will be scrapped. A more limited “Temporary Shortage List” will take its place, applying only to sub-degree roles facing genuine domestic shortages. Employers will be expected to demonstrate local recruitment efforts and investments in UK workforce development.
• Higher Sponsorship Costs:
  The Immigration Skills Charge will rise by 32%. Current annual rates are £364 for small/charitable sponsors and £1,000 for larger sponsors.

Who Will Be Affected?
These rules are very likely to apply prospectively. Existing Skilled Worker visa holders in sub-degree roles will not need to leave the UK and may still change jobs or extend their visa, provided their occupation remains eligible. New applicants, however, including those switching from other visa types, will face the revised RQF Education requirements.

Phasing out the Health and Care Worker visa for new overseas applicants

One of the most debated changes in the white paper involves closing international recruitment in the social care sector.

Proposed Changes:

• Visa Route Closed to New Applicants:
  From 2025, new overseas applications for care worker and senior care worker roles under the Health and Care Worker route will no longer be accepted.
• Transitional Support Until 2028:
  Workers already in the UK on these visas will be able to extend their visas or switch employers until 2028. After that, the government expects care providers to rely predominantly on domestic recruitment.
• Stricter Sponsorship Obligations:
  Employers will need to prove they have attempted to hire from within the existing migrant and settled worker pool before recruiting internationally.

Graduate Visa Route to Be Shortened

The Graduate route, introduced in 2021, currently allows international graduates to stay in the UK for two years post-study.

Proposed Change:

• Reduced Visa Length:
  The validity period will be cut from two years to 18 months, shortening the window for job-seeking and work opportunities.

Stricter English language requirements

The government also plans to raise English proficiency benchmarks across several immigration routes:

• Skilled Worker Applicants:
  Required English level will increase from B1 to B2.
• Dependants:
  Must now meet at least A1-level proficiency.
• Settlement Applicants:
  The English language requirement will rise from B1 to B2 under the new settlement rules.

Talk to an immigration specialist today

These proposed changes could significantly impact your visa plans, settlement timeline, or employer sponsorship responsibilities. If you are uncertain how the changes might affect you, our immigration specialists are here to help. We are here to provide legal advice tailored to your circumstances.

Wesal Hajaji 21.05.2025