What the Immigration White Paper Means for Workers and Students in the UK
The immigration white paper had been published. Let’s now take a closer look at how the White Paper affects foreign workers and international students in the UK, including changes to visa rules, dependents, and settlement pathways.
Work
Immigration rules incoming?
In paragraph 45 of Chapter 2 of the report “Migration, Labour Market and Growth”, “immediate changes to immigration rules” are mentioned, though it is not clear what these will entail. However, paragraph 47 outlines the initial phase of the reforms, which includes significantly stricter limits on lower-skilled migration. This will involve adjustments to the Skilled Worker Visa, the temporary nature of support for shortage occupations, and a stronger alignment between immigration, skills development, and training. At the same time, efforts to attract exceptional global talent will be enhanced. These measures may form part of the forthcoming changes to immigration rules.
ALSO READ: Key Highlights of the Immigration White Paper: Family Reunification, Deportation Policies, and More
Labour Market Evidence Group and the need for a workforce strategy
A new body, the Labour Market Evidence Group, is being established to collect and analyse data on the labour market. According to paragraphs 59 to 62, the group will include representatives from the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, the Department for Work and Pensions, Skills England (and its counterparts in the devolved nations), and the Migration Advisory Committee.
Sectors found to have a high reliance on overseas recruitment will be required to develop a workforce strategy. This strategy must outline plans for improving skills, training, and working conditions, as well as efforts to engage individuals in the UK who are not currently part of the workforce. Employers within these sectors will be expected to adhere to the strategy, though details on implementation and enforcement have not yet been provided.
Increase to qualification level for skilled workers
In 2020, the qualification threshold for the Skilled Worker route was lowered from RQF Level 6 to RQF Level 3 to offset the end of free movement and the reduced access to EU workers following Brexit. This policy is now being reversed, with the minimum requirement returning to RQF Level 6. According to the report, this change is expected to reduce the number of eligible occupations by around 180.
However, current Skilled Worker visa holders in roles below RQF Level 6 will be permitted to stay on the route and can renew their visas or switch jobs. This is relatively positive news for this group, as demand for their skills is likely to remain high due to the restriction on new entrants in lower-qualified roles.
(Another) New shortage occupation list
Farewell to Appendix Immigration Salary List, short-lived and now set to be abolished (paragraph 70). In its place, a new framework, likely to be called the Appendix Temporary Shortage List, will be introduced. This will offer “time-limited access to the Points-Based immigration system” for roles below RQF Level 6, though it will come with restrictions, including limits on bringing dependents.
Under the current shortage occupation list, employers can hire migrant workers at 80% of the standard minimum salary. The new list, however, appears to provide access to the Skilled Worker route for sub-RQF 6 roles without offering any salary discounts.
Looking ahead, roles will only be added to the Temporary Shortage List based on recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee, and only if they are considered critical to the industrial strategy or the delivery of essential infrastructure (paragraph 77).
The closure of the social care visa is justified in paragraph 81 by citing “significant concerns over abuse and exploitation of individual workers.” Last year, the Work Rights Centre interviewed workers on this visa route, many of whom had experienced such issues. Their primary recommendation was to end the sponsorship system altogether. Instead, the route will be closed to new applicants, with a transition period in place until 2028 for existing visa holders, although this is subject to change, as the government notes the situation “will be kept under review.”
ALSO READ: The immigration white paper has been published
“Tied” visas and exploitation
The paper briefly acknowledges the issue of exploitation resulting from workers’ visas being “tied” to unscrupulous sponsors, stating that the government will “explore making it easier for workers to move between licensed sponsors.” However, as with many potentially positive developments in the paper, the language is vague and non-committal. Despite repeated, clear recommendations from various organisations, including the Migration Advisory Committee, the government stops short of making firm commitments. Notably, while the white paper contains 127 instances of the phrase “we will,” this issue does not appear to warrant one.
Similarly, the paper makes a vague reference to potential changes to the domestic worker visa (paragraph 177), despite years of evidence-based advocacy from organisations like Kalayaan.
Access to skilled work routes for refugees
Some proposals in the paper are more definitive than others. In paragraph 83, it states that the government “will explore reforms” to enable a limited number of individuals to apply through existing sponsored work routes, provided they have the required skills. This appears to be in line with the Displaced Talent Mobility pilot, which was launched in October 2021 and extended through 2024.
Immigration skills charge
The Immigration Skills Charge, which employers are required to pay, will be increased by 32%. The additional revenue generated will be directed toward upskilling the domestic workforce in priority sectors. Currently, the charge stands at £364 per year for small businesses or charities and £1,000 per year for medium or large sponsors, meaning the new rates will likely rise to approximately £480 and £1,320 per year, respectively. When combined with the planned extension of the required time on the Skilled Worker route from five to ten years (discussed further below), this represents a significant additional financial burden on employers, including major public sector organisations like the NHS.
“Very high talent” routes
The number of places available for research interns will be increased, with a particular focus on attracting talent in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The Global Talent route will also be simplified to better support individuals with expertise in science and design. Additionally, the Innovator Founder visa is set to be reviewed, with the aim of allowing students currently enrolled at UK universities to transition into this route if they wish to start a business.
The paper also states that the government will “explore” expanding the High Potential Individual route, including a possible doubling of the Global Universities List. Since this list excludes UK institutions, the changes would make it easier for graduates of overseas universities to come to the UK—ironically, at a time when other measures in the white paper may reduce the appeal of studying at UK universities. The logic behind this contrast is, at best, unclear.
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Students
Reducing the length of the graduate visa
Turning to the less appealing changes for international students, the first is the reduction of the Graduate visa duration from two years to 18 months. The justification offered is rather weak, citing survey data suggesting that between 30% and 70% of Graduate visa holders in employment may not be working in roles at RQF Level 6 or above. This rationale overlooks other key findings, such as 62% of Graduate visa holders securing employment within a month of receiving the visa, a figure that rises to 90% within six months.
Changes for sponsors
The compliance thresholds for student sponsors will be raised by 5%, as outlined in paragraphs 116 to 119. This means sponsors must now maintain a visa refusal rate below 5%, ensure at least 95% of students enrol in their courses, and achieve a minimum 90% course completion rate. A new traffic light system will classify sponsors as red, amber, or green. Those close to failing will be placed on an action plan to improve compliance and will face restrictions on recruiting international students while under review.
Sponsors using recruitment agents will be required to join the Agent Quality Framework. Additionally, they must show they are considering “local impacts” in their international recruitment decisions, primarily relating to accommodation and teaching capacity.
The short-term student route for English language courses is also under scrutiny, due to a 48% visa refusal rate in 2024. The government plans to review the accreditation bodies responsible for approving these course providers.
In line with broader efforts to reduce student numbers, the paper expresses concern about students who claim asylum near the end of their visa period. Yet there’s no acknowledgment of the complexities behind these cases. For some individuals, coming to the UK through a legal route like a student visa is a safer and more viable option than risking a journey across the Channel. It’s not uncommon for people who meet the criteria for refugee status to avoid claiming asylum unless absolutely necessary. But not everyone can stay under the radar forever; some eventually exhaust all other options and turn to the asylum system. The paper offers no recognition of these realities.
A proposed levy on international student tuition fees
Another proposal to be “explored” is the introduction of a levy on higher education providers’ income from international students, with the funds to be reinvested into the higher education and skills system. Essentially, the government aims to claim a share of international student tuition fees, as the technical annex to the white paper reveals this would amount to a 6% levy on those fees. More details are expected in the Autumn budget, assuming there are still universities left standing by that time.
English language requirements
The English language requirement will be expanded to cover more immigration routes than it does currently. A new English language test at the basic user level (A1) will be introduced for adult dependents on work and student visas, with higher levels required for later applications. For settlement applications in most routes, including skilled workers, the required English level will rise from B1 to B2. The paper also includes a commitment to make English language lessons more accessible, which would be a positive development (paragraph 258).
Settlement
As noted earlier, the standard qualifying period for settlement under the points-based system will be doubled from five to ten years. This will impose significant additional costs on both employers and applicants. For example, the extra immigration health surcharge alone will amount to approximately £5,175 per person for the additional five years.
The paper mentions there will be “the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period based on Points-Based contributions to the UK economy and society.” Cynically, this sounds like it may translate into exemptions primarily benefiting the wealthy, but the details will be subject to consultation later this year under the unattractively named “Earned Settlement” scheme. Similar proposals are also being considered for citizenship.
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