The UK government has revealed a comprehensive set of proposed immigration rules changes, forming part of its “Restoring Control Over the Immigration System” strategy announced in May 2025. These policy shifts signal a decisive turn toward reducing net migration, prioritising domestic workforce development, and tightening entry and settlement pathways for foreign nationals.
At Axis Solicitors, we are closely monitoring these developments to ensure our clients stay informed and prepared. While these are not finalised laws yet, the proposals mark a clear direction in the UK’s immigration stance. Businesses, individuals, and families affected by immigration law must begin to consider how these changes could impact their futures.
These potential immigration rules changes are already sparking debate across sectors, especially health and education, which have long relied on international talent. Below, we break down each proposal, its intended purpose, and possible implications.
1. Domestic Labour First – Reducing Reliance on Overseas Workers
A cornerstone of the UK’s proposed immigration rules changes is a renewed focus on strengthening the domestic workforce and reducing dependency on overseas labour. The government has outlined plans that will require employers to invest more heavily in UK-based recruitment and training before turning to international candidates.
Mandatory Domestic Recruitment Efforts
Under the proposed system, employers must demonstrate concrete efforts to hire and upskill UK workers. This includes offering jobs and training to residents first and prioritising international care workers who are already legally residing in the UK. This measure is designed to close the current loophole where overseas recruitment is used to undercut local labour or avoid long-term investment in workforce development.
For example, employers in social care, hospitality, or construction — sectors with traditionally high migration reliance — will need to adjust their HR policies and potentially raise wages to attract domestic talent.
Labour Market Evidence Group (LMEG)
To enforce these changes, a new Labour Market Evidence Group will be created. This body will identify sectors deemed excessively reliant on migrant labour and propose strategies to boost the domestic talent pipeline.
This is not just a regulatory shift — it’s a signal to businesses that future visa approvals may hinge on their ability to justify foreign hires. For sectors like care work or agriculture, which have previously leaned on migrant workers due to chronic labour shortages, this could be particularly disruptive.
What This Means for Employers and Applicants
These rules place a higher burden on UK employers. Businesses must prepare to maintain documented proof of recruitment efforts, advertise widely in the UK, and provide training initiatives for domestic workers.
For visa applicants abroad, this could result in a reduced number of sponsored roles available — especially in lower-paid or lower-skilled job categories. Candidates already in the UK may find more opportunities if they switch employers under the same visa type, as they are now more likely to be prioritised over new applicants applying from overseas.
2. Returning Work Visa Thresholds to Degree-Level
The government’s proposed immigration rules changes include a major shift in the Skilled Worker visa framework — one that significantly tightens eligibility.
Degree-Level Qualifications Now Required
Previously, a wide range of roles — including many lower-skilled positions — qualified for Skilled Worker visas. That flexibility is set to be reversed. Under the new proposals, only jobs that require a degree-level qualification will be eligible. This marks a return to more restrictive criteria, effectively barring applicants in lower-skilled or non-graduate roles from securing a work visa.
This move aligns with the government’s stated goal: to attract high-skilled migrants while compelling employers to develop talent at home.
Salary Threshold Increase: From £26,200 to £38,700
One of the most controversial aspects of these immigration rules changes is the dramatic rise in the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa holders. The baseline salary will increase by 48%, jumping from £26,200 to £38,700.
This aims to:
- Ensure that foreign workers are not used to undercut wages
- Encourage fair pay across sectors
- Reduce the overall volume of migration by pricing out lower-paid jobs
It’s a significant change that could disrupt hiring across industries like tech support, hospitality, and healthcare administration — where salaries often fall below the new threshold.
Implications for Employers and Workers
Companies seeking overseas professionals must reassess their hiring plans. Employers will face greater difficulty filling mid-level roles with foreign talent unless they can meet both the qualification and salary requirements.
For prospective migrants, this narrows the path significantly. Only those with graduate-level skills and offers above £38,700 will qualify. Many talented candidates may now be excluded, even if they meet the skill level, due to wage caps in certain industries.
3. Ending Overseas Recruitment for Social Care
Another major component of the immigration rules changes involves shutting down one of the fastest-growing migration routes: the care sector. The UK government has announced its intention to end new visa issuances for overseas care workers entirely.
No New Care Worker Visas
While existing visa holders in the care sector can apply for extensions, the pipeline for new international care worker recruitment will be closed. This represents a stark departure from the government’s pandemic-era policy, which had expanded care worker visas to address severe staff shortages in the social care system.
Despite current demand, the policy signals a shift: immigration is no longer viewed as the long-term solution for staffing gaps in the care sector.
Domestic Focus and Support Funds
Instead, the government is pushing for investment in UK-based care training and employment. The message is clear: employers must recruit from the domestic pool.
To help manage the fallout, a £12.5 million International Recruitment Regional Fund has been set aside. This fund will provide limited support to affected migrant care workers and regions that are especially reliant on them. However, it is unclear whether this amount will be enough to offset the impact.
Impact on the Sector
The implications are serious. Social care providers have warned that the industry, already under immense pressure, could face critical staff shortages. With traditionally low wages, high turnover, and demanding work conditions, attracting domestic workers at scale may be a slow and difficult process.
Migrant workers currently on care visas will need to act swiftly to extend their stay or explore alternative routes. Employers will also need legal guidance to understand what constitutes a valid transition or redeployment under the new policy.
4. Raising English Language Requirements for Migrants and Their Dependents
Language proficiency is central to integration — and the government’s proposed immigration rules changes reflect that belief with a sweeping upgrade to the English language requirements for both applicants and their dependents.
Higher Standards Across the Board
Under the new proposals, all visa applicants will be required to meet stricter English proficiency standards. This includes adult dependents, who were previously subject to more lenient language benchmarks.
Key changes include:
- Adult dependents must now demonstrate at least A1 level proficiency on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
- Applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or settlement must show a “fluent” level of English — details suggest this could mean B2 or above
These changes are aimed at improving integration outcomes and reducing reliance on interpretation services, but they raise questions about accessibility, particularly for older migrants and family members from non-English-speaking backgrounds.
Settlement Applicants Face Stricter Scrutiny
For those seeking long-term residency, the language test is no longer a formality. The government now frames fluency as essential for anyone who wants to participate in British society, both economically and socially.
Settlement routes will involve more rigorous English testing, potentially through approved providers or standardised national exams. Applicants may also need to show how their English skills support employment, civic involvement, or contributions to public life.
What Applicants Need to Prepare For
These immigration rules changes will likely increase demand for accredited English language training and testing centres. Migrants and their families should begin preparing early, especially if they plan to apply for visas, ILR, or family reunification in the near future.
For employers, legal representatives, and educational sponsors, it’s crucial to stay updated on the specific CEFR levels required per visa route — and to prepare for longer onboarding or sponsorship timelines.
5. Reducing the Time Limit for International Students to Find Entry-Level Jobs After Graduating
One of the most discussed immigration rules changes involves the Graduate Route — a popular post-study visa that has allowed international students to remain in the UK after completing their degrees. The government now proposes to significantly shorten the time students have to transition into employment.
Graduate Route Shortened from Two or Three Years to 18 Months
Under the proposed reforms:
- The Graduate Route visa will be reduced from two years to 18 months for most graduates
- For PhD holders, the post-study window will shrink from three years to 18 months
This change will increase pressure on international students to secure a qualifying job more quickly, or risk having to leave the UK once the visa expires.
Introduction of a 6% Tuition Fee Levy
In another move likely to affect higher education institutions, the government is considering a 6% levy on tuition fees for international students. The aim is to disincentivise universities from over-reliance on foreign student income and to ensure alignment between admissions and the UK’s labour market needs.
This has raised alarm among universities, many of which depend heavily on international enrolments to sustain their finances. Critics argue that this change could reduce the UK’s competitiveness as a global education destination.
Implications for Students and Institutions
These proposals, if implemented, would radically shift how international students plan their futures in the UK. With less time to find work and higher financial hurdles, many may choose other countries with more favourable post-study migration policies.
Educational institutions will also need to adapt — perhaps by offering more robust career support, closer ties to employers, and clearer pathways to Skilled Worker sponsorship.
For students hoping to remain in the UK, the pressure to align academic choices with in-demand, degree-level roles under the new immigration rules changes will be greater than ever.
6. Increasing Parliament’s Control Over UK Immigration
Another significant feature of the proposed immigration rules changes is the government’s plan to centralise and strengthen parliamentary authority over the immigration system. This includes redefining the balance of power between the executive, the judiciary, and human rights legislation.
New Laws to Reinforce Political Control
According to the proposed white paper, future legislation will clarify that Parliament has the final say on immigration policy. This effectively limits the role of the judiciary — particularly in cases involving Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998, which protects the right to a private and family life.
The government argues that courts have, in some cases, overstepped their role by allowing migrants to remain in the UK based on interpretations of human rights claims that contradict public policy or national security considerations.
Stricter Deportation Rules
One of the more contentious elements of the proposed reforms is a rule that would restrict the ability of courts to block deportations. Even in cases where the offence committed by a migrant does not carry a prison sentence, the government seeks to limit appeals that cite human rights grounds as the basis to stay.
This move is expected to trigger legal challenges and significant debate. However, it reflects the broader trend of reasserting sovereign control over immigration decisions — particularly around removals and exclusions.
Implications for Applicants and Legal Practitioners
If enacted, these immigration rules changes could make it much harder for applicants to challenge visa refusals or deportation orders on human rights grounds. Legal thresholds for appeal could become steeper, and judicial discretion more constrained.
For legal professionals, staying up to date with the evolving judicial landscape will be essential. And for applicants — especially those with complex family or humanitarian cases — early, strategic legal advice will become even more critical.
7. Key Changes to ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Perhaps the most transformative of all proposed immigration rules changes are those targeting Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — the gateway to settlement and, eventually, British citizenship. The new rules aim to ensure that only migrants who have made meaningful contributions to UK society can obtain permanent status.
1. Residency Requirement Doubled: From 5 to 10 Years
One of the most headline-grabbing reforms is the proposed extension of the qualifying residency period for ILR. Most applicants will now need to live in the UK for 10 years, up from the current 5-year requirement.
This is a major shift. It will delay settlement for thousands of skilled workers, students transitioning to work, and long-term residents who had previously expected to qualify under the five-year rule. For migrants planning to bring family, buy property, or build a long-term life in the UK, this adds a new layer of complexity.
2. Contributions-Based Assessment Model
Settlement will no longer be based solely on time spent in the UK. Under the new model, applicants must show evidence of meaningful contributions to society, such as:
- Consistent payment of income tax and national insurance
- Long-term employment in high-skilled or public service roles
- Active civic or community participation
This approach aligns ILR eligibility with the government’s broader goals: economic contribution, societal integration, and value alignment. But it also introduces subjectivity and complexity — particularly for applicants in non-traditional roles or freelance work.
3. Higher English Language Proficiency Required
In line with earlier reforms, applicants and their adult dependents must meet stricter English language standards for ILR. This ensures that only those who can actively engage in UK society — economically and socially — qualify for permanent residence.
As discussed in Section 4, these thresholds are likely to rise to B1 or B2 CEFR levels at minimum, depending on visa route and category.
4. End of Automatic Settlement Rights
Under current rules, many migrants become eligible for ILR through routine progression. This is set to change. Under the proposed system, settlement will not be automatic. Applicants must actively prove eligibility by demonstrating they meet the new standards in contributions, language, and residency.
This change will especially affect skilled workers and family route applicants who had expected to settle through consistent visa renewals over five years.
Strategic Impact
The new ILR rules represent a recalibration of who is allowed to “belong” long-term. Migrants will need to adopt a forward-planning approach — documenting contributions, improving language proficiency, and maintaining continuous lawful residence.
For employers and sponsors, this also means greater responsibility in guiding skilled staff through longer immigration timelines and more stringent expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the major immigration rules changes proposed in the UK for 2025?
The UK government has introduced several significant immigration rules changes aimed at reducing net migration and tightening visa access. Key proposals include:
- Restricting Skilled Worker visas to degree-level roles
- Increasing the minimum salary threshold to £38,700
- Ending new overseas recruitment for care workers
- Raising English language requirements
- Shortening the Graduate Route visa period
- Doubling the ILR residency requirement from 5 to 10 years
- Limiting judicial oversight in immigration appeals
These immigration rules changes are not yet law but represent the government’s intended policy direction.
Will the new immigration rules changes affect Skilled Worker visa eligibility?
Yes. Under the proposed immigration rules changes, only applicants with degree-level qualifications will qualify for the Skilled Worker visa. This marks a return to stricter entry criteria and will exclude many roles previously deemed eligible.
How do the immigration rules changes impact care workers?
The proposed immigration rules changes include ending the issuance of new care worker visas from overseas. While current visa holders can apply for extensions, no new applications will be accepted, reflecting the government’s focus on domestic recruitment.
What does the Graduate Route visa change mean for international students?
One of the key immigration rules changes reduces the Graduate Route visa from:
- 2 years to 18 months for most graduates
- 3 years to 18 months for PhD holders
This compresses the timeline for international graduates to secure employment in the UK.
Are there any immigration rules changes affecting settlement (ILR)?
Yes. The proposed immigration rules changes to ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) include:
- Extending the qualifying period to 10 years
- Requiring proof of contributions to UK society
- Raising English proficiency standards
- Removing automatic progression to settlement
Applicants must meet these stricter conditions to secure permanent residence.
Will the immigration rules changes affect dependents?
Absolutely. Dependents of visa holders will also be subject to the new immigration rules changes, including:
- Higher English language requirements (A1 CEFR minimum)
- Stricter eligibility for family reunification and settlement
- Greater scrutiny of their role in contributing to UK society
How will the courts’ powers be affected by the immigration rules changes?
The proposed immigration rules changes will reduce judicial discretion in immigration appeals, particularly those invoking Article 8 (family and private life). Parliament will have more authority, and human rights claims will have less power to prevent deportation.
Do the immigration rules changes apply to EU nationals?
Post-Brexit, EU nationals are no longer exempt. The immigration rules changes apply to all non-settled individuals, regardless of nationality. Those not covered under the EU Settlement Scheme must comply with the revised UK immigration framework.
When will the immigration rules changes take effect?
As of now, these immigration rules changes are in the proposal stage. Implementation depends on legislative approval and consultation timelines. Axis Solicitors will keep you updated as the situation evolves.
Need Guidance on Your Immigration Status? Contact Axis Solicitors Today
At Axis Solicitors, we specialise in UK immigration law — from Skilled Worker visa applications and Graduate Route transitions to ILR and human rights cases. We are closely tracking the progress of these proposed immigration rules changes and are here to help you navigate what comes next.
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