The government’s plan to cut net migration is set out in its Immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025. A white paper is not law by itself, so the detail arrives through changes to the Immigration Rules, regulations and Home Office guidance.
Much of the work-route package is now in force. The Skilled Worker skill threshold has moved back towards graduate-level jobs, overseas recruitment for care workers has closed to new applicants, the English language requirement has risen for several work routes, and the Immigration Skills Charge has increased. The Graduate route reduction is also confirmed, but applies to applications made on or after 1 January 2027.
The biggest change still to land is settlement. The government has proposed increasing the standard qualifying period from 5 years to 10 years under an “earned settlement” model, but that is not yet law.
Net migration has already fallen sharply. The ONS estimated net migration at 204,000 in the year ending June 2025, down roughly two-thirds from the previous year. The later provisional estimate for the year ending December 2025 was 171,000.
If you are on, or planning, a Skilled Worker visa, the ground has shifted. If sponsorship no longer fits your plans, the self-sponsorship route may be worth considering.
What has already changed?
| Measure | Date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker skill level | 22 July 2025 | New entry clearance and switching applications are generally limited to RQF level 6 roles, unless an eligible exception applies |
| Overseas social care recruitment | 22 July 2025 | New overseas recruitment for care workers and senior care workers closed |
| Immigration Skills Charge | 16 December 2025 | Increased by 32%, with medium and large sponsors now paying £1,320 per year |
| English language | 8 January 2026 | Skilled Worker, Scale-up and HPI applicants now generally need B2 English |
| Graduate visa | 1 January 2027 | Most new Graduate route applicants will receive 18 months instead of 2 years; PhD graduates remain at 3 years |
| Settlement qualifying period | Proposed | A 10-year baseline has been proposed, but the rule is not yet in force |
The Skilled Worker changes are not just administrative. Raising the skill threshold removed many medium-skilled roles from standard sponsorship. Some jobs may still qualify through the Temporary Shortage List or Immigration Salary List, but those routes are narrower and should be checked carefully against the current rules.
The social care change is especially significant. A care provider that relied on overseas recruitment can no longer bring new care workers from abroad under the old model. Some transitional provisions remain for people already in the UK, but employers need to plan around local recruitment, training and lawful alternatives.
If a sponsored job ends, the consequences can be serious for the worker and their dependants. Our guide on what to do when a sponsored job ends explains the timing and options.
The wider control theme also appears in digital status and travel screening. Migrants increasingly prove status through the switch to eVisas, while more visitors need to understand the ETA scheme before travelling.
The settlement change still to come
The settlement proposal has the widest personal impact, but it has not yet been implemented. The government’s consultation, A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, closed on 12 February 2026 and received more than 200,000 responses. Ministers have said reforms will be brought forward after the consultation responses are considered.
The proposal would make 10 years the baseline route to settlement for many migrants, with shorter routes for some higher earners, entrepreneurs and frontline public service workers, and potentially longer routes for others. Transitional protection for people already part-way through a 5-year route has not been fully confirmed.
Our explainer on the earned settlement reforms and our June 2026 settlement update explain where the proposal stands. Anyone close to settlement should also read our guide to British citizenship after ILR so the next step is planned properly.
What it means for you
If you are close to completing 5 years under the current rules, take advice before delaying an application. If you are an employer, budget for the higher sponsorship costs, check whether roles still meet the new threshold, and build a fallback plan if a worker’s route changes.
If an application is refused under the tighter rules, the right response depends on the decision. Our guide to choosing between appeal, administrative review or a fresh application explains the difference, and a formal challenge through appeals and judicial review may sometimes be needed. Family plans are separate, and a short trip to marry in the UK would usually point to a marriage visitor visa, not a work route.
Get advice on your position
Rules that keep changing reward early planning. If the White Paper measures affect your job, settlement date or business hiring plans, speak to the immigration solicitors in London at Garth Coates. We will explain how the changes apply to you and what, if anything, you should do before the next round lands.
