Immigration White Paper to Reduce Migration and Strengthen Border
Measures unveiled in the immigration white paper published on Monday 12 May will reshape our immigration system towards those who contribute most to economic growth, with higher skills standards for graduates and workers.
New requirements on employers to boost domestic training will end the reliance on international recruitment, restoring order to a failed system that saw net migration quadruple between 2019 and 2023.
Key policies in the 82 page blueprint, titled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, include the following:
- reversing the long-term trend of increasing international recruitment at the expense of skills and training
- the labour market evidence group will be established, drawing on the best data available in order to make informed decisions about the state of the labour market and the role that different policies should play, rather than always relying on migration
- departments across government will engage sector bodies as part of this approach
Additional measures:
- Settlement Period: Increased from 5 to 10 years.
- Skilled Worker Visa: Requires a university degree; salary threshold raised.
- Graduate Visa: Duration reduced from 2 years to 18 months.
- Social Care Worker Visa: Discontinued.
- English Language Proficiency: Requirements raised for all visa categories.
- Family Reunification: Tighter criteria for dependents.
For more information visit:
Immigration white paper to reduce migration and strengthen border – GOV.UK