Immigration White Paper: Key proposals and what it means for individuals

Monday 12 May 2025 was no ordinary day, and it certainly wasn’t “business as usual” for UK immigration.

That was also the message from Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, in his 08:30 press conference on the topic, which was later fleshed out in the long-anticipated Immigration White Paper.

The White Paper, titled ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’, sets out plans to reduce net migration in the UK and to ‘bring back control’ over the UK immigration system. This type of language is not new, but the document expresses the Government’s intention for their plans to be more expansive in attempting to deliver on these ambitions.

What does this mean for foreign national individuals who wish to work, study, join family, or otherwise live in the UK? Well, probably quite a bit for some, but less so for others – depending on the basis they are seeking to enter or remain in the UK. This article summarises some of the key changes relevant to individuals as part of the planned overhaul of the system.

Work routes

Many of the changes affect the operation of the sponsored work route with major implications for businesses who employ non-settled workers through the sponsorship system. Individuals who are seeking to be sponsored should be aware that it is the intention of the Government to raise the English language and skill level for entry into the Skilled Worker route and for salaries to be changed in line. In addition, the lists setting out the job occupations which qualify for sponsorship are also to be altered. This is likely to make entry into this route more restrictive for those seeking to be sponsored to work in the UK.

There is more positive news for other work routes with a focus on the “very highly skilled”, namely:

• The Innovator Founder route, a visa category for entrepreneurs who have an innovative business idea, is to be reviewed to ensure that it supports entrepreneurial talent for those studying at UK universities
• The Global Talent route will be made “simpler and easier for top scientific and design talent”, meaning this category will continue to play a significant role in offering a route to live in the UK where an individual is a leader in their field
• An increase in places for research interns with a focus on those working in artificial intelligence
• An expansion of the High Potential Individual (HPI) route which will increase the number of qualifying institutions, meaning individuals from more top-tier universities can qualify for permission in the UK.

Study routes

The planned changes to the study route focus largely on the regulation of sponsoring institutions in offering places to overseas students. However, there is one significant change to the existing Graduate visa route, designed for those who have permission to study at UK institutions and wish to remain in the UK after they have completed their studies. The White Paper states that the duration of this visa will be decreased from two years to 18 months.

English language

The White Paper envisions a new stricter English language regime by:

• Raising the English language level for Skilled Workers from level B1 of the Common European Framework for References for Languages (CEFR) to level B2
• Creating a new English language requirement for all adult dependants of workers and students, setting the minimum CEFR level to A1
• Requiring demonstrable progression in English language for visa holders when both extending their visas (from CEFR level A1 to A2) and at the settlement stage (to CEFR level B2)
• Increasing English language requirements across most immigration routes from CEFR level B1 to B2.

Family routes

The White Paper indicates that there will be a new family migration policy due by the end of the year which will examine the following areas:

• Relationship requirement: measures to ensure greater scrutiny so that only individuals in genuine subsisting relationships will be granted visas where sponsored by a family member
• English language requirement: those sponsored as family migrants must meet any new English language proficiency requirements
• Financial requirement: this will be reviewed to “ensure the family unit has sufficient money financially to support any migrants without relying on the taxpayer” and financial thresholds will be extended to all dependent routes
• Suitability requirement: the requirement that a person is “suitable” already exists for most immigration categories, but the Government will be exploring tightening the rules in this area which will impact those with criminality or character issues
• Exceptional circumstances: clarification on the treatment of those applications where individuals cannot meet the usual rules due to exceptional circumstances. There is currently provision for this, however the paper indicates that there will likely be greater emphasis on the “public interest to control borders” meaning that applications being considered on this basis will need to be prepared with even greater attention to the circumstances of each case.

Settlement and citizenship

One of the most significant proposed changes to the Immigration Rules cited in the White Paper is increasing the qualifying period for settlement in Points-Based System routes from five years to ten years. That means that those, for example on work or study routes (and their dependents), will be required to accrue ten years’ permission in the UK before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain. Individuals will therefore need to find sponsorship or some other temporary form of permission in the UK to ensure that they maintain the continuity of their immigration permission for this length of time, if permanent residence is a long-term objective.

According to the paper, provision will be made for individuals to reduce the qualifying period for settlement where they have made “contributions to the UK economy and society”, placing the principle of “earned citizenship” at the centre of immigration and nationality policy.

It is understood that the shorter, five-year path to settlement will remain unchanged for those who are in the UK under the family route, i.e. for non-UK dependents of British citizens.

Conclusion

It should be made clear that the White Paper is only an expression of policy intention, but the contents could soon become law once laid before and approved by Parliament. The resulting changes to the Immigration Rules will provide detail, alongside accompanying guidance, as to when the rules will come into effect and how they will operate in practice. Given the large scale and potentially seismic changes in areas of the rules, forward planning and keeping abreast of relevant updates will be critical for those affected.