What the 2025 immigration white paper means for UK Visa and settlement rules

In May 2025, the UK government published a policy document, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”, setting out plans to tighten the rules on who can come to the UK and who can stay permanently, with the aim of reducing overall migration numbers. Some proposals have now been implemented, while others are still to come.

Settling permanently in the UK

The biggest change concerns the right to live in the UK permanently (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’ or ‘settled status’). To qualify, a person would need a clean criminal record, yearly earnings of at least £12,570 and a good standard of English (B2 level, roughly equivalent to being able to hold a detailed conversation and write clearly).

Most people would need to live in the UK for 10 years before they could apply, but this waiting period would vary depending on individual circumstances – as little as three years for high earners (over £125,140 a year), five years for people working in NHS healthcare or teaching and up to 30 years for someone who entered the country illegally or claimed benefits. For people in lower-skilled jobs, including care workers, the starting point would be 15 years.

The government asked for public feedback and received over 200,000 responses before the consultation closed in February 2026. The new rules are expected to come into force in autumn 2026.

Work visa changes

From 22 July 2025, the range of jobs employers can hire overseas workers for was narrowed, with many mid-level roles removed from the approved list. Hiring care workers from abroad also stopped on that date.

Since 8 January 2026, people applying for Skilled Worker visas have also needed to prove a higher standard of English than before. The fees employers pay to sponsor overseas workers were increased in December 2025.

International students and graduates

The visa that allows international students to stay and work in the UK after finishing their degree will be shortened from two years to 18 months from January 2027 (PhD graduates will get three years).

Tougher compliance rules will also be placed on universities, making it harder and more onerous for them to sponsor students. Tighter rules that could make it harder for universities to keep their right to accept international students may come into force as early as June 2026.

What this means going forward

Importantly, the new rules on permanent residence would not just affect future arrivals. They would also apply to people already living in the UK who haven’t yet been granted the right to stay permanently. Refugees who claimed asylum before 1 March 2026 will still be able to apply under the current, more generous five-year rules.

Most of these changes can be introduced without the need for new legislation to be passed by parliament. However, the proposed university levy and any changes to citizenship rules would require a full act of parliament.

Taken together, these reforms represent the most significant overhaul of the UK’s immigration framework in recent years. With some measures already in force and others still on the horizon, individuals, employers and educational institutions should seek timely legal advice to understand how the changes may affect their particular circumstances.

The coming months will be critical as the government moves from policy proposals to detailed implementation. Staying informed will be essential for anyone whose plans depend on the UK’s evolving immigration rules.

This article was co-authored by Santiljana Sula, Paralegal in HCR Law’s Employment, HR and Immigration team.