UK unveils immigration reforms to cut net migration by 100,000 a year

Arab Times

13-05-2025

LONDON, May 13: Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the United Kingdom's immigration system, aiming to reduce net migration by approximately 100,000 annually by 2029. The government's new white paper, titled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, outlines several key measures designed to tighten immigration controls and ensure a more selective and fair system.
The proposed reforms include:
Care Worker Recruitment Ban: The government plans to end the recruitment of overseas care workers by 2028. Employers will be required to hire British nationals or extend the visas of existing foreign workers. This change is expected to reduce the number of care workers coming to the UK by 7,000 to 8,000 annually.
Skilled Worker Visa Reforms: The qualification requirements for skilled worker visas will be raised to degree-level, reversing previous reductions. This adjustment is anticipated to make approximately 180 job roles ineligible for the visa route. However, lower qualification thresholds will remain for sectors facing long-term shortages or those critical to the government's industrial strategy.n
Increased Employer Charges: The Immigration Skills Charge will rise by 32%, with smaller firms paying up to £2,400 and larger firms up to £6,600 to sponsor foreign workers.n
International Student Measures: The post-study visa duration for international students will be reduced from two years to 18 months. Additionally, a 6% levy on income from international students will be introduced, with proceeds directed towards skills training. Colleges must also meet stricter thresholds, with at least 95% of international students expected to start their courses and 90% expected to complete them.
Extended Residency Requirement for Citizenship: The time required to live in the UK before applying for settled status will double from five to ten years. A fast-track system will be established for "high-skilled, high-contributing" individuals.
Refugee Employment Restrictions: A "limited pool" of refugees and displaced individuals recognized by the United Nations will be eligible to apply for jobs through existing skilled-worker routes.n
Stricter Enforcement and Legal Reforms: The government will explore changes to the application of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in immigration cases, aiming to streamline deportations. Enforcement measures will be strengthened to ensure compliance.
Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that these measures are necessary to address the challenges posed by high levels of immigration. He stated, "Without stronger rules on immigration and integration, the UK risks becoming an island of strangers." He also dismissed claims that the reforms were a response to the electoral success of Reform UK, asserting, "I'm doing this because it is right, because it is fair and because it is what I believe in."
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the government's approach, stating, "This is nowhere near the scale of the change we need to see." The Liberal Democrats called for a clear plan to make it easier to recruit British workers to fill vacancies. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage argued that Labour's changes were a response to the rise of his party at the local elections. The Green Party denounced the proposals as a "panicked and misguided" attempt to win back Reform voters.