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India Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
UK's new immigration rules: What Indian students and professionals need to know
The UK has long been a favoured destination for Indian students and professionals seeking quality education and career opportunities. However, recent immigration reforms introduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government are set to reshape this landscape, bringing both challenges and considerations for prospective newly released Immigration White Paper outlines several significant alterations:Extended settlement period: The qualifying period for settlement status in the UK has been doubled from five to ten English language requirements: Applicants and their dependents will now face more rigorous assessments of their English post-study work visa duration: The Graduate Route visa, previously allowing international students to work in the UK for two years post-graduation, will now be limited to 18 of the Health and Care Worker visa: This visa category, predominantly used by Indian and South Asian applicants, is set to be changes are part of the government's broader strategy to tighten immigration controls and reduce net migration DOES IT IMPACT INDIAN STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS?Indian nationals constitute one of the largest groups of student and skilled worker visa applicants to the UK. The reduction in the Graduate Route visa duration may impact their ability to gain international work experience Arora, chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, expressed concerns, stating, "Panic must not be allowed to set in among current and prospective students. Immediate clarity is needed on who is affected and how." The closure of the Health and Care Worker visa also raises concerns about the future of Indian professionals in the UK's healthcare sector. Dr. Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the UK's Work Rights Centre, highlighted the potential risks, noting that "more people will be put at risk of falling into insecure immigration status, putting them at greater risk of exploitation."The tightening of UK immigration rules comes at a time when the US has also been perceived as less welcoming to Indian students and both countries implementing stricter policies, Indian aspirants may need to explore alternative destinations or adapt their plans TO NAVIGATE THE NEW LANDSCAPEDespite the challenges, experts suggest that opportunities remain for Indian students and professionals in the Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO of Leverage Edu, said, "From an India lens, with the UK-India FTA in the backdrop that has opened new avenues for collaboration, we are further likely to see prioritisation of talent in programmes where economic value is visible, think healthcare, technology, environment, culinary arts, retail and many such areas."advertisement'I wouldn't read too much in the 24 to 18 month change on graduate route, doesn't change a lot of things. The new English requirements bit was anticipated too, and was due for sure," he said."Universities holding Agent Quality Framework with absolute seriousness and focusing on compliance (hopefully they'll let technology lead it) is great news, and atleast in India we saw the British Council driving this significantly for a while now, so did BUILA and others," he migrants are advised to stay informed about the evolving policies, seek guidance from official sources, and consider sectors that continue to welcome international talent.(With PTI inputs)
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
UK's new immigration rules likely to affect Indian students, professionals
There was a mixed reaction as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday set out tighter new rules to clamp down on soaring immigration figures, which is set to impact Indians as one of the largest groups of student and skilled worker visa applicants to the UK. The new rules, framed in a new Immigration White Paper, double the standard qualifying period for settlement status in Britain to 10 years and impose stricter English requirements, with assessments of improvements in language skills embedded within the visa rules for applicants and their dependents. Overseas student visas, a category dominated by China and India, will witness a tightening of the post-study Graduate Route visa offer from the current two years to 18 months.'While we are relieved that the Graduate Route has been preserved, albeit with a reduced duration, we urge that its implementation, and that of the wider reforms, be approached with care, clarity, and collaboration,' said Sanam Arora, chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK. The organisation flagged concerns about the impact on Indian students, the largest users of the Graduate Route with an aim of acquiring international work experience at the conclusion of their degrees. 'Panic must not be allowed to set in among current and prospective students. Immediate clarity is needed on who is affected and how,' NISAU said. The group also called for better alignment between student and skilled worker routes, another category dominated by Indians and set to face tougher minimum salary requirements. 'We are pleased to see recognition of our long-standing calls for better alignment between immigration and skills, and we strongly support the push for greater transparency and accountability in education agent practices, for which we have laid out very clear asks,' added Arora. Almost every UK visa category is set to be impacted by the White Paper, with the Health and Social Care visa – led by Indians and other South Asian applicants – in line to be axed. 'The closure of the Health and Care Worker visa to new applicants has been framed as a response to growing exploitation, but with the numbers of visas granted to first time entrants already dwindling, it is but a distraction,' said Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the UK's Work Rights Centre. 'Because of this failed visa scheme, thousands of migrant care workers already in the UK are facing destitution, and the government is yet to offer them any workable support. What they need is not more hostility and victim-blaming, but the flexibility to take their skills to the businesses that need and value them,' she said. The group also condemned as 'arbitrary' the lengthier period before migrants can claim settlement rights in the UK because it would introduce unfairness into an already hostile system. 'More people will be put at risk of falling into insecure immigration status, putting them at greater risk of exploitation, and potentially even increasing the number of people with undocumented status,' added Vicol. In his Downing Street speech, Starmer said that without the tough new rules the UK risks 'becoming an island of strangers'. 'As this White Paper sets out, every area of the immigration system – work, family, and study – will be tightened up so we have more control. 'Skill requirements raised to degree level; English language requirements across all routes – including for dependents; the time it takes to acquire settled status extended from five years to 10; and enforcement tougher than ever because fair rules must be followed,' he said, promising that migrant numbers will fall as a result of the measures.
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Business Standard
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
UK's new visa rules hit Indian students and workers hardest: Explained
The United Kingdom's new Immigration White Paper, released on May 12, 2025, introduces a stricter framework across work, study and settlement routes, likely to affect Indian nationals, who make up a large portion of international students and skilled visa applicants. Longer path to settlement and higher English requirements The new rules will double the standard qualifying period for settlement from five to ten years. English language requirements will now apply to more applicants, including dependants, and improvement in language ability will be monitored throughout the visa duration. 'Skill requirements raised to degree level; English language requirements across all routes – including for dependents; the time it takes to acquire settled status extended from five years to 10; and enforcement tougher than ever because fair rules must be followed,' said Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking from Downing Street. The Graduate Route visa, which currently allows students to remain in the UK for two years after completing their degree, will now be limited to 18 months. 'While we are relieved that the Graduate Route has been preserved, albeit with a reduced duration, we urge that its implementation, and that of the wider reforms, be approached with care, clarity, and collaboration,' said Sanam Arora, chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, speaking to PTI. Earlier in the day, Arora wrote on X (formerly Twitter), 'I understand that the Graduate route will be reduced from 24 months to 18 months after completion of studies. It is not yet clear how this impacts existing students and incoming ones for the September 2025 intake.' NISAU called for immediate clarification to avoid confusion among international students, especially those from India who form the largest user group of the Graduate Route. 'Panic must not be allowed to set in among current and prospective students. Immediate clarity is needed on who is affected and how,' NISAU said. Skilled worker routes to become more selective The reforms are also expected to tighten the skilled worker visa category, introducing tougher minimum salary requirements and further scrutiny. 'The White Paper establishes whole new approaches to migration, be it for education, work, or family,' Mamta Shekhawat, founder of told Business Standard. 'The pathway to permanent residency for students will become longer and more competitive, making it harder for graduates to remain in the UK unless they demonstrate exceptional value to the economy or society.' Shekhawat added that with these changes, it has become even more important for students to focus on test preparation and academic performance. 'We encourage students to stay informed, focus on academic excellence, and develop skills that align with the UK's evolving priorities for international talent,' she said. The Ministry of Education told the Rajya Sabha in November 2024 that 136,921 Indian students were studying in the United Kingdom. In the 2022–23 academic year, Indian student enrolment rose by 39% to 173,190, making India the top source of non-European Union students in the UK—overtaking China for the first time since 2018. Care visa route to close One of the most controversial changes involves the closure of the Health and Social Care Worker visa route to new applicants. In 2023, nearly 1,40,000 health and care visas were issued, with Indian nationals receiving about 39,000 of them. 'The closure of the Health and Care Worker visa to new applicants has been framed as a response to growing exploitation, but with the numbers of visas granted to first time entrants already dwindling, it is but a distraction,' said Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the UK's Work Rights Centre, in comments to PTI. She said the scheme's failure had left thousands of migrant care workers in precarious conditions. 'Because of this failed visa scheme, thousands of migrant care workers already in the UK are facing destitution, and the government is yet to offer them any workable support. What they need is not more hostility and victim-blaming, but the flexibility to take their skills to the businesses that need and value them,' she said. Vicol also criticised the extended settlement period as arbitrary and warned it could increase the number of undocumented migrants in the UK. 'More people will be put at risk of falling into insecure immigration status, putting them at greater risk of exploitation, and potentially even increasing the number of people with undocumented status,' she added. With PTI inputs
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
UK's Immigration Crackdown To Impact Indian Students, Workers
London: There was a mixed reaction as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday set out tighter new rules to clamp down on soaring immigration figures, which is set to impact Indians as one of the largest groups of student and skilled worker visa applicants to the UK. The new rules, framed in a new Immigration White Paper, doubles the standard qualifying period for settlement status in Britain to 10 years and imposes stricter English requirements, with assessments of improvements in language skills embedded within the visa rules for applicants and their dependents. Overseas student visas, a category dominated by China and India, will witness a tightening of the post-study Graduate Route visa offer from the current two years to 18 months. "While we are relieved that the Graduate Route has been preserved, albeit with a reduced duration, we urge that its implementation, and that of the wider reforms, be approached with care, clarity, and collaboration," said Sanam Arora, chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK. The organisation flagged concerns about the impact on Indian students, the largest users of the Graduate Route with an aim of acquiring international work experience at the conclusion of their degrees. "Panic must not be allowed to set in among current and prospective students. Immediate clarity is needed on who is affected and how," NISAU said. The group also called for better alignment between student and skilled worker routes, another category dominated by Indians and set to face tougher minimum salary requirements. "We are pleased to see recognition of our long-standing calls for better alignment between immigration and skills, and we strongly support the push for greater transparency and accountability in education agent practices, for which we have laid out very clear asks," added Arora. Almost every UK visa category is set to be impacted by the White Paper, with the Health and Social Care visa - led by Indians and other South Asian applicants - in line to be axed. "The closure of the Health and Care Worker visa to new applicants has been framed as a response to growing exploitation, but with the numbers of visas granted to first time entrants already dwindling, it is but a distraction," said Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the UK's Work Rights Centre. "Because of this failed visa scheme, thousands of migrant care workers already in the UK are facing destitution, and the government is yet to offer them any workable support. What they need is not more hostility and victim-blaming, but the flexibility to take their skills to the businesses that need and value them," she said. The group also condemned as "arbitrary" the lengthier period before migrants can claim settlement rights in the UK because it would introduce unfairness into an already hostile system. "More people will be put at risk of falling into insecure immigration status, putting them at greater risk of exploitation, and potentially even increasing the number of people with undocumented status," added Vicol. In his Downing Street speech, Starmer said that without the tough new rules the UK risks "becoming an island of strangers". "As this White Paper sets out, every area of the immigration system - work, family, and study - will be tightened up so we have more control. "Skill requirements raised to degree level; English language requirements across all routes - including for dependents; the time it takes to acquire settled status extended from five years to 10; and enforcement tougher than ever because fair rules must be followed," he said, promising that migrant numbers will fall as a result of the measures.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UK's immigration crackdown to impact Indian students, workers
Live Events There was a mixed reaction as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday set out tighter new rules to clamp down on soaring immigration figures, which is set to impact Indians as one of the largest groups of student and skilled worker visa applicants to the UK. The new rules, framed in a new Immigration White Paper , doubles the standard qualifying period for settlement status in Britain to 10 years and imposes stricter English requirements, with assessments of improvements in language skills embedded within the visa rules for applicants and their student visas, a category dominated by China and India, will witness a tightening of the post-study Graduate Route visa offer from the current two years to 18 months."While we are relieved that the Graduate Route has been preserved, albeit with a reduced duration, we urge that its implementation, and that of the wider reforms, be approached with care, clarity, and collaboration," said Sanam Arora, chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) organisation flagged concerns about the impact on Indian students, the largest users of the Graduate Route with an aim of acquiring international work experience at the conclusion of their degrees.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)"Panic must not be allowed to set in among current and prospective students. Immediate clarity is needed on who is affected and how," NISAU group also called for better alignment between student and skilled worker routes, another category dominated by Indians and set to face tougher minimum salary requirements."We are pleased to see recognition of our long-standing calls for better alignment between immigration and skills, and we strongly support the push for greater transparency and accountability in education agent practices, for which we have laid out very clear asks," added every UK visa category is set to be impacted by the White Paper, with the Health and Social Care visa - led by Indians and other South Asian applicants - in line to be axed."The closure of the Health and Care Worker visa to new applicants has been framed as a response to growing exploitation, but with the numbers of visas granted to first time entrants already dwindling, it is but a distraction," said Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the UK's Work Rights Centre."Because of this failed visa scheme, thousands of migrant care workers already in the UK are facing destitution, and the government is yet to offer them any workable support. What they need is not more hostility and victim-blaming, but the flexibility to take their skills to the businesses that need and value them," she group also condemned as "arbitrary" the lengthier period before migrants can claim settlement rights in the UK because it would introduce unfairness into an already hostile system."More people will be put at risk of falling into insecure immigration status, putting them at greater risk of exploitation, and potentially even increasing the number of people with undocumented status," added his Downing Street speech, Starmer said that without the tough new rules the UK risks "becoming an island of strangers"."As this White Paper sets out, every area of the immigration system - work, family, and study - will be tightened up so we have more control."Skill requirements raised to degree level; English language requirements across all routes - including for dependents; the time it takes to acquire settled status extended from five years to 10; and enforcement tougher than ever because fair rules must be followed," he said, promising that migrant numbers will fall as a result of the measures.
