Business

10-year settlement and 12 other proposed UK immigration changes you should know about

Ryan Brothwell 29 May 2025 5 min read

The UK government recently published a white paper that outlines a comprehensive reform of the UK immigration system. While the proposal to change settlement times from five years to ten years grabbed headlines, the white paper contains several other important proposed changes.

In an analysis of the white paper, legal firm Dentons noted that the document presents a significant departure from what stood before.

“The white paper represents a significant shift in UK immigration policy, aiming to reduce net migration while maintaining the UK’s ability to attract highly skilled individuals,” it said.

“Since Brexit and the introduction of the new immigration system in 2020, net migration has soared, with much larger numbers of lower-skilled migrants arriving in the UK. This was in part due to the lowering of the skills threshold from RQF level 6 (degree level) to RQF level 3 (A-level). “

This new policy reinstates the pre-Brexit position, and minimum salary thresholds will naturally increase as higher-skilled roles demand a higher going rate, the firm said.

“There will be no return to the ‘shortage occupation list’, which saw many roles in high-growth sectors, such as AI, engineering and technology barred from preferential treatment and lower costs.

“Whilst a Temporary Shortage List will be introduced, in the interim, this will be determined by roles already deemed by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to be in shortage,” it said.

“Following their review of the shortage occupation list last year, only very limited occupations remained on the repurposed ‘immigration salary list’, so this is unlikely to be of help to employers operating in these sectors moving forward.”

A less attractive destination

The result is that the UK may also become a less attractive destination given the qualifying period for points-based system migrants to apply for settlement will increase from 5 years to 10 years, Dentons said.

“This puts the UK significantly out of sync with many other developed countries. It would also significantly increase sponsorship costs for employers as new workers could be required to be sponsored for twice as long before they are free of immigration control (and costs).

“It is presently unclear how some migrant workers could ‘have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period based on contributions to the UK economy and society’. This could be based on salary and prior considerations of ‘high earner’ thresholds within the points-based system.

It is also going to be more expensive to recruit into graduate-level occupations and far more difficult to recruit at below graduate-level, the firm said.

“Whilst the full impact of these changes will not be felt until the policies are fully implemented and new legislation introduced, some of the immediate proposals will be significant, especially within the care sector.

“Employers should continue to remain up to date as the proposals within the white paper are implemented and consider how any changes may impact their recruitment of overseas talent, including restrictions to sponsorship and increased costs.”

Key changes

Some of the key changes proposed in the white paper are outlined in more detail below:

The skill level for skilled workers to be lifted from RQF 3 up to RQF 6 and above. Salary thresholds will therefore rise.

The Immigration Skills Charge will be increased by 32%, for the first time since its introduction in 2017, in line with inflation, raising the annual cost from £1,000 to £1,320.

The English language requirement for skilled workers to increase from B1 to B2 (Independent User) levels, per the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages (CEFR).

A Temporary Shortage List will be introduced to provide time-limited access to the points-based immigration system will be established for occupations below RQF 6. In the interim, the list will be determined by occupations the MAC have already deemed to be in shortage.

Employers should be incentivised to invest in boosting domestic talent and options to restrict employers from sponsoring skilled visas will be introduced if they are not committed to increasing skills training.

Social care visas for new applications from abroad will be closed. For a transition period until 2028, visa extensions and in-country switching for those already in the country will be permitted but kept under review.

The requirements that all sponsoring institutions must meet to recruit international students will be strengthened.

Reduce the ability for graduates to remain in the UK after their studies to a period of 18 months.

Reforming family migration rules to create a clearer framework and strengthening financial requirements across dependent routes. A new family policy is expected before the end of 2025 on this.

Ensuring those coming to the UK have appropriate English language skills. Those applying as family members of British nationals already need to show English language proficiency. A new requirement for dependents of point-based system migrants (students and workers) to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language will also be introduced.

Expanding the points-based system and increasing the standard qualifying period for settlement from five to ten years.

Individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on “contributions to the UK economy and society”.