Net migration to the UK tumbled nearly 50% to 431,000 in 2024. It was a record drop, driven by fewer people going to work and study in the UK. Now, Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants to make immigration to the UK more “controlled, selective and fair”, according to a new White Paper released recently. If you’re planning to move to the UK, these are some points you should know.
1 / 6Net migration into the UK fell 50% to 860,000 in 2023. Under Rishi Sunak’s leadership the Tories tightened visa criteria and cracked down on rules around dependents. Thursday’s number showed an 81% drop in the number of dependents brought to the UK by students, and a 35% drop in the number brought by workers, according to data from Bloomberg. Going forward, the UK work visas will only get tougher for most new applicants as the Labour Party tries to woo voters away from the rival Reform Party, led by the immigration hawk Nigel Farage. However, if you’re PhD holder or have won a prestigious international prize in anything from art and architecture to fashion and digital technology, it might be easier to get a UK work visa as you’d be considered either a High Potential Individual or a Global Talent.
2 / 6The minimum salary for UK work visa has been increased to £38,700, nearly 50% more than the earlier threshold of £26,200 minimum. The threshold does not apply to health and social care workers and teachers on national pay scales, according to the BBC. However, the dedicated visa for social care workers introduced during the pandemic will not take new applications starting June.
3 / 6Applicants for the UK work visa need 70 points to qualify for a skilled worker visa, which would be applicable for up to five years. It can be extended thereafter. Just having a job offer, above a minimum skill level, and the ability to speak English will earn you 50 points. The points increase with education and salary levels, or if the job is in a sector where there’s a shortage of workers.
4 / 6Foreign workers should have at least a degree-level qualification to apply for skilled worker visa instead of the equivalent of A-level. This higher threshold will not apply to those already in the UK renewing their visa. But the government expects it will prevent new visa applications for around 180 jobs, reducing immigration by around 39,000 a year by 2029. Lower-qualification visas will be capped and restricted to employers with a workforce training plan in place.
5 / 6Longer wait for UK residency: The threshold for applying for the right to stay indefinitely has been increased to 10 years from the current five-year period. Some reports say the longer wait times may apply even for those who are already in the UK, not just the new visa applicants. There may be a shorter pathway to settlement for non-UK dependents of British citizens. Individuals will also have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period based on their contributions to the UK economy and society.
6 / 6New graduates who have completed their study can stay in the UK have 18 months to find a job, less than the two years allowed earlier. The government is also considering charging a 6% tax on tuition fee income from international students, which would be reinvested in the country’s higher education system. Language tests will get tougher for those seeking work visas. Even the adult dependents of visa-holders will be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of English to get entry into the UK. The new earnings threshold does not apply for renewals of existing family visas. In 2024, the UK issued 86,000 family-related visas.
