In May 2025, the government published a white paper that proposed a number of changes that would make it harder to move to and settle in the UK.
The document, which was called “Restoring control over the immigration system”, does not change the law itself, but presents alterations that the government intends to make in the future.
Some of the proposed changes have already been made but others are scheduled for this year and beyond.
Here’s a closer look at the current immigration rules for families and what the new review could mean.
What are the current immigration rules for families?
As reported by the BBC, most people seeking work in the UK will still have to apply for a visa through the points-based system (PBS).
The amount does not apply to some jobs — such as health and social care. However, overseas social care workers can no longer bring in family dependents.
The Conservatives also ordered a 2024 review of the Graduate visa, a two-year unsponsored work permit for overseas graduates of British universities.
What changes did the May 2025 immigration white paper put forward?
There were eight key proposals in the document:
- Reducing the list of jobs that allow employers to sponsor an overseas worker for a Skilled Worker visa. Medium-skilled jobs– RQF levels 3-5 – would no longer be sponsorable unless the Migration Advisory Committee advises that there should be an exemption and the industry has shown effort to recruit domestically.
- Stopping the exemption for social care workers, so employers would no longer be able to recruit them from abroad.
- Considering a levy on English universities’ income from international student fees.
- Making it more difficult for universities to maintain their licence to sponsor student visas by introducing tougher compliance rules.
- Lowering the standard length of the Graduate visa, for international students to stay on and work in the UK, from two years to 18 months.
- Stricter English language rules including higher standards for people taking language tests and requiring the partners of people moving to the UK on work visas to have basic English in order to meet the ‘dependant’ visa requirements.
- Raising the standard qualifying period for permanent residence (also referred to as indefinite leave to remain or settlement) from five to ten years, with some people able to qualify earlier based on a new criteria.
- Making it easier for individuals to come to the UK on certain visas aimed at highly skilled migrants, such as the Global Talent and High Potential.
When are the changes starting?
Some changes have already been made:
- The first reduction in eligible jobs for the Skilled Worker visa sponsorship started on July 22 2025.
- Overseas recruitment of social care workers also ended on July 22 2025.
- Some liberalisation of the High Potential and Global Talent routes took effect in November 2025.
- Regulations to increase the immigration skills charge came into force in December 2025.
- New applicants for Skilled Worker, Scale-up and High Potential Individual visas will be required to have a B2 English (a higher standard than the present B1) from January 8 2026.
Other changes are yet to be introduced:
- The changes to permanent residence rules are scheduled to start in April 2026.
- Graduate visas will only be valid for 18 months if the person applies from 1 January 2027 (but 36 months if they have a PhD).
- The international student levy at £925 per student per year of study will start in August 2028.