UK Work Permit Changes Set Higher Bar for Migrants

Your UK work permit journey just became significantly more challenging. Net migration in the UK quadrupled from 224,000 in June 2019 to a record high of 906,000 in June 2023, consequently triggering sweeping changes to immigration policies.

If you’re considering how to get a UK work permit, you should be aware of these dramatic shifts. The UK work permit requirements now include raising the skilled worker visa threshold from A-level equivalent to degree level qualifications. At the same time, the UK work permit process will involve stricter settlement rules, doubling the qualifying period from five to ten years. The UK work permit visa requirements have also expanded to include new English language proficiency tests for all adult dependants. Additionally, the UK work permit documents required will face heightened scrutiny as the government implements these changes specifically designed to reduce migration numbers while focusing on highly skilled individuals.

UK raises skill threshold for work permit eligibility

The UK government has implemented a fundamental shift in its skilled worker visa program by elevating the required qualification level. This change marks a deliberate strategy to redefine what constitutes “skilled work” for immigration purposes.

Why the RQF level was increased from 3 to 6

The UK has raised the qualification threshold for work visas from Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (bachelor’s degree level). This significant jump reflects the government’s effort to restrict migration to genuinely high-skilled individuals. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper explained that skilled work “must truly mean skilled work,” indicating a fundamental policy shift in the uk work permit process.

The government projects these changes will reduce lower-skilled visa approvals by approximately 50,000 over the next year. This adjustment represents a cornerstone of the broader immigration reform aimed at managing migration numbers while maintaining access for elite global talent.

Which occupations are now excluded from the skilled worker route

Jobs requiring qualifications below degree level face elimination from the eligible occupations list. The system now distinguishes between similar roles based on skill classification—for example, chefs remain eligible for skilled worker visas while cooks do not.

Under the new guidelines, access to the points-based immigration system is strictly limited to:

• Occupations with documented long-term shortages
• Roles deemed critical to the UK’s industrial strategy
• Positions where employers demonstrate commitment to developing domestic talent

Furthermore, even eligible shortage occupations will only receive time-limited visa access, with regular reassessment by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

How this affects the uk work permit requirements for new applicants

For new applicants, the uk work permit requirements now include stricter financial thresholds. The minimum salary requirement has increased to £38,700 per year or the occupation’s ‘going rate’—whichever is higher. This represents a substantial financial barrier for many potential migrants.

The uk work permit documents required remain extensive. Applicants must:

• Secure a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved UK employer
• Demonstrate English language proficiency at level B1 in all four components (reading, writing, speaking, listening)
• Provide proof of meeting the appropriate skill level
• Pass tuberculosis screening where applicable

Moreover, healthcare and education roles follow different salary rules based on national pay scales. In certain circumstances, the salary threshold may be reduced to £30,960, though this exception is narrowly applied.

Government ends overseas recruitment for social care roles

In a decisive break from previous policies, the UK has announced an end to overseas recruitment for social care workers. This radical shift comes amid growing concerns about exploitation in the sector and forms part of broader immigration reforms outlined in the government’s newly published White Paper.

What the transition period until 2028 means for current visa holders

Despite the closure to new applicants, current visa holders receive protections during a transition period extending until 2028. Throughout this time, you will maintain the right to:

• Extend existing visas when they expire
• Switch employers if necessary, including after sponsor license revocations
• Apply for settlement if eligibility requirements are met

This cushion allows for career continuity while the UK pivots toward a domestic workforce strategy. However, these provisions remain “under review,” indicating possible adjustments before 2028.

Why the care sector is under scrutiny for visa abuse

The care sector has faced increasing scrutiny following widespread reports of exploitation. Since 2022, over 470 care providers have had their licenses to sponsor international staff suspended. In fact, 2024 alone saw a 136% increase in skilled worker sponsor license suspensions and a staggering 263% rise in revocations compared to the previous year.

Many overseas workers arrived to find themselves “saddled with debt, treated unfairly, or in extreme cases discover the jobs they were promised did not exist”. The crackdown has displaced approximately 40,000 workers, with particular concerns emerging after investigations uncovered large-scale visa fraud schemes targeting workers from Kerala, India.

How the closure aligns with domestic workforce plans

The uk work permit process for care workers now folds into a broader domestic workforce development strategy. The government has committed to establishing Fair Pay Agreements, empowering sector representatives to negotiate improved employment terms.

Simultaneously, the expanded Care Workforce Pathway announced in January 2025 aims to professionalize the sector. This initiative complements plans to train UK residents for roles in adult social care, reducing reliance on overseas recruitment.

This policy shift represents the government’s effort to “restore order, control and fairness to the system” while addressing structural issues in the care sector. Nevertheless, displaced workers with valid visas remain eligible to rejoin the workforce through verified employers.

Student visa rules tighten to curb long-term migration

Student visa regulations have undergone substantial changes as part of the UK government’s comprehensive strategy to reduce migration figures. These modifications directly affect how international students can study, work, and bring dependants to the UK.

How compliance metrics for universities are changing

Recently, the government announced stricter requirements that sponsoring institutions must meet to recruit international students. The Basic Compliance Assessment thresholds have been raised by five percentage points, with institutions now required to maintain:

• At least 95% course enrollment rate (up from 90%)
• At least 90% course completion rate (up from 85%)

A new “Red-Amber-Green” rating system will categorize institutions based on compliance levels. Universities with amber or red ratings face targeted interventions, including potential limits on international student recruitment and mandatory improvement plans.

What the new 18-month graduate visa limit means

The Graduate Route visa has been reduced from two years to 18 months. Previously, this route allowed international graduates to remain in the UK for two years after completing their studies (longer for doctoral students). The government claims this change addresses concerns that “too many graduates are not moving into the graduate level roles for which the Graduate visa route was created”.

Why dependants and short-term study routes are being restricted

As a result of dramatic increases in dependant numbers, most international students starting courses after January 1, 2024, can no longer bring family members to the UK. Only those pursuing postgraduate research-based degrees (PhD level) or government-sponsored students can sponsor dependants.

According to official statistics, 152,980 dependant visas were issued in the year ending September 2023—a 930% increase from 2019’s 14,839. The short-term study route for English language learners is also facing increased scrutiny, with authorities reviewing accreditation organizations to prevent abuse of a pathway that has seen high visa refusal rates.

These student visa restrictions represent a critical component of the government’s plan to reduce net migration figures by “the tens of thousands”.

UK enforces stricter settlement and deportation policies

The UK’s immigration framework now includes a dramatically extended path to permanent residency alongside tougher enforcement measures for those breaking the law.

Why the settlement period is now 10 years

Migrants must now remain in the UK for a decade before applying for settled status—double the previous five-year requirement. This extended “continuous residence” period makes the UK’s system “more restrictive than most other high-income countries,” according to Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory. Throughout this period, applicants must maintain legal status without excessive absences—no more than 180 days in any 12-month period. Currently, certain visa categories remain excluded from continuous residence calculations, including visitor visas, immigration bail, and overstaying periods.

How English language requirements are being raised

English proficiency standards have been elevated across all uk work permit visa requirements. Adult dependants must now demonstrate basic A1-level English upon arrival, progressing to A2 level for visa extensions, and reaching B2 (independent user) level before securing settlement. Skilled workers face similarly upgraded standards, with requirements rising from B1 to B2 proficiency. Presumably, these changes aim to address integration challenges, though research indicates nine out of ten migrants already self-report speaking English well.

What new deportation rules mean for foreign offenders

The deportation framework has fundamentally shifted from focusing primarily on prison sentences to considering all convictions. Whereas previously only those sentenced to 12+ months were automatically considered for deportation, now all foreign national offenders come under scrutiny. Notably, anyone placed on the Sex Offenders Register—regardless of sentence length—is classified as having committed a “serious crime” with no asylum protections. The government reports removing 3,594 foreign criminals since July 2024, representing a 16% increase over the previous year.

How the uk work permit process now links to long-term integration

The uk work permit process now explicitly connects to long-term integration goals. Points-based assessment will extend beyond initial entry to settlement and citizenship applications. For example, all migrants aged 18-65 must pass the Life in the UK Test alongside meeting English language requirements. Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that “when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language”. Therefore, understanding these requirements has become essential for anyone planning a long-term future through the uk work permit route.

Conclusion

As these sweeping immigration reforms take effect, you now face significantly higher barriers for UK work permits than ever before. The shift from A-level to degree-level qualification requirements, coupled with the substantial salary threshold increase to £38,700, undoubtedly creates a more selective system. Meanwhile, the social care sector transition period until 2028 provides temporary relief for current visa holders, though future pathways remain uncertain.

Accordingly, student visa modifications further reflect the government’s determination to reduce net migration figures “by the tens of thousands.” The shortened graduate visa duration and severe limitations on bringing dependants signal a clear policy direction. Furthermore, the doubling of the settlement period to ten years places the UK among the most restrictive immigration systems worldwide.

At the same time, enhanced English language requirements across all visa categories demonstrate the government’s emphasis on integration alongside selection. The reformed deportation framework also shows a tougher stance on foreign offenders, regardless of sentence length.

Though these changes primarily target reducing overall migration numbers, they specifically favor highly skilled individuals who can meet stricter financial and qualification thresholds. Therefore, your path to UK migration now requires more careful planning, higher credentials, and greater financial resources than previously. The message appears clear – while the UK remains open to global talent, the definition of who qualifies has fundamentally changed.