- By Maria Fernandes
A number of policy changes in recent months will impact the hospitality industry and beyond
Work route:
- currently the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level for a skilled worker is RQF 3 which is generally equivalent to an A-level. This will be changed to RQF level 6 equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
- the salary thresholds for skilled worker visas will rise.
- the Immigration Skills Charge will increase by 32%.
Care visa
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 with working rights will be permitted, but this will be kept under review.
Study route:
- a Higher Education levy on tuition fees for international students will be introduced.
- those on the Graduate route will be permitted to remain in the UK after their studies for a period of 18 months instead of 24 months.
Global Talent
The reform ensures that the very highly skilled have opportunities to come to the UK and access the UK’s targeted routes for the brightest and best global talent. The UK government will:
- increase the number of people arriving on the very high talent routes, alongside faster routes for bringing people to the UK who have the right skills and experience to supercharge UK growth in strategic industries.
- increase places to the UK’s scheme for research interns, including those working in the field of Artificial Intelligence, to allow businesses access to additional promising young talent.
- make it simpler and easier for top scientific and design talent to use the Global Talent visa.
- review the Innovator Founder visa to ensure that it supports entrepreneurial talent currently studying at UK universities to move into the visa so that they can build their business and career in the UK.
- double the number of workers that an overseas business can send to the UK with the aim of establishing a presence in the UK.
Earned Settlement & Citizenship:
The UK government announced the proposed “Earned Settlement” model. Currently those on point-based routes are eligible to settle in the UK after completing five years of continuous lawful residence in the UK. After obtaining settlement they are eligible for British citizenship after 12 months. Under the new reform the Government has proposed doubling the qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years. Individuals will also have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period based on point-based contributions to the UK economy and society. Further details of the earned settlement and citizenship reforms will be set out further later this year. This will be subject to consultation and people will have an opportunity to comment on and consider the detail.
The UK government will continue to offer a shorter pathway to settlement for non-UK dependants of British citizens to five years, and will retain existing safeguards to protect the vulnerable, including settlement rights for victims of domestic violence and abuse.
English language requirements:
- the reform proposes to increase language requirements for Skilled Workers and other routes where a language requirement already applies from CEFR level B1 to B2.
- An English language requirement for all adult dependants of workers and students at level A1 will be introduced. This level will increase to A2 for extension applications.
- for settlement applications in the skilled worker route and other routes, the English language requirement will increase from CEFR level B1 to B2.
Immigration Salary list
The current Immigration Salary List which allows employers to pay a lower salary will be abolished. A new Temporary Shortage List will be introduced which will offer only access to the skilled worker route for those roles under RQF 6, without any salary discounts.
Bereaved parent route
A new bereaved parent route will be introduced, which will allow those parents in the UK on a parent of a British or settled child route, who have tragically lost their child, to obtain settlement immediately.
Children
The changes announced will ensure that those children who have been in the UK for some time and have turned 18 and do not have status, are fully supported and able to regularise their status and settle. This will also include a clear pathway for those children in care and care leavers.
Good character requirements for citizenship:
The Home Office introduced an amendment to the good character requirements for citizenship in February 2025, that:
Any person applying for citizenship from 10 February 2025, who previously entered the UK illegally will normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since the illegal entry took place.
Any person applying for citizenship before 10 February 2025 where illegal entry is a factor, will continue to have their application reviewed to determine whether that immigration breach should be disregarded for the purpose of the character assessment.
A judicial review challenging this has been lodged.
