The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is executing stricter immigration policies to address public concerns about high migration levels and their impact on public services and social structure. Starmer has described the previous open-border approach as a “failed experiment” and is introducing reforms to regain control over immigration.
Measures in the New Immigration Plan
1. Tighter Visa Regulations
Skilled Worker Visas: Higher than the typical early-career academic salary, the minimum wage criterion for skilled worker visas has been raised from £26,200 to £38,700. Universities’ capacity to draw in foreign talent, especially for research positions, may be impacted by this shift.
Student Visas: Unless they are enrolled in postgraduate research courses or have government-funded scholarships, international students are no longer allowed to bring dependents. The purpose of this policy is to stop student visas from being abused for employment.
2. Longer Path to Settlement
In an event that a person cannot prove that they have made a considerable contribution to British society, the minimum residency requirement for seeking UK settlement has been raised from five to ten years.
3. Enhanced English Language Requirements
In an effort to add more integration into British society, adults who accompany foreign workers are now required to complete various levels of English language examinations in order to have their visas extended and settle.
4. Stricter Enforcement and Deportation Policies
The administration intends to remove asylum protections for people on the sex offender registry and broaden deportation regulations to cover all foreign nationals with convictions.
5. Impact on International Students
The number of sponsored study visa applications decreased by 29% from 546,100 in 2023 to 389,800 in 2024. International students are no longer allowed to bring dependents unless they are enrolled in postgraduate research programs.
Implications for the Education Sector
Universities have raised worries that hiring foreign employees and students may be made more difficult by the higher pay levels and limitations on dependents. Early-career researchers and professors, who are essential to raising innovation in the UK’s higher education system, may be most impacted by the increased compensation requirements.
Growing public discontent and the emergence of the anti-immigration Reform UK party encouraged the Labour Party to take action to tighten immigration laws. The Conservative opposition backs the plans, but they want a yearly cap on immigration that is determined by Parliament. According to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the Labour government will prioritize rebuilding confidence through practical initiatives rather than establishing a numerical goal.
The government’s aim to establishing a “controlled, selective, and fair” immigration system is reflected in these policy reforms, which strike a balance between the necessity to regulate migration and the goal of attracting in qualified people who will benefit the UK economy and society.
