UK Government Announces Sweeping Immigration Reforms: What You Need to Know About the May 2025 White Paper

In May 2025, the UK Government released its most comprehensive immigration reform plan in decades: "Restoring Control over the Immigration System." The White Paper, presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, sets out radical changes designed to bring net migration down, restore control over the borders, and reshape the UK’s approach to migration, settlement, and integration.

A System Out of Control — The Case for Change

According to the Government, "proper control and management of the immigration system has been lost." Net migration quadrupled from 224,000 in 2019 to over 900,000 by June 2023. This unprecedented increase was "driven predominantly by non-EU nationals and their dependants coming to the UK for work, study, and humanitarian reasons."

At the same time, the Government criticizes the mix of migration as having shifted increasingly away from higher-skilled to lower-skilled migration, particularly pointing to the expansion of the Health and Care Worker route, which saw visas for below-degree level jobs in social care explode from 37,000 in 2022 to 108,000 in 2023.

The impacts over recent years, the paper states, have been severe:

• Distorted labour markets.
• Increased pressure on public services and housing.
• Rising exploitation and abuse of migrant workers.
• Declining domestic training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Despite the record migration, UK GDP per capita has stagnated, falling below pre-pandemic levels, with the White Paper bluntly stating that "economic growth and living standards have stagnated."

The Government’s Five Core Principles for Reform

The proposed reforms are underpinned by five principles:

1. Net migration must come down to sustainable levels.
2. The immigration system must link to skills and training in the UK, ensuring employers cannot rely solely on overseas recruitment.
3. The system must be fair and effective, with clear Parliamentary-approved rules.
4. Rules must be respected and enforced, including crackdowns on overstaying and illegal migration.
5. The system must support integration and cohesion, including stricter English language requirements.

Key Changes Proposed

Skilled Worker Visas

• The skill threshold will return to RQF Level 6 (degree level).
• Occupations below this level will only be eligible under a new Temporary Shortage List, subject to time limits and workforce strategies.
• The Immigration Salary List will be abolished, removing wage discounts and closing loopholes that previously allowed undercutting.

Social Care Visas

• The social care visa route will be closed to new applications from abroad.
• Existing care workers can renew their visas only until 2028, with the route fully closing afterward.

Family & Dependants

• New restrictions will apply to dependants, including higher salary thresholds and English language requirements.
• Family migration will be overhauled, raising the bar for spouses, children, and other dependants.

Settlement and Citizenship

• Indefinite Leave to Remain will now require 10 years of residency, up from 5 years.
• A new "earned settlement" model will require applicants to show consistent contributions such as tax payments, public service, or work in critical sectors.
• Citizenship will no longer be automatic and will also require evidence of contribution and integration.

Enforcement, Integration, and Border Security

The White Paper promises stronger enforcement, including increased deportations, enhanced border controls, and new measures to crack down on abuse and overstaying.

The asylum system will face further reforms later in 2025, including new legislation to reduce small boat crossings, end hotel use, and "smash the gangs responsible for illegal migration."

The Impact on Immigrants and Employers

These reforms represent a fundamental shift in UK immigration policy toward stricter controls, reduced visa routes, and longer pathways to settlement.

Migrants, families, and employers must act fast to apply under the current rules before the reforms take effect in September 2025, or risk facing much higher thresholds, fewer routes, and longer waits.

Dos recommends that anyone close to ILR eligibility, or planning to sponsor workers or family members, consults with an immigration lawyer immediately to avoid being caught by the rule changes.