Immigration Spotlight

As we move into autumn, the UK immigration system continues to shift, with new rules now confirmed for student, graduate and work routes. These changes (set to take effect in January) signal a more restrictive stance on long-term migration and will have real implications for sponsors, education providers and employers alike.

From digital ID proposals and party conference pledges to confirmed changes in student, graduate and work routes, the direction of travel is clear: tighter rules, higher thresholds and a more selective system.

In this edition of our Immigration Spotlight, we round up the key developments and offer insights for sponsors and stakeholders navigating an increasingly complex and politicised environment.

Statement of changes (14 October)

The UK government is making further changes to the immigration system to implement the measures outlined in the Immigration White Paper (IWP), published in May 2025. These reforms aim to reduce net migration, boost productivity, and strengthen the UK economy by attracting highly skilled people.

Key changes include:

• Expansion of the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa to top 100 global universities, capped at 8,000 applications annually (from 4 November 2025).

• Enhancements to the Global Talent visa, including broader eligibility for architects and prize winners (from 11 November 2025).

• New pathway for students to transition into the Innovator Founder visa post-study (from 25 November 2025).

• Graduate visa duration reduced to 18 months for most applicants, with PhD graduates retaining three years (from 1 January 2027).

• English language requirements raised to B2 for Skilled Worker, HPI, and Scale-Up routes (from 8 January 2026).

• Stricter suitability criteria introduced for family and private life visas (from 11 November 2025).

• Immigration Skills Charge to increase by 32% (from 16 December 2025)

• Consultations expected on settlement reform and expanded right to work checks.

• eVisa transition continues, with vignette removal extended to more visa categories and dependants.

The Home Office are hosting a series of online ‘Town Hall’ broadcasts to give an overview of the changes and what they mean for you. We strongly encourage all stakeholders to attend. For more information on the rule changes and the Town Hall links, please do contact our Team.

Temporary Shortage List: Migration to be time-limited and targeted (9 Oct)

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its Stage 1 report on the new Temporary Shortage List (TSL). The TSL is designed to offer transitional visa access for mid-skilled (RQF Level 3–5) roles that are both in shortage and critical to the UK’s Industrial Strategy or infrastructure.

Key highlights include:

• 82 occupations have been identified for further assessment, but inclusion is not guaranteed.

• These roles span priority sectors, including:

  • Construction and the built environment

  • Engineering and manufacturing

  • Transport and logistics

• Key recommendations include:

  • Occupations to be listed for a default of three years, with shorter initial grants where Jobs Plans are underdeveloped

  • Visa durations of three to five years, with no renewals beyond five years if the route does not lead to settlement

  • Support for in-country switching to higher-skilled (RQF 6+) roles to encourage progression

  • English language requirement of at least B1

  • No dependants permitted for TSL roles under current Immigration Rules

  • Exploration of alternative sponsorship models for sectors with high exploitation risk

  • Mixed views on reintroducing a Resident Labour Market Test

• Final inclusion will depend on:

  • Evidence of genuine shortages

  • Whether migration is a sensible solution

  • Credible, sector-led Jobs Plans that support domestic workforce development

Employers are encouraged to engage with the upcoming Call for Evidence, which will shape the final list due in July 2026.

On 17 October, the MAC launched its Call for Evidence as part of Stage 2. Occupations will only be considered for inclusion on the TSL if there is a proper workforce strategy (now referred to as a Jobs Plan) in place. As part of this review, the MAC will be working with the Labour Market Evidence Group (LMEG) which includes the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, the Department for Work and Pensions, Skills England, devolved government equivalents and the MAC itself—We strongly encourage employers to respond, particularly if they rely on mid-skilled roles identified in Stage 1. We strongly encourage employers to respond.

To support your submission, we can provide a checklist on how to respond to the call or offer tailored advice to help you prepare a robust response. Responses should be submitted before the closing date of 2 February 2026.

EU entry/exit system launches (12 October)

On 12 October, the European Union officially launched its Entry/Exit System (EES), requiring British passport holders to register biometrically on their first visit to Schengen area countries. The system replaces manual passport stamping and will be phased in over six months, with varying requirements across ports. Notably, the UK Government has allocated £10.5 million to upgrade border infrastructure at key juxtaposed ports including Eurostar at St Pancras, Eurotunnel at Folkestone, and the Port of Dover. For full details on how the EES will affect UK travellers, please refer to our dedicated article.

Immigration at party conferences: competing visions (28 Sept – 8 October)

Both Labour and Conservative used their Autumn conferences to set out starkly different immigration agendas. In summary:

With both Labour and the Conservatives pushing tougher immigration reforms, the political centre ground is shifting. From contribution-based settlement tests to stricter border enforcement, the tone is increasingly one of control and conditionality. Reform UK’s rise in the polls has added pressure, with its hardline stance forcing mainstream parties to respond. The challenge now is to balance credibility with compassion in a climate where public trust in the system is wearing thin.

Digital ID: a new era of identity? (2 October)

The Government’s plan to introduce a national digital ID system has sparked significant public resistance, with a petition titled “Do not introduce Digital ID cards” attracting over 2.9 million signatures. Despite this, the Government responded on 2 October, confirming its intention to roll out a digital identity within this Parliament. As outlined in our article, this development could have wide-reaching implications for identity verification, data privacy, and access to public services.

Home Office unveils new passport featuring King Charles III (coming soon: December 2025)

The Home Office has announced that a newly redesigned British passport featuring His Majesty King Charles III’s Coat of Arms will be issued from December 2025. This marks the first major update since 2020 and introduces enhanced anti-forgery technology, including advanced holographic and translucent features to improve verification and security. Passports bearing Queen Elizabeth II’s Coat of Arms will remain valid until their expiry.

Visa fees (21 October)

On 21 October, it was announced that the following fees are increasing:

Priority service for new sponsor licence applications:

• Fee increased from £500 to £750.

• Standard processing time is: 8 weeks

• Priority processing time is: 10 working days from the date of submission of documents

This service allows new sponsors to receive a faster decision on their licence applications.

Post licence priority service for existing sponsors:

• Fee increased from £200 to £350

• Standard processing time is: 18 weeks

• Priority processing time is: 5 working days from the date the payment is made

This service is commonly used for:

• In-year CoS allocation increases

• Annual CoS renewals

• Changes to key personnel or business details

It is particularly valuable when deadlines are tight for example, where a current employee’s visa is approaching expiry and a new CoS allocation is urgently required. These are due to come into force on 11 November 2025.

These fee increases constitute a material escalation in the cost of accessing priority services under the sponsor licence regime. Sponsors are advised to take these revised charges into account when planning recruitment activities and allocating budgets for immigration-related processes, particularly where expedited decision-making is required.