Understanding the UK Government's New Plan to Reduce Net Migration
On the 4th of December 2023, the UK Government, under the direction of the Home Secretary, unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at significantly reducing net migration into the country. This plan is part of a broader effort to reform the UK's immigration system, focusing on curbing abuse and better managing the influx of migrants. Although those changes are not final, and we still do not know when exactly they will come into force, once implemented, the new changes may significantly impact how foreigners look for jobs in the UK. In this article, we explain what those changes are and their implications.
Key Changes and Their Implications
1. Higher Salary Requirements:
The government plans to raise the minimum salary requirement for overseas workers to £38,700, up from £26,200. This substantial increase aims to encourage businesses to prioritise hiring local British talent and invest in their existing workforce. For prospective migrants, this means meeting a much higher income threshold to qualify for work in the UK. This change may particularly impact those who are looking for lower-skill jobs.
This plan to change the salary requirement does not impact those looking for jobs in the healthcare sector via the Health and Care visas route, as the increase will only apply to the Skilled Worker visa.
2. Reduction in Dependents:
The new measures will substantially limit the number of dependents migrants can bring into the UK. This change particularly impacts those on the Health and Care visa, a common route for care workers, who will no longer be able to bring their family members with them. This policy could affect decisions for potential migrants who have families.
3. Adjustments to Visa Rules for Shortage Occupations:
The plan also includes ending the 20% salary discount for shortage occupation jobs and introducing a new Immigration Salary List. These changes may alter the landscape of job opportunities available to migrants, emphasising the need for higher-paying roles.
It may also be possible that the government will remove the shortage occupation list altogether.
4. Review of Graduate Visa Route:
The Graduate visa allows international students in the UK to look for employment after they complete a qualified UK university programme. The government has tasked the Migration Advisory Committee with reviewing the Graduate visa route to ensure it aligns with the UK's best interests. This could lead to stricter regulations for recent graduates from overseas looking to work in the UK. However, at the moment, there is no specific plan on how the government will do this.
5. Stricter Student Visa Regulations:
The plan also targets the significant rise in students bringing dependents, which will be restricted in the new year. This move will likely affect international students planning to study in the UK with their families.
When will those changes be enforced?
At the moment, there is no exact date when those changes will come into effect. However, some changes, such as restrictions on bringing students dependants, may be implemented as early as this new year. Changes to salaries may not be implemented until April 2024. It is important to remember that the details of those plans may change or even be abolished depending on the outcome of wider consultation.
Will you be impacted?
The UK's new immigration plan considerably impacts foreigners seeking employment in the UK, particularly those requiring a Skilled Worker visa. The raised salary thresholds mean that only higher-paying jobs will qualify for Skilled Worker visas, potentially excluding many mid-level or entry-level positions if you are applying for jobs from outside the UK or switching jobs within the UK. This change places a greater emphasis on acquiring specialised skills or higher qualifications to meet these criteria.
Currently, the new plan only proposes to remove the 20% salary discount on the shortage occupations. If you meet one of the following WHEN you apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you may still benefit from a salary discount, and your job-hunting prospect may not be impacted significantly.
- You are under the age of 26 on the date you apply.
- You are, or you have been in the UK in the last 2 years on a Student visa studying at bachelor's degree level or above - and a Student or visit visa was your most recent visa.
- You are in the UK on a Graduate Entrepreneur visa.
- You will be working towards a recognised qualification in a UK-regulated profession.
- You will be working towards full registration or chartered status, such as chartered accountant, in the job you're being sponsored for.
- You have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD level qualification that's relevant to your job.
- You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education.
The restrictions on bringing dependents do not apply to people who will be on the Skilled Worker visa.
What should you do next?
Although those changes have not been implemented yet, if you are looking for low-skill or entry-level jobs or have concerns, the best you can do now is to apply for as many visa-sponsored jobs as possible. If you receive a job offer and submit your visa application before those changes are enforced, you will not be impacted by the changes.
How UK Visa Jobs will continue to help me?
At UK Visa Jobs, we are committed to providing the best visa-sponsored jobs in the market to people from all around the world, and we will continue to do so even if the changes are implemented. We will continuously navigate the market for you and endeavour to help you locate the most suitable job opportunities, whether you are applying from within the UK or outside the UK.
We will also update you on the new policies if implemented and advise you on how to approach job hunting in the UK under the new terms. However, for now, you can continue your job application normally.
Summary
If you are planning to work in the UK, it's crucial to understand these new policies, as they will have direct implications on visa eligibility, especially concerning salary thresholds and dependent visas. As new policies have not been implemented, we advise you to keep calm and carry on. However, if you believe that you will likely be impacted by new policy changes, we encourage you to apply for more jobs to increase your chance of securing a visa-sponsored job offer.
