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The UK government has this week announced major reforms to its visa and immigration policy, with a clear aim: reduce net migration and shift the focus toward domestic workforce development.
These changes bring immediate operational implications for employers across sectors, especially those dependent on international talent and high-volume hiring.
So, what’s changing, and how can businesses respond quickly, compliantly, and confidently?
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KEY POLICY CHANGES ANNOUNCED
Longer route to settlement
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will now require 10 years of UK residency, up from 5 — a huge shift for long-term planning and workforce retention. Exceptions may apply for individuals demonstrating significant economic or societal contributions.
Closure of the overseas care worker visa route
From today, no new care worker visas will be issued to overseas applicants. Employers in health and social care will need to pivot recruitment strategies rapidly. Existing care workers in the UK can extend their visas, but new international recruitment in this sector will be halted.
Higher skill and salary thresholds
The required skill level rises to RQF Level 6 (bachelor’s degree equivalent), and salary thresholds increase — reducing eligibility for many lower-wage roles. Salary thresholds will also increase, with the general threshold set at £25,000 per year.
Tougher English language rules
All visa applicants and adult dependents will need to meet stricter English language standards.
Post-study work visa shortened
The Graduate Route is cut from 2 years to 18 months, with potential charges for universities per international student. Universities may be charged per foreign student to encourage investment in domestic education.
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What this means for employers
- More complex onboarding – additional screening, documentation, and stricter verification
- Increased compliance risk and cost – especially for high-turnover roles in care, logistics, construction, and hospitality.
- Reduced access to migrant labour – raising the importance of ethical hiring and workforce planning.
- Greater administrative burden – new rules = new rechecks, record-keeping, and policy updates.
What this means for employees and migrants
- Longer path to settlement – migrants will need to reside in the UK for a decade before qualifying for permanent residency, unless they meet specific contribution criteria.
- Reduced opportunities in certain sectors – the closure of the care worker visa route limits opportunities for overseas applicants in this field.
- Higher entry barriers – increased skill and language requirements may make it more challenging for potential migrants to qualify for UK visas.
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Why Rightcheck is best placed to help
Rightcheck is built specifically to help UK employers handle Right to Work, eVisa, and immigration checks with speed, confidence, and compliance. Here’s how:
🔗 Seamless eVisa & share code validation
We link to the Home Office to check immigration status in real time — critical as more roles fall under digital-only verification. Real-time alerts for visa expiry, invalid codes, or suspicious activity, helping you stay compliant even as requirements tighten
📲 Mobile-first, fully digital Right to Work platform
Certified for digital checks via IDVT and supports all candidate types, from UK nationals to EU migrants using eVisas.
🔔 Smart compliance alerts
Rightcheck automatically tracks expiring permissions, overdue rechecks, and status changes — removing manual effort and human error.
🧠 End-to-end audit trails
Everything you need to prove compliance is captured — especially vital with longer settlement routes and a higher Home Office scrutiny environment.
🛡️ Modern slavery and fraud risk screening
Built-in risk checks help demonstrate ethical hiring and protect your workforce from emerging vulnerabilities.
🏆 Used by the UK’s best-known employers
We’ve helped household names streamline onboarding and raise compliance standards — even at scale.
✅ One platform for all vetting
Why manage multiple systems when one platform does it all? RTW, criminal record checks, references, social media, eVisa, alerts – in one place.
📲 User experience
Our mobile app reduces friction and increases completion. benefit from high candidate satisfaction and faster time to start.
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The bottom line
Immigration reform is real — and it’s already here. Employers need to be agile, compliant, and ready to adapt quickly to new legal and operational demands.
Rightcheck offers the most complete, compliant, and scalable platform to support your HR and compliance teams every step of the way.
👉 Get in touch if you want to future-proof your onboarding and workforce checks.
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