The UK government has officially ended overseas recruitment for social care visas. This policy is part of new immigration measures introduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The change aims to strengthen Britain’s control over its borders and reduce migration levels. Officials say restrictions will shift focus towards high-skilled workers who contribute more to economic growth.
The UK Home Office stated, “In line with our wider reforms to skills thresholds, we will close social care visas to new applications from abroad.”
For workers already in the UK, visa extensions and in-country switching will be allowed until 2028.
New Policies Reshape UK’s Immigration System
The government’s 82-page policy blueprint, ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System,’ outlines key changes.
Officials will phase out international recruitment in favor of domestic training programs. The plan aims to correct what the government describes as a “failed system” that caused net migration to quadruple between 2019 and 2023.
The policy will raise salary thresholds and increase skill level requirements for workers, moving the standard back to RQF 6 (Graduate level). The immigration salary list, which previously allowed salary discounts, will also be abolished.
The Home Office explained, “Access to the points-based immigration system will be limited to occupations with long-term shortages, where a workforce strategy exists, and where employers commit to recruiting from the domestic workforce.”
Impact on International Students and Skilled Talent
The government will tighten sponsor requirements for institutions recruiting international students. Officials warn that schools failing compliance will face restrictions.
The Home Office added, “We will introduce new interventions for sponsors close to failing their duties, including placing them on action plans and limiting their new international student intake.”
Additionally, the UK will reduce the period graduates can remain in the country after completing studies from two years to 18 months.
Despite these restrictions, the government promises to expand opportunities for highly skilled workers.
The Home Office stated, “We will ensure that the brightest and best global talent can still access targeted UK immigration routes.”
Tighter Rules on Asylum and Border Control
To combat abuse, tougher visa regulations will now apply to individuals claiming asylum without significant changes in their home country.
The government warned, “Tighter visa controls, restrictions, and scrutiny will be applied where we have evidence of abuse, based on a clear risk assessment.”
The new policies follow comments from UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, who pledged stricter migration rules if her Conservative Party takes power.
In February, she stated, “We need to slow down the track for citizenship. A UK passport should be a privilege, not an automatic right.”
Badenoch suggested that migrants should prove their net contribution to the economy before securing permanent residency.
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