The United Kingdom has revised its visa issuance rules for foreign workers and students. The corresponding changes, presented in Parliament on March 12, 2025, came into force in April and aimed to strengthen control over the immigration system, combat the exploitation of migrant labor, and reduce reliance on foreign workers.
Key Changes
Priority for Local Candidates
As of April 9, 2025, employers in the adult social care sector were required to prove they had first attempted to recruit workers from within the UK before hiring staff from abroad. This measure particularly affected those already in the country seeking new sponsorship.
Crackdown on Violations
Stricter sanctions were introduced against employers who breached immigration or labor laws. Companies repeatedly found guilty of such violations lost their right to sponsor foreign workers. Additionally, charging workers for sponsorship — a practice that had previously led to debt bondage and exploitation — was explicitly banned.
Increase in Minimum Pay
The hourly minimum wage for Skilled Worker visa holders, including care workers, was raised to £12.82. Wage levels for healthcare and education professionals were also revised to align with national pay scales.
Tighter Student Visa Rules
Authorities revised the regulations for short-term student visas to reduce abuse. Social services were given expanded powers to reject suspicious applications.
Support for Displaced Workers
The government introduced measures to support migrant workers whose sponsors lost their license. Since July 2022, over 470 sponsor licenses were revoked in the care sector, affecting more than 39,000 workers. Authorities assisted many of them in finding new employment.
Comprehensive Reform
As part of a long-term strategy, the government began integrating immigration, professional qualification, and visa systems to develop domestic talent, reduce dependency on foreign labor, and stimulate economic growth.
Migration and Citizenship Minister Seema Malhotra stated that the new measures provided foreign care workers with protection from exploitation and the opportunity to build careers under fair conditions. Minister of State for Health Stephen Kinnock highlighted the valuable contributions of international professionals to the social care system and stressed the need to support vulnerable populations.
The implemented measures formed part of a broader government strategy to restore order to the immigration system and eliminate abuse.
International Comparison
According to migration analysts, the UK’s visa policy tightening placed it among nations increasing controls over labor migration. However, compared to Canada, Australia, and Germany, the UK’s approach appeared less flexible.
In Canada, for instance, the Express Entry system awards points to qualified professionals based on work experience, language proficiency, and education. Unlike the British model, the Canadian program actively encourages the arrival of working-age migrants and offers a clear path to permanent residency.
Australia also uses a points-based system but recently relaxed certain criteria due to workforce shortages in healthcare and agriculture. In 2024, Australia introduced simplified procedures for nurses and social workers.
Germany, on the other hand, moved toward liberalization. In 2023, it launched the “Opportunity Card” (Chancenkarte) allowing skilled workers from non-EU countries to come and seek employment — without a prior job offer. Against this background, the UK may appear less attractive due to its higher entry barriers, lack of a clear route to citizenship, and limited number of licensed sponsors.
Experts warn that in a global competition for labor, the UK risks falling behind more open jurisdictions.
Economic Consequences
Economists caution that the new measures could significantly impact the UK labor market, particularly in sectors most reliant on migrants — elderly care, healthcare, and education.
According to the Institute for Employment Studies, approximately 17% of the care workforce previously consisted of migrants, many of whom entered under the Skilled Worker visa. The introduction of local recruitment requirements and the revocation of hundreds of sponsor licenses made hiring more difficult and deepened staffing shortages.
Jonathan Black, an analyst at the London School of Economics, noted that these changes could lead to increased pressure on local staff and declining service quality in the short term. “This won’t just create labor shortages — it will drive up costs for public institutions and private providers alike,” he said.
Some experts believe the tightening could lead to higher wages and faster automation. However, in sectors where automation is limited — such as caregiving or teaching — there are currently no viable substitutes for migrant labor.
According to consulting firm Oxford Economics, if migration remains restricted at current levels, the UK’s economic growth could decline by 0.3 to 0.5% annually over the next five years.