The government of Great Britain has announced a significant strengthening of the rules of the immigration system. The main changes will be increased requirements for knowledge of the English language, the abolition of the automatic right to permanent residence after five years, as well as a ban on international recruitment in the field of care. About this informs Bloomberg.
The innovations provide that all adult dependent migrants will have to have a basic level of English. Permanent residence will be possible only after 10 years of stay in the country, and only under the condition of “real contribution to the economy and society.” All migration routes — work, study, family reunification — will be strengthened.
Recruitment of care workers from abroad will stop, but those already in the UK will be allowed to stay and change employers. The number of visas for low-skilled workers will be reduced by 50,000 starting next year. In addition, the government plans to speed up the procedure for the deportation of foreign criminals.
“Settling in the UK should be a privilege, not a right. We are putting order in the migration system,” – explained the Prime Minister of Great Britain Keir Starmer.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper added that the government aims to link migration policy to the real needs of the labor market. Some industries — such as construction, health care, engineering and artificial intelligence — are slated to introduce fast-track immigration routes.
The announcement of the new rules comes amid a slump in the Labor Party’s ratings after the local elections and a surge in support for Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK party. Reform UK overtook Labor in the polls for the first time (29% to 22%) and won control of local councils in May.
Conservatives have criticized the government’s actions, calling it the “worst start to the year” in the fight against illegal migration: since the start of 2025, more than 11,500 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats, which is already higher than in the first five months of last year.
The Liberal Democrats, in turn, accused Labor of a superficial approach to the problem, stressing that the crisis in the social care system cannot be solved by strict restrictions, but needs to raise wages and create opportunities for the professional development of local workers.
