The UK Government issued their immigration white paper 2025 on Monday 12 May titled ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’. This is a public document published by the government which sets out their policy intentions and plans for future changes to the current immigration rules and regimes in the UK, with a view to reducing net migration. These changes have not yet come into effect. We will need to await further announcements from the government as to when we can expect these changes to take effect.
Much of the changes proposed in the immigration white paper 2025 on Monday’s statement relate to study and business immigration routes.
Below is a summary of the statement headlines and changes proposed to the non-business personal immigration routes.
A New Family Policy
We can expect “a new family policy” from the Government “before the end of this year” covering all UK residents (whether British, settled, on work route visas or refugees) wishing to bring family members to join them in the UK, which will:
- provide a framework for cases decided on an ‘exceptional’ basis where the relevant immigration rules cannot be met. It is likely the rules will become more difficult for cases being considered and decided on an exceptional basis but we await further information on what these changes will be.
- require those coming to the UK to have an appropriate level of English language skills. Currently those applying for a visa from outside of the UK to either join their partner in the UK or join their children in the UK, must demonstrate their English language ability to the lowest A1 (Basic User) level. We await the government’s new family policy to see if they plan to increase the English language ability level needed of people applying to join family members in the UK.
- ensure the family unit has sufficient money financially to support any migrants without relying on the taxpayer through reviewing and extending the financial requirements to other dependant routes. Currently British or settled partners must meet a £29,000 annual income requirement to sponsor their non-British spouse or partner to join them in the UK. The government are reviewing this financial requirement, and we await further information as to the outcome of this review and whether the threshold will remain at £29,000 or be increased.
- May make the rules stricter for people who have previously breached UK immigration laws, with the publication stating, “We will also explore tightening our Suitability Rules on the family routes, to ensure people are of the good character we expect.”
Indefinite Leave to Remain & Citizenship
- B2 level English
Most immigration routes require you to demonstrate English language ability to B1 level when applying for indefinite leave to remain. The Government is proposing to increase this to the next level up, B2 level “for settlement across the majority of immigration routes”.
- 5 year partner route to settlement to remain
While intending to extend the route to settlement (i.e. indefinite leave to remain) to 10 years for some work related immigration categories, it appears the current 5-year qualifying period needed for indefinite leave to remain for those on the 5-year partner or parent routes should remain, with the government stating “We will continue to offer a shorter pathway to settlement for non-UK dependants of British citizens to five years”.
- Increased qualifying period for British citizenship
Those currently wishing to apply for British citizenship who are not married to a British citizen must demonstrate 5 years continuous lawful residence in the UK. The government is proposing a new concept of ‘earned citizenship’ in which they “will increase the standard qualifying period and expand the Points-Based System to allow those with greater contributions to qualify sooner.”
- Possible changes to the Life in the UK test requirement
We may see changes made to the life in the UK test with the government stating, “we will also conduct a refresh of the life in the UK test and how it operates.”
Other Changes in the immigration white paper 2025
- New Bereaved Parent route
Currently there is a bereaved partner route to settlement if you are in the UK as a partner under Appendix FM and your sponsor partner dies. We can expect the introduction of a new bereaved parent route to immediate settlement “in the near term” for those who have leave as a parent of a British or settled child and have sadly lost a child.
- Children in care and care leavers
The government is also proposing the introduction of “a clear pathway” for children in care and care leavers, also “in the near term”.
- Young Adults who discover they have no status having arrived as children
The government have also indicated that they will support children who have turned 18 and discovered they do not have status to be able to regularise their status.
The full publication can be viewed here. No changes to the current immigration rules have taken effect following the government’s policy announcement on Monday 12 May. We must await further announcements from the government as to exactly what the changes will be and when they will take effect.
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