Overview

• The newly published white paper proposes doubling the residency requirement for citizenship from five to ten years, with exceptions for highly skilled migrants.
• English language proficiency standards will be raised for all visa applicants, including family dependents, requiring proof of advanced knowledge before arrival.
• Visas for social care workers recruited from abroad will be closed, reducing low-skilled worker visas by approximately 50,000 next year.
• Work visa applicants must meet higher salary thresholds and hold a university degree, restricting access to non-graduate migration opportunities.
• The reforms mark a rhetorical and strategic shift for Labour, adopting right-wing language on border control to counter growing support for Reform UK.