Overview

• Foreign students will face a 6% levy on tuition fee income generated by universities, with proceeds reinvested into domestic education and skills training.
• Post-study work visas for international graduates will be reduced to 18 months, requiring graduate-level jobs to remain in the UK.
• The Skilled Worker visa threshold will be raised to degree-level qualifications, and new overseas care-worker visas will be banned with a transition period until 2028.
• Migrants will now need 10 years of residence to apply for settlement, with fast-track exceptions for high-skilled or high-contributing individuals.
• Universities must meet stricter course completion and attendance metrics for foreign students or face recruitment caps, while language proficiency requirements are being tightened across visa categories.