Skilled Worker

SMF blog looks at reasons for proposed doubling of UK settlement qualification period

Jonathan Thomas, a senior fellow at the Social Market Foundation (SMF), has analyzed in a blog the UK government’s proposal—outlined in its Immigration White Paper released in May 2025—to extend the standard qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years. It has not been ruled out that the proposal, which also includes a points-based system that could reduce the qualifying period for those making notable economic or social contributions, will not apply retroactively to migrants already residing in the UK, although the proposal as a whole will be subject to consultation. The analysis suggests that, while the proposed change is only minimally effective at reducing overall immigration numbers, it appears to be driven primarily by fiscal concerns. The proposal comes amid concerns from some quarters, including reportedly within the government, over the fiscal impact of an increase in post-COVID arrivals, many of whom are arriving on lower-skilled, lower-paid routes.

What can sponsors and Skilled Workers do to address the White Paper proposals

Immigration analysis: The Immigration White Paper ‘Restoring control over the immigration system’ outlines proposals to dramatically reduce the use of the Skilled Worker visa, mainly by restricting it to the most highly-skilled occupations and by significantly increasing the cost of the route. When these proposals will be introduced ranges from ‘within weeks’ to ‘within this Parliament’, so sponsors and Skilled Workers will need to keep abreast of Home Office announcements. This News Analysis by Ben Maitland, senior associate at Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law looks at the implications of the White Paper proposals and what sponsors and Skilled Workers might do to address them.

Immigration weekly highlights—29 May 2025

Welcome to the 29 May 2025 highlights from the Immigration team, which provides links to key news stories from the last week, as well as a round-up of new and updated content in Immigration.

MAC review on IT and Engineering cautions on skills approach

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its review of Professionals in IT and Engineering. The review, commissioned by the Home Secretary in August 2024, examines the use of the immigration system by firms recruiting IT and Engineering professionals. It finds that while these sectors are among the top users of the immigration system, their reliance on international recruitment is proportionate to their size. Also, migrant workers in both occupation groups make a significantly positive net fiscal contribution. The report makes no formal recommendations, but notes that addressing skills shortages in these sectors requires a multifaceted approach. It emphasises the need for sustainable funding models for Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE), increased employer investment in training, and long-term efforts to improve gender diversity. The report also discusses the challenges of aligning immigration and skills policies without creating undue complexity or unintended consequences.