UK’s New Immigration Policy: Tougher Rules, Local Jobs First – Indians May Face Challenges

International News: The newly elected UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has announced a series of major and strict reforms to the country's immigration policy. The primary goals of these changes are to reduce overall migration, prioritize employment for local citizens, and minimize dependency on foreign workers.

A new immigration white paper outlining these reforms has been tabled in the House of Commons, the lower house of the British Parliament. The government claims that this marks a complete reset of the existing immigration strategy. While the new rules are set to come into effect from July 22, 2025, additional recommendations may be implemented by the end of the year.

Key Changes Introduced

British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper presented four major changes in Parliament:

1. 111 job roles will be removed from the skilled worker visa eligibility list. This means foreign workers will no longer be recruited for these occupations.
2. The foreign care worker recruitment route will be permanently closed.
3. Stricter criteria will be applied to low-skilled jobs, limiting their visa eligibility.
4. The Migration Advisory Committee has been directed to review minimum wages, benefits, and role definitions for immigrant workers.

Additionally, English language requirements for visa applicants will be tightened. Only candidates demonstrating higher language proficiency will be considered eligible under the new standards.

More Opportunities for Local Workers

Home Secretary Cooper stated, “Our priority is to provide more employment opportunities to British citizens. Due to the misguided policies of the previous government, immigration quadrupled, disrupting our entire system. Now is the time to restore order and regain control.”

She also made it clear that this is just the beginning, and more reforms will follow in the coming months.

Impact on Indian Migrants

The UK is home to a large Indian diaspora, and thousands of Indian professionals travel to Britain every year, especially in the IT, healthcare, and education sectors, through work visas. However, the new immigration rules could create challenges:

• Several professional roles may be delisted, making it harder for Indians to qualify for visas.
• The care sector, where many Indians are employed, will now be closed to foreign hires.
• Higher salary thresholds and stricter eligibility criteria could further complicate the visa process.

These changes are likely to directly impact Indian students, professionals, and job seekers aiming to move to the UK in the near future.

Government’s Intent: Restoring Control

Cooper emphasized that the previous government lost control over immigration, which led to strain on the UK’s labor system. The current administration seeks to build a more controlled and balanced immigration framework that better serves the interests of British workers and the economy.

What Lies Ahead for Indian Aspirants

With visa norms tightening and job eligibility lists shrinking, moving to the UK for work will no longer be easy. Indian professionals and youth planning to migrate may need to reconsider their strategy or explore alternate destinations. It now remains to be seen how India’s government and overseas Indian organizations respond to these sweeping changes.