UK Immigration Policy Changes 2024: Work, Study, Startup, Refugee, and...
Since 2024, UK immigration policy has shifted towards 'raising thresholds, emphasizing integration, controlling scale, and favoring high-end talent': Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds have increased significantly, and the shortage occupation list has been restructured; student routes have tightened dependent rules and proposed shortening the graduate visa; the startup route centers on the Innovator Founder, removing minimum funding but strengthening endorsement reviews; the humanitarian/refugee system has moved from 'outsourcing' to domestic processing and extended long-term status pathways; permanent residence and citizenship reforms are developing a new framework focused on '10-year residency, contribution acceleration, and stricter welfare and conduct requirements.' This article provides policy points and timelines by visa/pathway for direct decision-making.
Overview: The "Main Theme" of UK Immigration Policy
Since 2024, the overall UK immigration policy has placed greater emphasis on:
- Controlling net migration scale: Reducing low-skilled and "path arbitrage" by raising thresholds, restricting dependents, and tightening eligible occupation lists.
- Favoring high skills and high contributions: Continuously making "structural optimizations" for top talents (such as Global Talent, HPI, etc.).
- Strengthening integration and responsibility: Language requirements, long-term residence (ILR), and citizenship pathways are more likely to be linked to "income/contributions/conduct/welfare usage."
Implications for overseas investors and high-net-worth families: The UK is managing "short-term entry" and "long-term settlement" in a tiered manner. Short-term visits are relatively stable, but the rules for long-term settlement are more volatile, requiring tracking of "implementation dates/transitional provisions/whether retroactive."
What are the 'hard threshold' changes for Skilled Worker immigration since 2024?
1) Significant Increase in Salary Thresholds
- The general minimum annual salary threshold for new applicants has been raised to £38,700 (with corresponding increases in the 'going rate' for each occupation).
- Key Impact: Positions that previously relied on 'lower salaries + shortage occupation discounts' now face significantly higher difficulty in obtaining visas.
2) Restructuring of the Shortage Occupation List
- The original Shortage Occupation List has been adjusted into a new occupation/salary list mechanism (with different versions subject to dynamic adjustments).
- Key Impact: Fewer available positions, especially less favorable for medium-skilled roles.
3) Industry Variations and Transitional Arrangements
- Some public sector/roles bound by national salary frameworks may have special criteria.
- Transitional provisions typically protect 'those already in the system before the reform' (may not immediately apply new thresholds when renewing or changing employers), but new entrants are subject to the new rules.
4) Trend Towards Stricter Language Requirements (Announced/To Be Implemented)
- Policy direction aims to elevate English proficiency for economic migrants to a higher level (e.g., from B1 to B2).
Practical Reminders:
- Use the 'job code + going rate + employer sponsorship license (Sponsor)' trio to assess feasibility.
- Any judgment on 'whether I can use a certain position to qualify' must be checked against the latest Immigration Rules + latest occupation lists.
