From eVisas to stricter eligibility, salary thresholds, and a longer path to settlement — the UK’s sweeping immigration reforms will impact Indian professionals, students, and care workers starting July 15, 2025.
July-12, 2025: The United Kingdom is poised to roll out a major overhaul of its immigration system from July 15, 2025, tightening visa norms that will directly impact Indian migrants, especially those seeking Skilled Worker Visas, jobs in social care, and permanent residency.
These changes, outlined in the May 2025 White Paper titled “Restoring Control Over the Immigration System”, include digital-only eVisas, stricter salary and skill thresholds, and a longer qualifying period for settlement — all aimed at curbing net migration and encouraging domestic hiring.
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📌 eVisas Replace Physical Documents
Beginning July 15, eVisas will replace traditional physical visa stickers, enabling a digital-only identity tied to passport numbers. The UK government says the transition will streamline immigration control and reduce administrative burdens.
📉 Skilled Worker Visa Rules Tightened
The Skilled Worker visa route, heavily used by Indian IT professionals, engineers, and healthcare staff, will now come with more restrictions:
- 111 occupations removed from the eligible job list.
- Salary threshold increased to £41,700 for new applicants.
- Only degree-level roles (RQF level 6+) are generally sponsorable.
- For medium-skilled jobs (RQF levels 3–5), sponsorship is only possible with special exemptions recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee.
Additionally, employers must submit a workforce strategy justifying overseas hires, demonstrating that local recruitment efforts have failed.
🛑 Social Care Worker Route to Shut Down
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The Social Care Worker Visa route, which has enabled thousands of Indian caregivers to work in the UK, will close permanently on July 22, 2025. Employers will no longer be allowed to recruit care workers from overseas under this route.
However, those already sponsored in the sector before July 22 will remain unaffected.
🕒 Settlement Period Extended to 10 Years
One of the most significant changes is the extension of the qualifying period for permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain):
- Standard period for settlement will now be 10 years, up from the current 5 years.
- A new “earned settlement” policy will reward migrants with consistent economic and societal contributions under the UK’s points-based system.
- While further details are awaited, consultations on the scheme will begin later in 2025.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that the reforms aim to ensure migrants demonstrate long-term value to UK society before being granted settlement or citizenship.
📚 Impact on Students and Universities
The white paper hints at upcoming changes for international students, including:
- A levy on UK universities’ income from foreign students.
- Stricter visa compliance rules for academic institutions.
- Graduate visa duration may be cut from 2 years to 18 months.
- Enhanced English language requirements, including for dependents.
🔮 What Lies Ahead
Additional proposals include the formation of a Labour Market Evidence Group to evaluate future visa eligibility and immigration policy direction. While some proposals remain open for public comment, the immediate changes — especially to the Skilled Worker Visa and Social Care route — are confirmed and imminent.
✅ Key Dates to Remember:
- July 15, 2025: eVisas become mandatory; Skilled Worker visa restrictions kick in.
- July 22, 2025: Social Care Worker visa route officially closes.
- Late 2025: Consultations begin on new settlement and citizenship rules.
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UK Visa Rules, Skilled Worker Visa, UK Immigration 2025, UK Settlement Policy, eVisa UK, Indian Migrants UK, UK Care Worker Ban, Immigration White Paper 2025, Yvette Cooper, UK Work Visa
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