UK Immigration changes in 2025: What to expect in 2026

2025 has marked one of the most significant periods of reform in UK immigration policy in over a decade. Building on changes introduced in 2024, the government has used 2025 to reset the balance between economic migration, compliance enforcement and long-term settlement, with far-reaching implications for employers, sponsors and migrants alike.

This wrap-up brings together the key developments from across the year, highlighting what has changed, what is still evolving, and what organisations should be planning for as we move into 2026.

The 2025 Immigration White Paper

The publication of the 2025 Immigration White Paper confirmed a clear policy direction:

• Lower net migration
• Greater emphasis on domestic skills
• Tighter controls on employer sponsorship
• Longer routes to settlement

Rather than isolated technical amendments, the White Paper framed immigration as a tool of economic strategy, signalling a shift away from reliance on overseas labour and towards workforce planning, training and compliance accountability.

This document underpinned many of the rule changes introduced throughout the year and remains essential reading for employers operating in skills-shortage sectors.

Major Rule Changes July 2025

The Statement of Changes of 1 July 2025 represented the most impactful update of the year. Key developments included:

Skilled Worker Route

• Increased salary thresholds for new applicants and extensions
• Narrowing of eligible occupations, particularly in lower-paid roles
• Further alignment with Migration Advisory Committee (‘MAC’)’s recommendations on skill levels

These changes reinforced the government’s intention to reserve sponsorship for genuinely skilled, higher-paid roles.

Supplementary Employment Clarified

Updated guidance provided greater clarity on when supplementary employment is permitted, but also reinforced limits. Employers were reminded that:

• Work must be in the same occupation code or on the shortage list
• Hours are capped
• Sponsorship conditions remain paramount

Misuse of supplementary work remains a compliance risk.

Path to Settlement Review

One of the most consequential developments of 2025 was the government consultation on extending settlement requirements.

Proposals included:

• Extending the standard settlement qualifying period from five years to ten years for certain routes
• More stringent continuous residence and compliance checks
• Greater discretion to refuse settlement on public interest grounds

While final outcomes are awaited, the direction of travel is clear: settlement is becoming harder to achieve and more conditional, which has implications for talent retention and workforce stability.

Compliance and Enforcement

Sharp Rise in Sponsor Licence Revocations

Throughout 2025, the Home Office significantly increased enforcement activity. We saw:

• A notable rise in sponsor licence suspensions and revocations
• Greater use of unannounced compliance visits
• Increased scrutiny of reporting duties and genuine vacancy assessments

For many employers, licence revocation followed minor or technical breaches rather than deliberate abuse. This underscores the importance of ongoing compliance audits, training and record-keeping.

Statement HC 733 and HC 836

The Statements of Changes (including HC 733 and HC 836) reinforced:

• Enhanced Home Office discretion
• Tougher evidential requirements
• Reduced tolerance for sponsor errors

The cumulative effect has been a more unforgiving sponsorship regime.

Business Mobility and Global Talent

UK Expansion Worker and Self-Sponsorship

The UK Expansion Worker route continued to attract interest from overseas businesses entering the UK market. However, 2025 saw:

• Closer scrutiny of corporate structures
• Increased attention on “self-sponsorship” arrangements
• A higher evidential burden to prove genuine overseas trading activity

Early planning and careful structuring are now essential.

Global Talent Visa

Against the backdrop of tightening rules, the Global Talent visa remains one of the most flexible and attractive routes for highly skilled individuals in Tech, Science, Engineering, and Arts and culture.

With no sponsor licence requirement and faster routes to settlement (for now), this route has become increasingly valuable for both individuals and innovative businesses.

MAC Reports and Skills Shortages

The MAC’s report on IT and engineering professionals played a significant role in shaping 2025 policy. While acknowledging ongoing skills shortages, the MAC reiterated the government’s stance that:

• Immigration should not substitute for training
• Salary levels must reflect genuine skill
• Employers must invest in domestic workforce development

This continues to influence occupation eligibility and salary thresholds.

Business Visitors and Mobility

Clarifications to the Business Visitor rules were welcomed by international employers, particularly around

• Permitted activities
• Remote working
• Intra-group meetings and training

However, the Home Office remains alert to visitor route misuse, and businesses must continue to assess whether activities fall within visitor permissions or require sponsorship.

Nationality and Citizenship

A more positive development in 2025 was the introduction of a simplified British citizenship route for Irish citizens, reflecting the unique constitutional relationship between the UK and Ireland. This change removed unnecessary administrative barriers and was broadly welcomed.

Looking ahead to 2026

As 2025 draws to a close, several themes are clear including Immigration policies becoming more restrictive, more complex and more heavily enforced.

Employer compliance is no longer optional and it is central to workforce strategy; therefore, long-term planning is essential, particularly in light of proposed settlement reforms.

Alternative routes, such as Global Talent and carefully structured business mobility options, are becoming increasingly important

For employers and migrants alike, success in the UK immigration system now depends on early advice, robust compliance systems, and strategic long‑term planning. At Clarkslegal, our specialist team is here to guide you through every step, ensuring you remain confident and compliant in an increasingly complex landscape. As the year draws to a close, we would like to thank our clients and colleagues for their continued trust and support. We wish you a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Learn more about this topic in our upcoming webinar, UK Immigration: What to expect in 2026 for employers —register now.