Islamabad, 12 May, 2025: Graduate Visa Route to 18 Months has become a focal point of the UK government’s new immigration framework, which outlines sweeping reforms aimed at encouraging high-skilled migration while reducing reliance on overseas labour.
Focus Shifts to Domestic Workforce Development
Published under the title Restoring Control over the Immigration System, the 82-page white paper introduces higher qualification thresholds for work and study-based visas.
Officials said the aim is to pivot the system toward applicants who offer the greatest potential for economic contribution.
The document proposed significant changes for employers, requiring them to prioritise domestic workforce training.
READ MORE: UK Rolls Out New Visa & Immigration Policy
Authorities indicated that this strategy would correct past imbalances, which saw net migration rise sharply between 2019 and 2023.
A new advisory group will also be formed to assess labour demands using UK-based data rather than defaulting to international recruitment.
Changes for Skilled Workers and Students
Under the updated criteria, the minimum skill level for employment-based visas will return to RQF Level 6, equivalent to a graduate-level qualification.
Salary thresholds will also be raised, while the current immigration salary list which offers exceptions will be scrapped.
For students, post-study options will now be curtailed. The government confirmed that the Graduate Visa Route to 18 Months would replace longer-term stay options, with additional oversight introduced for institutions falling short of sponsorship duties.
Reform in Social Care, Family, and Settlement Rules
The recruitment of new overseas workers in the adult social care sector will be phased out, although temporary allowances will be made until 2028 for those already present in the UK.
READ MORE: UK Visa Rules Change: New Restrictions for International Students
Family and private life visa regulations will be clarified to reduce exceptional case claims, and the standard waiting period for permanent settlement will be extended from five to ten years.
Preventing Abuse and Promoting Accountability
To prevent exploitation of the system, stricter conditions will apply to asylum seekers and foreign nationals with criminal records. Sponsors of migrants who breach regulations may also face financial penalties.
Ministers emphasised that all these measures, including the revised Graduate Visa Route to 18 Months, will be rolled out over this parliamentary term to ensure a more secure, balanced, and skill-focused immigration system.
