How are the visa rules changing and how many people come to the UK?

The government is making it harder for people to get work and family visas for the UK.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said migration levels were “far too high”, after official figures showed record net migration to the UK of 745,000 in 2022.

What are the new immigration rules?

Most people wanting to work in the UK will still have to apply for a visa through the points-based system (PBS).

But from spring 2024, they will need a job offer with a higher salary.

They will need to earn at least £38,700 – an increase of nearly 50% from the current £26,200 minimum.

The threshold will not apply to some jobs – such as in health and social care. But overseas care workers will not be able to bring in family dependants.

 

What are the new family visa rules?

An estimated 70,000 people came to the UK on family visas in the year ending June 2023

From spring 2024, the government will raise the minimum income level needed to qualify.

It was initially set at £38,700 – a sharp rise from the £18,600 currently required.

However, after warnings that the new rules risked separating families, the government changed the minimum to £29,000.

It said the amount would increase in the future – first to £34,500 and then £38,700. Rishi Sunak said the full amount would be reached “in early 2025”.

The Home Office also confirmed that anyone who wants to renew an existing family visa will be able to, without having to meet the new earnings threshold.

 

How does the points-based system work?

Applicants need 70 points to qualify for a skilled worker visa.

You get 50 points from having a job offer above a minimum skill level, and speaking English.

The remaining 20 points can come from a higher salary, working in a sector with job shortages, or having a relevant PhD.

The standard fee for a skilled visa is usually between £719 and £1,500.

Applicants also have to pay a healthcare surcharge for each year of their stay – typically £624.

This will increase to £1,035 a year from spring 2024.

 

What is the ‘shortage occupation list’?

The “shortage occupation list” helps employers fill vacancies in key sectors.

These jobs have a lower salary threshold, making it easier for applicants to gain enough points to get a visa.

The list currently includes:

• jobs in health and education
• care workers
• graphic designers
• construction workers
• vets

Employers can pay foreign workers 80% of the usual “going rate” to fill these positions.

This will be abolished from spring 2024, and the government will also reduce the number of occupations listed.

• Home Office rows back on salary threshold for family visa
• Couples ‘devastated’ by migration visa rule changes

How many migrants come to the UK?

In the year ending June 2023, 1,180,000 people came to the UK expecting to stay for at least a year, and an estimated 508,000 departed.

That means net migration – the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving – stood at 672,000.

In the 2022 calendar year, net migration reached a record 745,000.

The vast majority of the 1,180,000 – 968,000 – came from outside the EU.

Of those, 39% came to study, 33% to work, and 9% for humanitarian reasons, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The top five non-EU nationalities were:

• Indian – 253,000
• Nigerian – 141,000
• Chinese – 89,000
• Pakistani – 55,000
• Ukrainian – 35,000

What are the rules for student visas?

In the 12 months to the end of September 2023, the government issued 486,107 study visas.

Half of those were granted to Indian and Chinese nationals, with the next most popular countries for student visas being Nigeria, Pakistan and the US.

Those on postgraduate courses could also apply for visas for qualifying dependants: a husband, wife, civil or unmarried partner and children under 18.

In the year ending September 2023, 152,980 visas were issued to dependants.

But from January 2024, international postgraduate students will no longer be able to bring dependants unless their course is designated as a research programme.

Students who have already completed their degree can stay in the UK for two years – three years for those with a doctoral degree – to work under a graduate visa.

In the year to the end of September 2023, 104,501 such visas were issued, excluding dependants.

What about seasonal workers?

Temporary workers such as fruit pickers and poultry workers are covered by seasonal worker visas.

For 2023 and 2024 there are between 45,000 and 55,000 seasonal worker visas available, plus another 2,000 for poultry workers.

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

An application costs £298.

Workers must be paid the relevant national minimum wage.

• ‘It used to be easy to get fruit pickers’

How has Brexit changed immigration?

Before Brexit, EU and UK citizens had the freedom to live, work or study in any EU country without needing a visa.

However, this freedom of movement ended on 1 January 2021 when the UK left the EU.

In the 12 months to June 2023, net EU migration was -86,000, meaning more EU nationals left the UK than arrived.

Net migration of non-EU nationals – the difference between those arriving and those leaving – was 768,000.

Net migration of British nationals was -10,000, meaning more British people left the UK than came back.