Key changes include raising the skills threshold for the Skilled Worker visa, increasing the minimum salary requirement, closing the Social Care Worker visa to new overseas applicants, and doubling the settlement period to ten years for most visa categories.

The UK Home Office unlawfully charged visa applicants for language tests through Ecctis Ltd, collecting £50 million over three years.

Key reforms include higher skills and salary thresholds for work visas, longer wait times for settlement, stricter English language rules, closure of the care worker route, a temporary shortage list, and no dependants for workers in shortage jobs.

In early 2026, the UK raised the general salary floor for Skilled Workers to £41,700 and increased the English-language requirement from B1 to B2.

Current immigration policies include expanded border enforcement, new registration rules, and the rollback of relief programs such as TPS, DACA, and family-based immigration categories.