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On 12 May 2025, the UK government released its Immigration White Paper, proposing legislation that could be enacted during the course of the current Parliament (from now until 2029). This White Paper offers a clear insight into the Government’s attitude towards immigration.

This most recent announcement demonstrates the Government’s stricter stance towards immigration, in its aim to reduce overall net migration.

What are the Key Changes for the Care Sector?

• Ending overseas recruitment: the Health and Care visas will no longer be open to new applicants
• Transitional arrangements: a transitional period will remain in place until 2028, allowing current visa holders to apply for extensions
• Abolition of the Immigration Salary List (ISL): currently, the ISL allows some occupations to have a lower salary threshold (including, for example, Care Workers and Senior Care Workers). The Immigration White Paper proposes to abolish the ISL and replace this with the Temporary Shortage List (TSL)
• Increase in the Immigration Skills Charge: the ISC will increase by 32%
• Settlement: the qualifying period for settlement for work routes will increase from 5 years to 10 years
• English language: the English Language requirement for settlement is likely to be increased from B1 to B2 for most routes

What should businesses do to prepare for the change?

Whilst the changes are only at the proposal stage and the timeline for implementation has yet to be confirmed, care providers should take the following steps:

• Provide support to your existing workforce. These are extremely unsettling times for non-UK nationals. You could ensure that they feel supported by offering 1-2-1 meetings and counselling sessions and/or make it clear that you have an open-door policy
• Be proactive with any planned sponsorships. There may be a benefit in the individual securing a visa before the implementation dates (yet to be confirmed)
• If sponsorship isn’t a viable option for the vacant roles in your organisation, invest in the domestic labour pool. You could engage with a local university or college to help attract and retain UK-based talent
• Stay informed by regularly checking the news and by signing up to the AfterAthena App

The full White Paper can be reviewed here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6821f334ced319d02c906103/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-web-optimised.pdf