Immigration White Paper – Proposed Immigration Changes

The UK government has today published the much-trailed Immigration White Paper 'Restoring Control Over the Immigration System' which sets out plans for radical reforms to the UK's immigration system. While there is no timeframe yet for many of the changes, new immigration rules are set to tighten up the UK's immigration system, across various visa categories. We have highlighted below the key proposals which are likely to be of particular relevance to employers and businesses.

• Settlement in the UK – currently, those who come to the UK on work visas can apply to settle in the UK (i.e., settlement) after five years in the UK. This qualifying period is set to be doubled to 10 years under the proposed new rules, although the government plans to consult on a new 'earned settlement' route, offering a shorter pathway to settlement based on contributions to the UK economy and society. The government also proposes to make changes to British citizenship applications,