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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Labour's immigration plans at a glance | Labour's immigration plans at a glance |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled Labour's long-awaited plans to cut levels of immigration into the UK. | Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled Labour's long-awaited plans to cut levels of immigration into the UK. |
| The prime minister said measures in the white paper, a blueprint for future laws, would make the system "controlled, selective and fair". | |
| Here is a summary of the key measures. | Here is a summary of the key measures. |
| Follow live: Starmer unveils 'tighter' immigration policy | Follow live: Starmer unveils 'tighter' immigration policy |
| Work visas tightened - for some | Work visas tightened - for some |
| Overseas workers will now generally need a degree-level qualification to apply for the main skilled worker visa, instead of the equivalent of A-level, reversing a change made under Boris Johnson's government. | Overseas workers will now generally need a degree-level qualification to apply for the main skilled worker visa, instead of the equivalent of A-level, reversing a change made under Boris Johnson's government. |
| This higher threshold will not apply to those already in the UK renewing their visa - but ministers say it will prevent new visa applications for around 180 jobs, reducing immigration by around 39,000 a year by 2029. | |
| Lower qualification requirements will remain on a "time limited basis" for sectors deemed to be facing long-term recruitment issues. | Lower qualification requirements will remain on a "time limited basis" for sectors deemed to be facing long-term recruitment issues. |
| What this means in practice is not yet clear, with the government's migration advisory body tasked with recommending roles for inclusion. | What this means in practice is not yet clear, with the government's migration advisory body tasked with recommending roles for inclusion. |
| Lower-qualification visas will be capped and restricted to employers with a workforce training plan in place, whilst those applying will also face extra restrictions on bringing dependants to the UK. | |
| But loosened for others | |
| At the same time, the government wants to expand eligibility for its dedicated work visa for graduates of elite universities outside the UK. | |
| It says a "targeted and capped" expansion of the scheme could see the number of qualifying institutions double, from around 40 currently. | |
| The visa for international students who plan to set up a business in the UK will also be reviewed, and ministers say they want to make it easier for "top scientific and design talent" to apply for the "global talent" visa. | |
| Ten-year residency wait | |
| Immigrants will typically have to live in the UK for 10 years before applying for the right to stay indefinitely – double the current five-year period. | |
| Under the plans, this longer qualifying period could be reduced through a new "earned settlement" system, under which people would be awarded points to reflect their contribution to the UK "economy and society". | |
| Details of this system, along with a similar scheme to apply to citizenship applications, will be subject to consultation later this year. | |
| Care visas scrapped | Care visas scrapped |
| A dedicated visa for social care workers introduced in the wake of Brexit will be scrapped, with ministers blaming it for "exploitation and abuse" in the sector. | |
| Visa extensions will be permitted until 2028, whilst those who already have working rights will be able to switch sponsor during the term of their visa. | Visa extensions will be permitted until 2028, whilst those who already have working rights will be able to switch sponsor during the term of their visa. |
| Stricter student rules | Stricter student rules |
| Overseas graduates will only be able to stay to the UK for 18 months after their studies, instead of two years currently. | |
| Ministers are also thinking of introducing a 6% tax on tuition fee income from international students, which they are promising to reinvest into "the higher education and skills system". | |
| Refugee pilot extended | Refugee pilot extended |
| A "limited pool" of people who lack refugee status in the UK but have been recognised as refugees by the United Nations will be allowed to use existing sponsored worker routes to come to the UK to work. | A "limited pool" of people who lack refugee status in the UK but have been recognised as refugees by the United Nations will be allowed to use existing sponsored worker routes to come to the UK to work. |
| Ministers say this will build on a three-year EU-sponsored pilot project that saw around 100 skilled refugees and their families allowed to work in specified sectors such as IT, construction and engineering. | Ministers say this will build on a three-year EU-sponsored pilot project that saw around 100 skilled refugees and their families allowed to work in specified sectors such as IT, construction and engineering. |
| Higher English requirements | Higher English requirements |
| The government says it will increase the English language requirements for all work visas. | The government says it will increase the English language requirements for all work visas. |
| The need to demonstrate a basic understanding of English will also be extended to people applying to come to the UK as adult dependents of visa-holders. | The need to demonstrate a basic understanding of English will also be extended to people applying to come to the UK as adult dependents of visa-holders. |
| Skills plans | |
| The government says firms in sectors deemed to rely too much on overseas workers will be "expected to comply" with strategies to boost workplace skills. | |
| These will also be determined by official migration advisers, but government sources say IT, construction and healthcare are likely to feature. | |
| Labour has previously indicated it wants to link skills training to the visa system - but details of how this would work in practice have not yet been set out. | |
| No overall cap | No overall cap |
| The prime minister said the government wants to "significantly" reduce net migration - the number of people coming to the UK minus those leaving - from the record levels it has reached in recent years. | The prime minister said the government wants to "significantly" reduce net migration - the number of people coming to the UK minus those leaving - from the record levels it has reached in recent years. |
| But the prime minister is not putting a number on the overall level of net migration he wants to see – saying this approach has consistently failed in the past. | But the prime minister is not putting a number on the overall level of net migration he wants to see – saying this approach has consistently failed in the past. |
| Opposition parties have also declined to specify exactly what levels of migration they want to see each year. | Opposition parties have also declined to specify exactly what levels of migration they want to see each year. |
| The Conservatives now say they would allow MPs to decide annual caps each year through a vote in Parliament. | The Conservatives now say they would allow MPs to decide annual caps each year through a vote in Parliament. |
| Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond. | Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond. |