2024: A year of change in UK immigration
2024 was a pivotal year for UK immigration, marked by significant policy changes impacting employers, individuals, and the broader immigration system. From evolving government directives to the transition toward a fully digital immigration framework, the UK’s immigration landscape has seen notable shifts.
As we venture into the new year, we start by revisiting the key highlights of 2024 and discuss the changes we expect to see in 2025 for employers, individuals and families.
Key immigration changes of 2024
On 1 January 2024, restrictions to the student visa route came into effect prohibiting bringing dependant family members to the UK. There are two exceptions to this rule: students are exempt if (1) they are enrolled on a multi-year post-graduate research degree course or (2) are on a course with government-funded scholarship(s).
On 6 February 2024, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which affects applicants across immigration routes nearly doubled, from £624 to £1,035 per year for adult visa holders. This increase significantly raised the cost of visa applications, particularly affecting employers sponsoring workers from overseas. For example, a five-year Skilled Worker visa saw an increase from £3,120 to £5,175.
On 13 February 2024, the civil penalty for employers found to be employing illegal workers also saw the tripling of fines, rising from a maximum of £20,000 to £60,000 per illegal worker.
In an aim to address the rising trend of net migration, several restrictive measures were introduced in 2024, most notable were:
- The ability of sponsored care workers and students (other than those on postgraduate research courses) to bring dependents to the UK was limited. These changes had a noticeable impact on migration numbers, though the expected reduction in overall migration has been slow.
- An increase in salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker visa to £38,700 along with a newly increased series of occupation-specific going salary rates.
- Implementation of a higher minimum income requirement for British citizens or those who are settled in the UK who wish to sponsor their partner (raised from £18,600 to £29,000). Furthermore, from 11 April 2024, those relying on cash savings were also required to show savings of £88,500 (from £62,500). This has also not yet significantly reduced migration, although it may lead to increased family separations.
Recent Home Office provisional statistics on entry clearance visa applications up to November 2024 highlight notable changes in application trends following the above immigration reforms. For instance, Skilled Worker visa applications decreased to 4,100 in November 2024, compared to 6,000 per month between January 2022 and March 2024, and a peak of 10,100 in April 2024.
Another key development in April 2024, saw the announcement that sponsor licences would no longer need to be renewed. Previously, employers with a Skilled Worker licence had to renew it every four years; this requirement has now been removed, simplifying the process for businesses.
Following a finding by the High Court that the Home Office’s interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement was unlawful, the Home Office introduced changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). On 21 May 2024, it was announced that those with pre-settled status are now granted an automatic five-year extension (up from two years), and employers only need to check pre-settled status once, not again before expiry. We understand that there are plans to introduce automatic upgrades to settled status (in certain circumstances) and that these should be coming in next year.
In July 2024, a change of government saw a shift to a Labour government. The new government announced significant changes to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) as part of its strategy to reduce net migration which we will discuss further below.
The Home Office made ambitious plans to phase out Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and transition to a fully digital immigration status system by the end of 2024. However, a December update revealed that the transition was not yet fully ready, and expired BRPs will still be deemed as valid until at least 31 March 2025. Travellers from 1 January 2025 onward should carry their valid BRPs and an eVisa share code to ensure smooth entry to the UK.
It was announced that the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme would be expanded in 2025 to all remaining ‘non-visa nationals’. The ETA is essentially prior permission to travel to the UK for non-British and Irish citizens who wish to visit the UK and who do not have or require a visa. You can view our previous update here on how the ETA scheme is expected to work.
On 31 December 2024, the government announced a significant policy shift now prohibiting sponsors in the Skilled Worker route from passing on sponsor licence fees (including associated administrative costs such as premium services fees) or Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fees to their sponsored Skilled Workers. This change applies to applications made on or after 31 December 2024 and in relation to CoS issued on or after 31 December 2024. Employers will need to ensure that any existing clawback policies are updated to reflect this change.
What to expect in 2025: key developments
Looking ahead, several key immigration changes are set to take effect in 2025:
- Transition to eVisa’s
Towards the end of 2024, we saw that some individuals were encountering various issues with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) accounts, such as incorrect photos, name mismatches, incorrect birthdates, or experiencing trouble updating documents. Some may also see missing or incorrect visa details.
To ease the transition to digital status and address additional concerns noted above, the UKVI confirmed that expired documents will be valid for international travel for a limited time until 31 March 2025. The expectation is that this extended timeline will be kept under review and we expect further updates in the new year.
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
From 8 January 2025, nationals in 49 countries and territories will need to have applied for an ETA before travelling to the UK. This includes citizens from the US, Canada, Australia, and other non-EU/EEA.
From 2 April 2025, EU nationals, except for Irish citizens, will also be required to have applied and been granted an ETA before travelling to the UK.
Applications can be made online either through a mobile app ‘UK ETA’ or if the app cannot be used then the specified online form ‘Apply for an ETA to come to the UK’ where applicants will be asked to complete a questionnaire and provide document copies. Guidance on how to use the app is available here.
The cost of an application is £10 per person and if successful, it will permit multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to 6 months at a time over 2 years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.
- Migration Advisory Committee (‘MAC’) reviews
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will continue to review various aspects of the immigration system. In September 2024, the Home Secretary commissioned MAC to review the financial requirements of the family immigration rules. Such reviews will include looking at the previous government’s intention to make two further increases to the minimum income requirement related to family visas firstly to £34,500 and secondly to £38,700. This will mean those relying on cash savings will have to show savings of £112,750 once the further increase has come into force.
The MAC has also been tasked with examining the use of work immigration routes for IT and Engineering professionals.
- Linking visa sponsorship with training
The Labour government is expected to release a White Paper in early 2025 addressing the link between visa sponsorship and training. This proposal could mean that employers will need to demonstrate a commitment to upskilling the domestic workforce before they can sponsor migrant workers. Such reviews could lead to further changes in the upcoming year.
- Tougher sponsorship scrutiny
Over the past few years, UKVI has made it crystal clear: enforcing sponsor compliance is their top priority to curb perceived abuses of the sponsor licence system. In 2024, the government took a stricter and more focused approach to sponsor license compliance. Notably, 499 Skilled Worker sponsor licenses were revoked in Q2 of 2024, surpassing the total of 377 revocations in all of 2023. Sponsorship is viewed as a privilege and not a ‘right’ therefore this increased scrutiny is expected to continue into 2025.
- US Presidential elections and impact on global mobility
The US presidential election in November 2024 made waves in the global mobility landscape. Following the result announcement, interest in relocating to the UK spiked with online searches for UK immigration rising by 900%. As Donald Trump prepares for a return to the White House on 20 January 2025, promises have already been made which could include travel bans and increased restrictions on employment-based visas so we expect to see a continued spike in interest for those living in the US considering relocation plans to the UK or employers looking to transfer staff from the US to the UK on a temporary basis.
- EU travel and new border systems
The EU’s long-delayed Entry-Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) are expected to roll out in phases, impacting non-EU nationals’ visa-free travel to the EU, including UK citizens. This is a new digital border system that will change requirements for British nationals travelling to the Schengen area. Delays in the implementation of these systems will likely continue to affect travel and border procedures across Europe.
- UK’s Ukraine Schemes
On 4 February 2025, the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme will open to applications. Applicants can apply to be provided with an additional 18 months’ stay for those under the Ukraine schemes. While this extends their stay, it is important to note that the government has stated that there are no current plans to grant Indefinite Leave to Remain to these individuals.
- Further expected changes
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced the 2025 Calais Group Priority Plan, for the Home Office in collaboration with European partners, aimed at dismantling people smuggling networks and bolstering border security.
A forthcoming Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will introduce stronger powers for law enforcement agencies to control illegal migration and aims to reform the asylum system.
Conclusion
2024 was a year of change for UK immigration, and 2025 promises further shifts. As the UK immigration system goes fully digital, employers must stay informed about the latest developments to ensure compliance. From the expansion of the ETA scheme to potential changes in visa sponsorship linked to training, businesses must adapt to the evolving landscape. We will continue to track these developments and provide regular updates to help employers navigate the changing immigration environment.
For guidance on navigating the upcoming changes, from eVisas to sponsor compliance, please reach out to our team for expert advice.
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The material in this article is provided for guidance and general information only and is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice upon which you should rely. In particular, the information should not be used as a substitute for a full and proper consultation with a suitably qualified professional. Please do contact the Bates Wells team if you require further information.