UK Business Immigration Update (Hosted by Squire Patton Boggs)

On 12 May 2025 the government published a white paper setting out wide ranging proposals which it says are intended to “restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration and promote economic growth”. These proposals and accompanying policy changes will have a significant impact on UK employers. Key themes include:

• Linking immigration with domestic skills and training requirements to reduce over reliance on overseas labour
• A renewed focus on enforcement including a targeted ‘crackdown’ on illegal working

In addition to the white paper, other upcoming changes include the expansion of right to work checks and the full digitisation of the UK immigration system. Some of these changes will be implemented as early as autumn 2025.

• The key white paper proposals including the
  • Increase in the Skilled Worker skills threshold
  • Introduction of the new Temporary Shortage List
  • Higher English language thresholds and the new requirement for dependants
  • Increase in qualifying period for settlement from 5 to 10 years
• The expansion of the illegal working regime to cover non-employed workers, sub-contractors and gig-economy workers
• The transition to a fully digital immigration system including evisas and new biometric technologies

The session will include an audience Q&A and you are welcome to submit questions you would like covered when registering.

This webinar is aimed at anyone with responsibility for sponsored employees, including in-house legal counsel, HR, global mobility and talent acquisition professionals (particularly from a compliance perspective), as well anyone holding Authorising Officer, Key contact or Level 1 user responsibilities for their organisation’s worker sponsor licence.

If you would like to attend, or have colleagues who would, please register any interested parties using the "Register" button.