On 14 October 2025, the UK government released a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, outlining further reforms aligned with the Immigration White Paper issued earlier this year. These updates will come into effect gradually over the next few months and have important implications for HR and recruitment teams managing sponsored workers and visa applications.
Increased English language requirement
From 8 January 2026, applicants entering the following routes for the first time must meet a higher English language standard of B2 (A-Level equivalent) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):
- Skilled worker
- High potential individual (HPI)
- Scale-up
This represents a step up from the current B1 (GCSE level) requirement.
Point to note:
Existing skilled workers who entered the route before 8 January 2026 and later extend their visas will not need to meet the higher B2 standard.
The government has also indicated that English language requirements for dependants of sponsored workers may be introduced in the future, though this is not part of the current changes.
Immigration skills charge (ISC) increase
The immigration skills charge, payable by employers sponsoring workers under the Skilled Worker route, will increase by 32% from 16 December 2025.
The ISC for medium to large sponsors will rise from £1,000 to £1,320 per worker per year.
The fee remains mandatory and cannot be passed on to or recovered from the sponsored employee.
Action:
Employers should review upcoming sponsorship plans and, where possible, assign Certificates of Sponsorship before 16 December 2025 to avoid the higher charge. It is worthwhile considering sponsorship budgets and workforce plans in light of increased costs.
Graduate visa duration reduced
From 1 January 2027, the graduate visa will be reduced from 2 years to 18 months for degree holders. PhD graduates will continue to qualify for a 3-year visa.
Graduates completing studies in 2026 will still be eligible for the current 2-year visa.
Consider:
Shorter post-study visas may affect graduate recruitment planning, especially for roles that previously relied on the full two-year period to transition to sponsorship.
Expansion of the high potential individual (HPI) Route
The HPI visa offers a 2-year unsponsored work visa for graduates of top global universities.
From 4 November 2025, the list of eligible institutions will double, expanding to include the top 100 non-UK universities (currently top 50).
However, there will be an annual cap of 8,000 places, so the overall impact may remain limited.
Point to note:
This expansion may provide additional flexibility for hiring recent international graduates, particularly for specialist or high-skill roles.
Other notable updates
Student visa holders who have completed their courses will be permitted to start business activity while awaiting a decision on their Innovator Founder visa application.
Citizens of Botswana will require a visitor visa (no longer eligible for an ETA) from 15:00 on 14 October 2025.
Palestinian nationals will also be added to the visa national list from 25 November 2025, following the UK’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine.
Ongoing changes
The government is expected to roll out further immigration updates in line with the White Paper throughout late 2025 and 2026.
If you would like to know more about these changes and the other developments within the Immigration White Paper we will discussing these in more depth at our Immigration Law Masterclass on 26 November. Please see further details here about this event.
