Changes to the Immigration rules – 14 October 2025

The Home Office laid a new Statement of Changes to the immigration rules on 14 October 2025. Several changes already announced in the Immigration White Paper earlier this year, will directly impact employers and sponsors of international workers under the skilled worker immigration route.

Summary of the key changes:

1. English language threshold raised from B1 to B2 level for economic migration routes (for first-time grants) 

The English language requirement for the Skilled Worker and other economic migration routes such as Scale-up and High Potential Individual (HPI) routes will increase from the current CEFR B1 to B2 for initial applications submitted on or after 8 January 2026.

Transitional protection applies and where applicants are extending on the same route and who were granted permission subject to B1 level, will continue to be assessed at the same level. 
Employers should factor this into the recruitment timeline and advise recruiters and/or new hires about the higher English language threshold in preparation for next year.  

2. Graduate route shortened to 18 months (PhD unchanged)

The period of permission granted under the Graduate route will be reduced from the current two years to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027. PhD or doctoral graduates will however continue to receive three years permission.

This change is intended to encourage progression into graduate-level roles. Employers relying on the Graduate route as a bridge to Skilled Worker permission will need to adjust workforce planning and check that switching points remain viable.

3. High Potential Individual (HPI) – expansion and cap

Two significant changes have been announced to the HPI route. First, the Home Office will double the current list of eligible institutions (‘the Global Universities List’), with discretion to exclude institutions where appropriate (e.g. national security). Secondly, an annual cap of 8,000 applications will be introduced. 

Most HPI changes take effect from 4 November 2025 with the B2 level English language change for HPI aligning with the 8 January 2026 implementation noted above.

4. Other practical considerations for employers

A visit visa requirement has been imposed on Botswana nationals from 14 October 2025 which may affect business travellers.

• Recruitment pipelines: From 8 January 2026, new Skilled Worker applicants will need to meet the English language requirement at a higher level (B2). The move to B2 level of English reflects a policy drive to raise workplace-ready language standards, but it will compress the candidate pool in sectors that have historically sponsored at B1 level.
  
  Employers are advised to review pre-screening requirements to ensure that any new hires/candidates can evidence B2 level across all four components (reading, writing, listening and speaking). Additionally, employers should consider whether existing offers (issued on the assumption of B1 level) to candidates will need to make their application before the rule changes on 8 January 2026. 

• Graduate route bridge: Where employers rely on the two-year Graduate period to assess candidates who are suitable for sponsorship, they need to plan for an 18-month period starting from 1 January 2027 and ensure that sponsorship is viable for these candidates.

• HPI hiring: With an annual cap and a broader eligible-institution list, this route could provide employers with an alternative immigration pathway instead of sponsorship. Employers should consider this route as an additional option when considering recruitment of international workers.

• Increase to Immigration Skills charge: Although not included in the Statement of changes, the government has indicated in a separate press release that the parliamentary process to increase the immigration skills charge (ISC) will begin this week. The ISC is payable by sponsoring employers for each year of a sponsored worker’s permission. The current rate, set at £1,000 per year since 2017, is set to rise by 32% to £1,320 per year (for small sponsors, it is set to increase from £364 to £480). No commencement date has been announced yet, but implementation is expected by end of this year. 

For further information or assistance to navigate these upcoming changes to the Immigration Rules, please contact our Employment, Pensions & Immigration team.