Update on Immigration Reforms

Latest Immigration Reforms to be implemented on or after the following dates:

On 30^th January 2024 the Home Secretary, James Cleverly set out the timeline for the immigration reforms which are set out below and are to be implemented in the coming months. As stated by the Home Secretary these reforms are designed to curb abuse of the migration system and reduce the net migration figure by 300,000.

Changes to be implemented on 1^st February 2024:

• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): Citizens of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates who are travelling to the UK on or after 22 February 2024 will have to apply for this.

Changes to be implemented on 6^th February 2024:

• Immigration Health Surcharge to increase: The Immigration Health Surcharge for most applicants will increase significantly from £624 to £1035 per year and for students and their dependants, or those on Youth Mobility Scheme and child applicants the fees are to increase from £470 per year to £776 per year.

Changes to be implemented on 13^th February 2024:

• The civil penalty an employer may receive for employing an illegal worker will triple from £20,000 to £60,000. The Civil penalties for employers will be increased up to a maximum of £45,000 per worker for a first offence and £60,000 for repeat offences, tripling both from the last increase in 2014.

Changes to be implemented on or after 11^th March 2024:

• Care workers and Senior Care workers: will not be able to bring their dependents (partners and children)
• Requirements for care home Sponsors to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to sponsor Carers or Senior Carers

Changes to be implemented from 4^th April 2024:

• Skilled workers: new minimum income salary requirement of £38,700 to be met
• Shortage occupation list to be replaced by the new Immigration Salary list.
• 20% going rate discount for shortage occupations to be abolished.
• Amendments to the going salary rates.

Changes to be implemented on 6^th April 2024:

• Sponsor Licence Holders for Skilled Workers: If your licence is due to expire on or after this date you will no longer need to apply to renew your licence or pay a renewal fee The Home Office will remove the requirement to renew your sponsor licence.

Changes to be implemented from 11^th April 2024:

• Family Migration Route: The minimum income salary requirement will increase to £29,000. This will further increase in stages (expected to rise again later this year) and will increase further to £38,700 by early 2025.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

“I’ve been clear that migration is too high, and we must get back to sustainable levels. Last year I set out robust measures to reduce the numbers coming into our country – tightening the rules on care workers, skilled workers, and making sure that people can support their family members that they bring over.

It is a firm approach, but a fair one, and gives those affected time to prepare whilst ensuring that migration comes down. The British people want to see action, not words. We are delivering the change we promised and which they expect, lifting pressure on public services and protecting British workers with the utmost urgency.”

If you have any questions please contact our Immigration team on 023 9266 0261