What Just Changed? A Snapshot of July 2025 Immigration Reforms
On 1 July 2025, the UK Government enacted wide-ranging changes via HC 997 – Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, part of its “Restoring Control” agenda. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Closure of Afghan Resettlement Schemes
- The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) officially closed at 15:00 BST on 1 July 2025. After that time, no new principal applications will be accepted assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
- Surviving applications submitted before the deadline will still be processed, including family referrals ft.com
- Critics warn of increased Channel crossing risks and liken the sudden nature of the closure to a “harsh signal” sent without notice theguardian.com
2. Skilled Worker Route Major Overhaul
- From 22 July 2025, the Skilled Worker visa is restricted to graduate-level (RQF 6+) occupations—elevating the entry bar from the previous A-level/RQF 3 threshold
- Salary floors also rise—from circa £38,700 to £41,700, or in line with role-specific thresholds immigrationbarrister.co.uk.
- 111 occupations (about 180 roles in some estimates) will lose eligibility, unless listed on a Temporary Shortage List (TSL)—valid until end‑2026—and no dependants are allowed for TSL applicants immigrationbarrister.co.uk
3. Social Care Visa Closure
- The Health & Care Worker visa route for adult social care is closed to overseas applicants from 22 July 2025 thetimes.co.uk
- Current visa-holders can still extend, switch routes, and bring dependants until 22 July 2028 questions-statements.parliament.uk.
4. Post-Study (Graduate) Visa Shortened
- The Graduate visa, allowing non-UK students to stay post-graduation, is reduced from 2 years (3 for PhDs) to 18 months ukcisa.org.uk
5. Settlement (ILR) Extended
- The default qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) shifts from 5 to 10 years, with “earned settlement” options for economic contributors 1migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk
- A public consultation on this is expected “later this year”; implementation date yet to be confirmed commonslibrary.parliament.uk
Why Now? Understanding the Government’s Rationale
These changes are derived from the May 2025 Immigration White Paper, which advocated for:
- Lower net migration
- Tighter, skills-focused immigration with clear Parliament-led rules
- Strengthened enforcement and integration control statements.parliament.uk
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called it a “complete reset” aimed at restoring control by focusing on higher skills, lower numbers, and tighter oversight
Who’s Affected—and How?
| Group | What’s Changed | Tips & Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Afghan applicants | No new ARAP/ACRS applications after 1 July | Ensure you submitted before the 3 pm deadline—family referrals still move forward |
| Lower-/mid-skilled workers | Unless on TSL, overseas applicants can’t access the Skilled Worker route | Employers should sponsor soon or prepare to train UK staff |
| Social care workers | Closed to overseas applicants after 22 July | Already in-country? Can switch/extend until 2028 |
| International students | Graduate visa stays reduced to 18 months | Plan job searches early |
| Long-term visa holders | ILR now 10 years, with possible accelerated “points” routes | Prepare for extended residency; monitor upcoming consultation |
What the Experts Say
- Citizens Advice suggests those planning settlement or citizenship apply early—especially before English tests get harder
- Migration Observatory (Oxford) warns that extending ILR to 10 years may harm integration and will heavily depend on final exemptions and policies migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk
- Think‑tanks & charities critique the changes as disconnected from labour reality, potentially creating a revolving system of short-term migrants labourexploitation.org.
What You Need to Do (Actionable Checklist)
- ✅ Apply before deadlines: ARAP/ACRS by 1 July, Skilled Worker & care roles by 22 July.
- 🎓 International students: Act fast—Graduate visa duration halved.
- 👨👩👧 Visa holders staying on: Track ILR changes and consultations.
- 🏥 Employers: Re-focus recruitment and invest in TSL roles with no dependants.
- 📚 Stay informed: Watch upcoming changes to English requirements and ILR pathways.
Final Thoughts
July 2025 marks one of the most sweeping immigration shifts in recent memory: graduating to a skills-heavy, controlled model, with tighter settlement rules and drastic visa route pruning. While aiming to reduce reliance on migrant labor, these reforms risk business disruption, migration misalignments, and heightened legal scrutiny. To stay ahead, individuals and employers must act fast, stay informed, and prepare for the full effects—especially as ILR timelines and English requirements are finalised.