Immigration into the UK - An Update

published on 2 April 2025 | reading time approx. 5 minutes

Authors: Charlotte Bateman, Rhiti Dsouza 

The UK Government has announced significant changes to immigration law, particularly affecting employers and individuals on the Skilled Worker Route. These changes aim to overhaul the current immigration system in line with the Government's plan to reduce net migration and this article summarises the key proposals.

Passing sponsorship costs onto employees

The UK Home Office’s updated guidance document explicitly prohibits employers from recouping costs of assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to a Skilled Worker, on or after 31 December 2024. While this ban is currently limited to the Skilled Worker visa, it is expected to extend to other work visa routes as well. These changes aim to ensure that employees are not financially burdened by their sponsorship and that employers bear these costs themselves. The guidance also confirms that if a sponsor does pass on these costs, the Home Office will ‘normally revoke’ the sponsor’s licence.

In January, the Home Office also announced plans to increase application fees, expected to enter into force in Spring 2025. For sponsors, the fee for assigning a CoS will rise from £239 to £525, further supporting the ban on passing costs to workers.

Sponsoring workers in personal capacities

The updated guidance confirms that sponsorship licences must not be used to employ workers ‘in a personal capacity’, which is particularly relevant for individuals engaged in domestic or care work. The guidance confirms that using a sponsorship licence in this way will result in the Home Office ‘normally revoking’ the licence. Furthermore, individuals who have previously employed workers in a personal capacity cannot assign new CoS’ on this basis from 31 December 2024.

Updates to “key personnel”

The Home Office has revised the requirements for key personnel in sponsor licence applications to improve the integrity and accountability of the sponsorship process. For sponsors applying for a licence on or after 31 December 2024, it is now mandatory to have at least one Level 1 user who is both an employee, partner, or director within the organisation and a settled worker. Previously, these criteria could be met by two separate individuals. Additionally, the updated guidance allows UK-based legal representatives to serve as Key Contact, additional Level 1 user, and Level 2 user.

E-Visa transition

To streamline the immigration process, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has rolled out an online “eVisa” system which records immigration statuses. This digital record will detail an individual’s conditions and permissions for entering or staying in the UK. The following documents are being replaced:

Biometric Residence Permits (BRP)
Biometric Residence Cards (BRC)
Passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps
Vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes

To access their eVisa, users must set up a UKVI account. Once the account is active, users can update personal information like addresses or phone numbers. Additionally, the account enables users to generate a share code for third parties, such as employers or landlords, allowing them temporary access to view the immigration status.

Since the end of October 2024, no new UK Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have been issued, and existing ones expired on 31 December 2024. Although the government initially aimed to phase out immigration permissions by 1 January 2025, the deadline has been extended. BRPs will still be valid for travel to the UK until 31 March 2025. However, BRP holders are advised to obtain an eVisa as soon as possible to avoid any potential complications.

Electronic Travel Authorisations for non-visa nationals

With effect from 2 April 2025, European nationals (excluding Irish nationals) who do not need a visa to enter the UK and do not have any existing permission will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entry. Applications for the same opened on 5 March 2025. This digital authorisation will apply to non-visa nationals traveling to the UK for the following purposes:

Visiting
Working as a creative professional for up to three months
Transiting through the UK landside

Following a Government u-turn, the ETA requirement will no longer be necessary for airside transit through Heathrow and Manchester airports.

All eligible non-European travellers to the UK are required to obtain an ETA to enter the UK as of 8 January 2025. All visa-free nationals who are intending to visit the UK for up to six months need to obtain digital permission to travel or transit through the country. Applications can be made online or via the ETA app, with applicants required to provide basic personal details, passport data and a photograph. The application fee is currently £10, set to increase to £16 later this year. ETAs are valid for two years (unless the applicant’s passport expires soon) and allows multiple trips to the UK.

Additionally, Colombian nationals are no longer included on the ETA list and instead will require a visa to travel to the UK.

Measures to reduce net migration

The Government also announced an Immigration White Paper to intensify efforts to reduce high levels of migration, particularly in sectors that are heavily reliant on immigration such as healthcare, construction and hospitality, etc. The White Paper has not yet been released, but the proposed strategy includes linking skills training with the domestic labour market. However, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)’s 2024 report indicated that domestic and international workers are not direct substitutes. Instead, employers seek the best match for their vacancy even if there are sufficiently skilled local candidates available.

In the interim, the Home Office is urging businesses to extend their right to work checks beyond their directly employed staff. This includes conducting checks on self-employed contractors, their substitute workers, and agency workers. This proactive approach helps protect businesses from potential legal and reputational risks.