Ben Maitland writes on UK Spring immigration changes HR directors should be aware of

7 May 2025

As the UK government gears up to publish a new Immigration White Paper, employers are grappling with recent changes to who they sponsor on a work visa, how and who picks up the tab. Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law Senior Associate Ben Maitland outlines what HR teams need to know about the upcoming changes for the HR Director (see link below).

Ben Maitland writes: “It is crucial that employers keep on top of these changes as Home Office compliance visits have shot up 40% year-on-year, and civil penalties are rising too, with over £20 million issued in the last recorded quarter.”

If you have any concerns about any of these developments or would like to discuss any aspects of sponsor compliance, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can use the form below, email one of our lawyers or call 0207 033 9527.

The Spring Statement of Changes to the UK’s Immigration Rules presented to the House of Commons has implications for employers and those seeking work immigration routes to the UK. Some are more consequential than others.

As a ministerial statement by the Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship Seema Mahotra makes clear, the Government is publishing an Immigration White Paper imminently which contains more major changes. The Statement of Changes mainly closes what the Home Office regards as loopholes and addresses ongoing concerns, such as the exploitation of care workers, as well as simplifying rules. In a separate announcement zero-hour contractors and other irregular workers will have new right to work rules for employers to bring them in line with other workers.

Nonetheless, it will have implications for many employers, who they can sponsor and how. Contact one of our immigration lawyers if you need any advice.

You can read the minister’s full statement here, an Explanatory Memorandum to the changes here, and all 132 pages of the 12 March 2025 Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 733) here.

The developments discussed in Ben Maitland’s article are:

• Curbs to self-sponsors and investors sponsored as Skilled Workers
• Curbs to the costs that can be recouped and potentially clawed back from sponsored workers
• Minimum salary threshold rises for Skilled Workers on the most discounted rates
• Care worker sponsors must first try to recruit from a local pool of unsponsored care workers
• Creative workers on the Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa can’t fill permanent vacancies
• Global Talent visa – some technical changes to applying for endorsement
• Changes to visitor and ETA rules
• Financial thresholds for company sizes that could affect sponsor costs
• Immigration fees increases
• On the horizon – extending right to work checks to zero-hour workers

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns, or if you would like a general audit of your right to work and sponsorship procedures and compliance. It is increasingly important to ensure these are totally compliant with rising enforcement activity and queries from UK Visas and Immigration.