Great Britain is actively working to reduce the number of migrants. London has already raised the level of the minimum wage for highly qualified workers, canceled preferential conditions for workers in scarce industries, and changed the procedure for family reunification. However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced that the government plans to introduce an annual quota for the number of work and family visas. Find out what changes await expats in this regard

The issue of excessive migration is actively discussed in Great Britain. At the beginning of 2024, the country's government has already implemented certain changes that affected the number of expats: they raised the level of minimum wages for highly qualified workers, canceled preferential conditions for workers in scarce industries, and changed the procedure for family reunification. Such innovations have already led to a reduction in the number of migrants in the United Kingdom, but this has not been enough. It is the topic of excessive migration that has become key in the run-up to the elections to be held in Great Britain on July 4, 2024.

  What should expats prepare for? How does the existing migration policy already affect the number of foreigners? We will find out further.

An annual quota for work and family visas is a pre-election promise of the Conservatives

  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised that the re-elected Conservative government will introduce annual limits on work and family visas. The policy will be formulated based on the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and will require parliamentary approval.

Although specific numbers and dates have not been disclosed, it is already known that Sunak proposes to reduce the quota annually. The exact number of visas that will be issued by the United Kingdom per year will be determined by Parliament based on an analysis of the level of wages in the country, the indicator of the shortage of workers and other important components.

Who will be affected by the proposed changes?

The proposal to introduce visa quotas is aimed at deterring immigration, but at the same time it affects sectors and communities that depend on migrant labour, particularly the care industry.

The decidedly static figures show that the UK has already issued 300,000 work visas this year, more than double the figure for 2019. However, given the stricter rules already in place, the number of foreign applicants for jobs in the healthcare sector has fallen by 76%. Given that the field of care is already experiencing a severe shortage of workers, the changes proposed by the Prime Minister may lead to an acute shortage of personnel.

Also, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, after the new rules came into force, among citizens who came to the country on the basis of a family reunification visa, the number of applications decreased by 58%, and the number of applications from international students decreased by 79%.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's proposal shows the government's determination to change the UK's immigration strategy after the election. And while the United Kingdom remains an attractive destination for expats, the new policy will significantly affect the number of migrants in the country.

As a reminder, read about the changes that await students in Great Britain in 2024 here. The procedure for obtaining citizenship of the United Kingdom is at the link.

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Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.

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