UK’s New Immigration Rules Spark Concern Among Indian Students, Workers
Government’s changes to settlement and student visa routes draw mixed response from key stakeholders
The UK’s freshly unveiled immigration overhaul is already sending ripples through the Indian community. Students and professionals are now bracing for major changes under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new agenda to rein in immigration numbers.
The long-awaited Immigration White Paper, released on Monday, outlines sweeping reforms. These changes include doubling the qualifying period for settlement from five to ten years and tightening English language requirements. Experts say both changes will directly affect thousands of Indian nationals, who represent one of the largest applicant groups for student and skilled worker visas.
Graduate Route Narrowly Preserved—But Shortened
In a modest relief, the government has decided to retain the post-study Graduate Route visa, which previously allowed international graduates to stay and work in the UK for up to two years. However, the new version trims that window down to 18 months.
“We’re relieved the government chose to keep the Graduate Route—even with a shorter duration—but we urge policymakers to roll out this and the wider reforms with care, clarity, and collaboration,” said Sanam Arora, Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK.
NISAU voiced particular concern for Indian students, who are currently the largest cohort using the Graduate Route to gain global work experience after completing their degrees. The organization stressed the need for immediate guidance to prevent confusion or panic among current and prospective students.
Tougher Road for Skilled Workers Too
The changes don’t stop with students. The skilled worker route, another major pathway heavily utilized by Indian professionals, is also under scrutiny.Experts warn that new minimum salary thresholds and stricter skill alignment rules will make the route harder to access.
“We are pleased to see recognition of our long-standing calls for better alignment between immigration and skills,” Arora added. “And we strongly support the push for greater transparency in education agent practices.”
Still, those wins might not carry much weight amid what critics describe as an increasingly unwelcoming system.
Health and Care Visa on the Chopping Block
he government is considering scrapping the Health and Care Worker visa, which many Indian and South Asian applicants currently rely on. The government frames the move as a crackdown on exploitation, but advocacy groups see it differently.
“The government claims it’s closing the Health and Care Worker visa to tackle growing exploitation. But with visa numbers already dwindling, it’s just a distraction,” said Dr. Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the Work Rights Centre.
She warned that many migrant care workers already in the UK face limbo, financial insecurity, and little meaningful government support. “They don’t need more hostility or victim-blaming,” she said. “They need the freedom to apply their skills in places that value them.”
Settlement Delays Raise Alarm
Another controversial shift is the doubling of the wait time before migrants can apply for settled status—from five years to a full decade. Critics call the move arbitrary and damaging, especially for those in already vulnerable positions.
“This change will put more people at risk of falling into insecure immigration status,” Vicol warned, “increasing their vulnerability to exploitation and even pushing some into undocumented status.”
A Harder Line from Downing Street
In his speech outside Downing Street, Starmer defended the sweeping reforms as necessary to restore public confidence.
“Without these changes, the UK risks becoming an island of strangers,” he said. “Skill requirements will be raised to degree level, English language standards will apply across all visa routes—including for dependents—and enforcement will be tougher than ever.”
The Prime Minister made it clear: every aspect of the immigration system—work, family, and study—is being tightened. And the goal, he promised, is a “sharp” reduction in migrant numbers.
Uncertain Times Ahead
As the dust settles, what’s clear is that these changes will have deep implications for India-UK mobility, particularly among students and workers who’ve long seen Britain as a gateway to global opportunity.
For many, the question now is not just how these policies will roll out—but who will still feel welcome once they do.
