Home Secretary today (Wednesday 19 December)
set out plans for a new single, skills-based immigration system
which marks the end of free movement.
The new immigration
system will introduce a new route for skilled workers
which favours experience and talent over nationality. It will
enable employers to have access to the skills they need from
around the world, while ensuring net migration is reduced to
sustainable levels.
The White Paper proposals will, in line with the recommendations
made by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC);
- remove the annual cap on the number of work visas issued
- widen the skills threshold to include people with
qualifications equivalent of A levels
- ends the requirements for labour market tests by employers
wanting to sponsor a worker.
Home Secretary said:
Today’s proposals are the biggest change to our immigration
system in a generation.
We are taking a skills-based approach to ensure we can attract
the brightest and best migrants to the UK.
These measures will boost our economy and benefit the British
people.
There will also be a new route for workers at any skill level for
a temporary period. This will allow all businesses have the staff
they need as we move to the new immigration system but ensure
they have the incentive to train young people in the future.
The 12-month visa will provide access to the labour market, but
no access to benefits. People arriving on this route will not be
able to bring family members with them, won’t accrue rights to
settle in the UK and will have a 12-month cooling off period once
their visa expires. These proposals will be discussed with
business as part of the extensive engagement programme planned.
The White Paper proposals will also ensure there is no limit on
the number of genuine international students, who can come to the
UK to study. Proposals extend the time they can stay post-study
to find employment to six months for those who have completed a
bachelor’s or master’s degree and 12 months for those who have
completed a PhD.
The White Paper proposes measures to improve border security
checks and support frictionless flow of legitimate passengers’
checks. These include:
- creating a single, consistent approach to criminality by
aligning both EU and non-EU criminality thresholds
- ending the use national ID cards as a form of travel
documentation for EU citizens as soon as is practicable, given
these documents are more insecure and open to abuse than
passports
- introducing an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme
to allow vital information to be collected at an earlier stage
before visitors, who does not require a visa, travel. This will
give visitors greater certainty that they will be able to enter
the UK on arrival
- allowing citizens from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand,
USA, Singapore and South Korea to use e-gates to pass through the
border on arrival, alongside EU and UK citizens
The Immigration and Social Security Coordination (EU Withdrawal)
Bill to be published on Thursday 20 December ends free movement
and creates the legal framework for the future borders and
immigration system. It also creates the legal framework for a
future, single benefits system that will apply to both EU and
non-EU nationals and maintains the Common Travel Area between the
UK and Ireland.
The new immigration and borders system will be implemented in a
phased approach from 2021 following an extensive 12-month
programme of engagement with businesses, stakeholders and the
public by the Home Office.
Read the White Paper.
Read the executive summary.
