Changes to the UK immigration policy FAQ
On 4 December 2023, the UK government announced changes to the immigration system that will take effect from Spring 2024. In response, we have pulled together a brief FAQ below.
Details of the changes to the immigration system can be found on the .GOV website.
The changes being made to the Health and Care Visa route will only affect the care sector. When the changes take effect, care workers and senior care workers will be unable to bring dependents when they migrate to the UK, and only CQC-registered providers in England will be able to sponsor Health and Care Visa applicants. These changes do not affect the NHS.
Other changes, such as the increase in salary thresholds, do not apply to the Health and Care Visa route. Health and Care Visa holders will continue to be exempt from paying the Immigrational Health Surcharge (IHS).
The government stated it will ask the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review replacing the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) with an Immigration Salary List (ISL) with reduced occupations and also review the Graduate Visa route.
The government has reassured us that, while it is determined to reduce net migration, it understands the importance of internationally educated health and care workers. We understand that these changes are likely to result in a number of questions, especially for internationally educated staff and those working on international recruitment.
This FAQ is based on what we know now and we anticipate that there are some questions we can’t answer yet.
Please continue to check the NHS Employers and .GOV websites for latest information.
For updated examples, FAQs and up to date guidance on how these immigration changes impact the NHS, please refer to this article.
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