In 2025, the UK immigration landscape is likely to change further, affecting employers and those who wish to travel to the UK, whether for personal or work reasons. Chetal Patel, Bates Wells head of immigration, explains what organisations should be looking out for when bringing in overseas talent in 2025.
Change to eVisas
UK Visas and Immigration will continue to transition towards a digitally-based immigration system. In 2024 the process of replacing physical documents such as Biometric Resident Permits (BRPs) with digital eVisas began. UKVI confirmed that expired documents would be valid for international travel until 31 March 2025. It is possible that this was due to individuals having technical difficulties obtaining eVisas, and fears that these technical problems could lead to a Windrush scandal. This extended timeline is likely to be reviewed.
Top Tips
- It is recommended that individuals retain their previous immigration status documents in order to enter the UK smoothly.
- Once the eVisas have been obtained, individuals should verify that all information is correct and report any errors.
- Existing employees do not need to inform their employers if they have switched to eVisas.
Travel Authorisation Electronic
UKVI will introduce the Electronic Travel Authorisation System (ETA) in 2024. This system requires individuals to request pre-authorisation prior to travelling to the UK.
From 8 January 2025 all nationals from 49 countries and territories will need to have an ETA in order to travel to the UK.
The process now affects citizens of the US, Canada and Australia as well as other non-EU/EEA countries who did not require any prior authorization before traveling to the UK.
EU citizens (except Irish citizens) will be required, from 2 April 2025 onwards, to apply for and receive an ETA prior to travelling to the UK.
Top Tips
- Plan ahead and allow extra time to complete the ETA.
- Those global organisations that host employees from entities with overseas links for business meetings must plan ahead and make sure they are aware of this requirement.
Sponsorship scrutiny is now more stringent
UKVI made it clear over the last few years that sponsor compliance was a priority. In 2024 the government adopted a more strict and focused approach towards sponsor license compliance. By Q3 2024, 513 licences for skilled workers had been revoked, which was more than the 377 total revocations from 2023. Sponsorship is seen as a privilege, not a right. This increased scrutiny will continue through 2025.
UKVI has updated its guidelines and begun implementing new measures to prevent skilled worker sponsors from passing the cost of an application for a sponsor license or administrative costs associated with it on to sponsored workers.
Top Tips
- Employers with sponsor licenses should conduct annual reviews/MOTs to ensure that their systems are in compliance with sponsor duties.
- UKVI will continue to make changes to its policy, so it is important to stay on top of the key changes.
Targeting rogue employers
The new Employment Rights Bill will introduce new measures to target “rogue” companies that abuse the UK visa program. Employers who commit serious employment law violations, like not paying the minimum wage or breaking immigration rules repeatedly, may face extended bans from hiring foreign workers. Repeat offenders are banned from hiring overseas workers for at least 2 years, and will also be subjected to cooling-off periods.
Review of MAC and Government Policy
In its 2024 annual report, the Migration Advisory Council (MAC) confirmed that the government had requested a yearly evaluation of how key sectors use the immigration system. The MAC was already tasked to examine the use of work-related immigration routes for IT professionals and engineers.
Early 2025, the government will release a paper addressing the relationship between visa sponsorships and training. This proposal could mean employers must demonstrate their commitment to upgrading the domestic workforce in order to sponsor workers.
These policy reviews are certain to influence immigration policy in the future.
The conclusion of the article is:
In 2025, immigration in the UK will undergo further changes. Employers must be aware of the latest developments as the UK immigration system becomes fully digital. Businesses must adapt to changing landscapes, from the expansion of ETA to possible changes in visa sponsorship related to training.
Subscribe to our weekly HR news and guidance
Every Wednesday, receive the Personnel Today Direct newsletter.
Personnel Today has the latest HR job openings.
Browse Human Resources Jobs
