The United Kingdom government announced plans to overhaul its visa system, aiming to reduce the number of foreign workers entering the country through legal channels, according to a Home Office announcement on Sunday.

The measures, detailed in an upcoming Immigration White Paper, are set to be presented to Parliament on Monday.

The proposed reforms include introducing graduate-level qualifications for skilled visa applicants and imposing caps on lower-skilled visas.

A dedicated task force will identify industries overly reliant on foreign labor, with a focus on addressing worker shortages through enhanced domestic training and recruitment.

Lower-skilled visas will be time-limited and granted only when employers demonstrate clear evidence of need and commit to bolstering local workforce development.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, responding to public concerns about strained public services, said the government has prioritized migration reduction since Labour assumed power last summer.

The issue sparked protests that escalated into right-wing violence, underscoring its political sensitivity.

The visa crackdown follows a surge in skilled worker visas, which have tripled since their introduction in 2020 under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit immigration framework.

The UK continues to experience historically high net migration, which reached a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

Between 2021 and 2024, the number of people settling permanently in the UK rose by 80%, while the number of dependents entering the country surged by 360% from 2021 to 2023.

Critics argue that the government has failed to fully assess the impact of these trends on businesses, particularly those reliant on migrant labour.

Additionally, there are growing concerns about the exploitation of visa holders—especially in the care sector—where instances of trafficking, debt bondage, and other abuses have been reported due to weak oversight and enforcement.