Immigration: Skilled Worker visas

In the next six months, work with the Migration Advisory Committee, Skills England, the Industrial Strategy Council and Labour Market Advisory Board to establish an agreed methodological approach to better understand the role that immigration can play in addressing skills shortages across different sectors of the labour market. This should identify the data that are needed, how they will be collected, processed and brought together, and how the insights will be used to inform future changes to visa entry requirements so they are based on a thorough understanding of the potential impacts on labour markets and the risks posed by exploitation.

Ref Page 12, 18a · Implemented 31/01/2026

Before the end of 2025, work with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to establish new working arrangements to develop a more effective joined-up approach to tackling exploitation of visa holders. Specifically, these should: review data-sharing arrangements with local authorities and HM Revenue & Customs to identify the refinements necessary to improve its ability to identify potential labour market abuses and improve safeguarding for people whose status is jeopardised by the cancellation of sponsor licences

Ref Page 13, 18e(2) · Implemented 04/2026

Before the end of 2025, work with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to establish new working arrangements to develop a more effective joined-up approach to tackling exploitation of visa holders. Specifically, these should: establish ways of working with the Fair Work Agency to improve labour market standards for migrants on Skilled Worker visas

Ref Page 13, 18e(3) · Implemented 03/2027

Improve efficiency and customer service by using an analysis of its existing management information on operational performance, including from customer surveys, contacts, complaints and appeals, to produce a service improvement plan that identifies service issues, actions to resolve them, and creates a new dashboard to provide a more complete view of service quality from a customer perspective ? this might include devising a way to improve how customers are kept informed throughout the application process

Ref Page 12, 18c · Implemented 15/12/2025

Improve its understanding of the extent to which the Skilled Worker visa route is meeting its objectives by: complete an assessment of what happens to people at the end of their visa period by the end of 2025, five years after the route was introduced

Ref Page 12, 18b(2) · Implemented 15/12/2025

Improve its understanding of the extent to which the Skilled Worker visa route is meeting its objectives by: identify the data it needs ? including from other departments ? to allow it to better understand how the route is being used on an ongoing basis

Ref Page 12, 18b(3) · Implemented 04/2026

Improve its understanding of the extent to which the Skilled Worker visa route is meeting its objectives by: completing and publishing its evaluation of the Skilled Worker visa route within the next three months;

Ref Page 12, 18b(1) · Implemented 09/2025

Strengthen its approach to tackling non-compliance with visa conditions and potential labour market abuses by: explicitly evaluating non-compliance risks when considering any expansion of the Skilled Worker visa route to include new occupations

Ref Page 12, 18d(1) · Implemented 15/12/2025

Strengthen its approach to tackling non-compliance with visa conditions and potential labour market abuses by: reviewing sector-specific risk assessments every six months to develop and refresh its understanding of evolving non-compliance risks

Ref Page 13, 18d(2) · Implemented 15/12/2025

Strengthen its approach to tackling non-compliance with visa conditions and potential labour market abuses by: evaluating the effectiveness of different types of compliance interventions

Ref Page 13, 18d(3) · Implemented 15/12/2025

Before the end of 2025, work with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to establish new working arrangements to develop a more effective joined-up approach to tackling exploitation of visa holders. Specifically, these should: identify ways to improve communication with overseas applicants to ensure that they have the necessary information on and support with the Skilled Worker visa route

Ref Page 13, 18e(1) · Implemented 15/12/2025