On March 9, 2023, the UK government announced changes to immigration rules, and the changes includes the closure of the Start-up visa route, replacing the current Innovator route, and increases to salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility workers. The newly amended immigration rules have been laid before Parliament and they will come into effect on April 12, 2023.
The summary of these changes is as follows.
1. Closure of Start-up visa
The Start-up visa is designed for people who want to start an innovative business in the UK. The Start-up visa was used as a stepping stone to the Innovator visa. However, due to the closure on April 13, 2023, initial applications will only be accepted where they are supported by endorsements issued before 13 April 2023 and the application is made by 12 July 2023. The route will close to all new applicants on 13 July 2023. The current start-up visa holders need to switch to the innovator visa in order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain after a further 3 years (5 years in total), once the new Innovator Founder route opens, start-up entrepreneurs will be able to qualify for ILR after just 3 years.
2. New Innovator founder
The Innovator visa which was first launched in March 2019, is for individuals with significant funds and who seek to establish a business in the UK. The aim was to make it easier for those who have a genuine business plan for an innovative business and have sufficient funds to provide it. The new Innovator founder route will remove the £50,000 funding requirement applied to the current innovator visa, making the criteria currently applicable under the Innovator route more flexible so that those with a genuine proposal for an innovative business and who have sufficient funds to deliver it, are more readily available to enter the UK and establish this business.
Unlike start-up visas, Innovator Founder visas will be valid for 3 years and, subject to satisfying various additional criteria, will have the option of applying for settlement at the end of these 3 years.
3. Increase in the salary threshold for Skilled Workers, Global Business Mobility workers
From April 12, 2023, salary requirements for skilled workers will increase. The minimum salary threshold for Skilled Workers has been increased to £26,200. The minimum salary requirement for the Global Business Mobility Senior or specialist worker visa has been increased to £45,800, £24,220, and £34,600 for Scale-up workers.
4. Changes in the requirement of global talent visa route
Various changes to the endorsement criteria evidential requirements come into effect on 12 April 2023. For example, in order to receive an endorsement from the Arts Council England, applicants must include a CV to assist the endorsing body in understanding what stage the applicant is at in their arts and culture career to date.
5. Introducing the Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETA)
The ETA scheme provides advance permission to visitors prior to travel to the UK. The ETA scheme will apply to third-country national (i.e., not British or Irish) passengers visiting the UK or transiting the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, as well as those using the Creative Worker route for a short stay.
However, it will come into effect on 12 April 2023, but it will gradually apply to Qatar nationals from on or after 15 November 2023 and then extended to other nationals on 1 February 2024.
6. Exemption from proof of 12 months employment for 12 months for Australia GBM workers
Under the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, Australian nationals and permanent residents coming to the UK to open a branch or subsidiary of their Australian employer will not need to demonstrate that they have worked for their overseas employer for 12 months prior to coming to the UK.
7. Expansion of the YMS for Australia, Canada, and New Zealand national
From 12 April 2023, the annual allocation of visas under the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) for Australia and Canada will increase. Australia will increase to 35,000 per year and Canada to 8,000.
In addition, New Zealanders are subject to an age range of 18-30, which will expand the age range to 18-35 and increase the length of stay from 2 to 3 years.
In this post, we have summarized some of the key changes to the Immigration Rules introduced by Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC1160), published on 9 March 2023.