🎄Christmas Blog

Reflecting on the Year

As 2025 comes to a close, we want to thank all our clients for their trust and resilience. This year has brought both challenges and opportunities in the immigration landscape, and together we’ve navigated complex changes with determination and creativity.

Christmas is a time of hope, renewal, and new beginnings — values that resonate deeply with the journeys our clients undertake when building lives and businesses in the UK.

Immigration Updates – December 2025

This month has seen significant changes that employers and visa applicants should be aware of:

• Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) Increase

  • Effective 16 December 2025, ISC rose for the first time since 2017.

  • Medium/Large sponsors: £1,320 for the first 12 months, £660 for each additional 6 months.

  • Small/Charitable sponsors: £480 for the first 12 months, £240 for each additional 6 months.

  • Over a 5‑year sponsorship, costs rise from £5,000 to £6,600 for large sponsors, and from £1,820 to £2,400 for small/charitable sponsors.

  • Action point: If you assigned Certificates of Sponsorship before 16 December, the old rates apply. Future assignments must budget for the new higher rates.

• Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules (HC 1491, 9 December 2025)

  • Updates across multiple visa categories, aligning with the Government’s 2025 Immigration White Paper strategy.

  • Employers should expect tighter compliance checks and expanded reporting duties in 2026.

• Upcoming English Language Requirement Changes (January 2026)

  • From 8 January 2026, Skilled Worker and other routes will require applicants to meet B2 level English (up from B1).

  • Dependants will also face new English language requirements at entry and extension stages.

Looking Ahead to 2026

These changes highlight the Government’s focus on domestic skills development and stricter compliance. For businesses, this means planning ahead, budgeting for higher sponsorship costs, and ensuring HR systems are robust. For individuals, it means preparing early for language requirements and visa renewals.

Despite these challenges, opportunities remain strong: sponsorship continues to be a powerful tool for accessing global talent, and entrepreneurial visas like the Innovator Founder route offer pathways to settlement for those building businesses in the UK.

🎅Our Christmas Wish

We wish all our clients peace, joy, and success this festive season. May 2026 bring growth, opportunity, and the fulfilment of your ambitions in the UK.

Thank you for being part of our journey,. we look forward to supporting yours in the year ahead.