Germans also affected: London imposes stricter visa rules

Despite a rapprochement between Great Britain and the EU, moving to the UK will become more difficult for the time being. The government in London is planning to significantly tighten immigration regulations.

Great Britain is massively tightening its immigration rules. The British government will present a so-called "Immigration White Paper" this Monday, which also applies to German citizens. According to the government, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will announce during a press conference that life in Great Britain is "a privilege" that must be earned.

The "Care Worker Visa," introduced to combat the nursing shortage, is to be abolished in its current form. A university degree will generally be required again for the Skilled Worker Visa. For occupations that do not require this qualification, residence permits will be severely limited. Employers should place greater emphasis on the qualifications of British workers.

The time limit for applying for British citizenship will also be increased from five to ten years. According to the government, the process will be accelerated for those who can demonstrate a "sustained contribution to the economy and society"—for example, nurses, doctors, engineers, and AI leaders. There will also be higher English language requirements.

Summit with the EU on 19 May

The reform is primarily due to the change of government last year. Starmer will announce the "end of Britain's failed experiment with open borders," the government announced. Immigration to Britain increased massively after Brexit in 2020, contrary to the announcements of the governments at the time. In 2024, net immigration was 728,000, the PA news agency reported.

However, as a result of Britain's exit from the European Union, the majority of immigrants no longer came from European countries – entry for EU citizens even became significantly more complicated. This also affects, for example, younger people who want to come to Great Britain to study or for an exchange.

Freedom of movement between the EU and Great Britain is to be discussed at a summit in London on May 19. Both sides are striving for rapprochement in several areas, including trade and military relations – but there will be no return to the pre-Brexit era.