New Global Talent Drive, Airline Powers and White Paper Clarifications – UK June 2025 Updates

UK Announces New Initiative to Attract Global Talent

The UK government have announced a new initiative designed to attract new international talent from around the world.

The Global Talent Taskforce will, according to a Home Office press release, “support researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, top tier managerial and engineering talent and high-calibre creatives to relocate and work closely with the UK’s international presence to network and build a pipeline of talent who want to come to Britain.”

It will be supported by a £54 million Global Talent Fund, intended to cover outlays such as relocation and research costs for potential new talent. The fund will be allocated by UK Research and Innovation to universities and research institutions over the next few weeks and months to assist with identifying and recruiting new talent from overseas.

The initiative will additionally “build on commitments” previously made in the recent Immigration White Paper to attract more talent to the UK, such as expanding the list of eligible institutions for the High Potential Individual visa.

Jonathan Reynolds, Business and Trade Secretary, stated:

“Competition for elite global talent is high, and by establishing this Taskforce we are solidifying our position as the first choice for the world’s brightest sparks, as well as turbocharging innovation in medicines and inventions of the future, boosting British business and putting money in working people’s pockets.”

According to the Home Office, this initiative will have no impact on net migration to the UK.

International Airline Staff Being Trained to Refuse Ineligible Passengers from Travelling to UK

Airline staff in Europe are being trained to refuse travel to passengers to the UK who don’t have a valid visa or travel authorisation.

According to a media report, the new training is part of the wider rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and eVisa schemes. Over 9,000 airline workers have undergone training to verify UK travel documents at international airports, including common sources for irregular migration such as Greece, Italy and Albania.

According to David Lammy, Foreign Secretary: “Tackling irregular migration demands cooperation across borders and industries to disrupt the pathways used by those attempting to enter the UK illegally. We’re sending a clear message – air travel simply isn’t an option without proper authorisation and registration.”

According to official statistics, enforced returns from the UK have risen by 23% since the 2024 general election, with over 30,000 people having been returned to their home countries.

Despite the government’s assertions that the scheme will allow for “more secure, more digital and more effective” borders, some campaigners have raised concerns about delegating immigration responsibilities to private airline staff and the possible implications for legitimate travellers, especially in potential cases where boarding may be mistakenly refused due to system errors.

Research Briefing Clarifies Immigration White Paper Details

A new research briefing has addressed some common questions and issues raised over the government’s recent Immigration White Paper.

Since its publication last month (May 2025), many have expressed concern over some of the changes proposed in the paper, including the extending of the standard eligible period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five years to ten years.

In response to these concerns, the House of Commons has released a briefing containing summaries and answers to frequently asked questions regarding the paper.

The briefing can be read in full on the UK Parliament website here. However, we have summarised the most salient points below.

The briefing starts by highlighting the main changes proposed by the White Paper, including the end of recruiting overseas care workers, extending the standard time it takes to obtain ILR and tightening English language requirements for visas.

It then proceeds to cover some commonly asked questions regarding the paper, which have been listed below alongside summaries of the answers given:

• When will the changes be coming in? – There are no fixed dates for the changes yet, although a press release suggests that they will be implemented between now and 2029 (the projected date of the next UK general election). However, some changes will be introduced “in the coming weeks”.
• Will migrants have to wait ten years for indefinite leave to remain? – The White Paper proposes the standard period of time for ILR to be extended from five tears to ten years, although some may become eligible sooner than this if they have made “contributions to the UK economy and society”. The White Paper also states there will be a consultation on this change “later this year”, which is when we may be likely to receive further details on how this may work.
• Which visa categories will be affected by the longer qualifying period? – The government has not confirmed if visas with five-year pathways to ILR will be kept. However, exemptions will be made for partners of British citizens, victims of domestic violence and individuals in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Will people already in the UK have to wait longer for indefinite leave to remain? – The government has not confirmed whether this will be true or not, although the White Paper does suggest that this may be the government’s intention. Additionally, outlets such as the BBC and the Financial Times have claimed that this will be the case, citing “unattributed government sources”.
• Will MPs be voting on the white paper changes? – This is unlikely to happen unless MPs table motions against the changes that will be set out in an official Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. However, MPs will have to approve certain changes proposed in the White Paper, such as the new changes to citizenship.

How Can IAS Help With Your UK Visa Application?

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