Data from the Home Office revealed that 1,948 sponsor licences were revoked in the year to June 2025 – more than double the 937 recorded in the previous 12 months.
The digital ID will become mandatory for Right to Work checks and aims to stop illegal working while making it easier for people to use Government services.
BMA council chair Dr Tom Dolphin said the plan “will cause a great deal of anxiety and distress to our much-needed and valued international workforce, including international doctors, who are the backbone of the health services in the UK and who the population owes so much to.”
The changes include a sharp increase in salary thresholds and a tightening of skills requirements that will significantly impact hiring strategies.
The new policies will tighten requirements for workers, students, and families and focus on bringing in only those who contribute most to the economy.
This commitment follows productive discussions with Michael Tomlinson, the Minister for Countering Illegal Migration, and Kevin Hollinrake, the Minister for Business and Trade, at the Home Office.
Recent UK government measures have led to an 80% decrease in dependants on student visas and a significant drop in application.