Migration

Immigration policy

UK immigration policy timeline, 1948–2024

1. 1948
   British Nationality Act

   All Commonwealth citizens granted the right to live and work in the UK without immigration controls.

2. 1962
   Commonwealth Immigrants Act

   First statutory controls on Commonwealth migration; introduces employment vouchers.

3. 1968
   Commonwealth Immigrants Act (second)

   Restricts the right of UK passport holders without "substantial connection" to Britain.

4. 1971
   Immigration Act

   Creates the patrial / non-patrial distinction; non-patrials need work permits. Free Commonwealth movement effectively ends.

5. 1973
   UK joins the EEC

   Introduces free movement for citizens of the European Economic Community.

6. 1981
   British Nationality Act

   Replaces CUKC status with British, British Dependent Territories and British Overseas Citizenship.

7. 1997
   Labour elected — managed-migration era begins

   Work-permit routes expand; migration framed as a tool for labour-market flexibility.

8. 2004
   EU A8 enlargement

   Eight Central and Eastern European states join the EU. The UK opts not to apply transitional controls; large-scale Polish migration follows.

9. 2008
   Points-based system introduced

   Five-tier work-permit regime replaces the earlier non-EU system.

10. 2016
    Brexit referendum

    Leave wins 52–48; immigration cited as the decisive issue in post-vote analysis.

11. 2020
    End of free movement

    Transition period ends 31 December; EU and non-EU workers enter the same points-based system.

12. 2021
    New points-based system goes live

    Salary threshold £25,600 (later raised); Health and Care Worker visa route opens; Hong Kong BN(O) route launched.

13. 2024
    Visa restrictions tightened

    Salary thresholds raised, dependants curtailed for student and care-worker visas; net migration begins to fall.