PolicyTechnology

UK Faces Tech Talent Exodus as Immigration Rules Tighten

Hundreds of tech entrepreneurs and AI specialists who relocated to the UK following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are now reconsidering their futures. Proposed immigration changes could extend the settlement waiting period from five to ten years, creating widespread uncertainty among the very talent the government seeks to attract.

Immigration Policy Shift Threatens UK’s Tech Ambitions

According to reports, the United Kingdom’s technology sector faces potential brain drain as hundreds of Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian tech professionals reconsider their settlement plans following proposed immigration reforms. Sources indicate that many of these workers originally chose the UK specifically for its relatively swift citizenship pathway, which currently allows qualified migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after three to five years.