A skills-based immigration system will be introduced to “get control over our borders” when free movement from the EU ends, the home secretary will announce.
It will focus on people’s “talent and expertise… rather than where they come from”, Sajid Javid will say later.
The system – to be phased in from 2021 – would scrap the cap on high-skilled workers like doctors and engineers.
A dispute between ministers over a proposed £30,000 minimum salary for visas has resulted in a compromise.
Some members of cabinet were worried the set amount would limit the ability of businesses and services to recruit enough staff.
But agreement between ministers has been reached.
The terms of it will become public when the White Paper – setting out plans for immigration – is published on Wednesday morning.
The much-delayed draft plan leaves out the long-held aim to cut net migration to less than 100,000 a year.
