Proposals will be announced today for the new points-based immigration system for people who wish to come and work in the UK, the Home Office said.
A spokeswoman said it will publish proposals for "much tighter" rules for skilled and temporary workers.
She said the objective is to manage migration "in the national interest", adding that the right balance must be struck between between safeguarding the interests of the UK work force while enabling UK employers to recruit or transfer skilled people from abroad.
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Under the points system only those with the skills that Britain needs can come to work or study.
Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "Our new points system means that British jobseekers get the first crack of the whip and that only the skilled migrants we actually need will be able to come.
"By moving points up or down, we can make sure the numbers we allow in to the UK are in line with the needs of business and the country as a whole.
"When we set the points pass mark, we will listen to independent advice - the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on the needs of the economy, and the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) on the effect of migration on society."
The proposed new schemes - known as Tier 2 and Tier 5 - would replace a number of routes to the UK, including the old work permit system.
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