Under the latest statement of changes, the government have made several amendments to immigration rules. The amendments are laid out below:
Latest Changes: Explanatory Statements
Introduction of the Visa Brake
Student visas will be refused from main applicants who are nationals of the following countries, Afghanistan, Sudan, Myanmar and Cameroon. Additionally, Skilled Worker vis applications from main applicants from Afghanistan will be refused. These changes will come into effect from 26 March 2026 but will not impact applications made before 26 March 2026.
Reducing the duration of refugee and humanitarian protection, permission to stay
As of March 2026, the government has set out a new ‘core protection offer’ for refugees. Under the new core protection offer, permanent humanitarian protection for refugees will be replaced by a temporary form of protection. The length of leave given to refugees will be reduced from five years to 30 months (2 and a half years). Accompanied children are excluded from these changes.
Disclosure of information relating asylum claims when cases are subject to public interest
The Home Office will now have the right to make asylum claims public if they decide that it is in the public interest.. This is due to large public interest in asylum cases. This will exclusively apply to cases where individuals have been charged with or convicted of serious criminal offences and where it suits the public interest to do so. Cases that do not meet these requirements will not be made public by the Home Office.
Introduction of visit visa requirement
Visit visa requirements will be introduced for nationals of Nicaragua and St Lucia. Nicaragua and St Lucia will be removed from the list of countries eligible for the ETA (Electric Travel Authorisation) meaning that those visiting from these two states will be assesses against UK immigration rules in advance of their arrival.
Additionally, nationals from Nicaragua and St Lucia will require a direct airside transit visa (DATV) when conducting airside transit travel, unless they meet one of the exceptions set out. These changes like the ones above are being introduced to reduce the ‘significant number of nationals’ who claim asylum in the UK after arrival.
Changes relating to working restriction in Part 11B
This new rule will amend the right of asylum seekers to work in certain occupations. This is to make it easier for asylum seeks to jobs listed in RQF Level 6 and above and ease governmental support to ensure that assistance is delivered to those most in need.
Global Talent
Several changes are being made to the Global Talent visa. The changes will make it easier for top design talent to use the Global Talent visa to enter the UK. Following an agreement made with the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society, the requirements of the fast rack appointment option are being simplified to provide further clarification or eligible academics and researchers. These simplified route will also cover all PHD ;eel roles in approved UK Higher Education Institutes and research institutes.
Further extension of the Ukraine Permission Extension
Commencing from 8 April 2026, eligible individuals already in the UK under the Ukraine Settlement Scheme to extend by another 24 months. This change will introduce extensions and provide eligible individuals a route to extend their permission to stay in the UK. Additionally, the period of application under the UPE scheme has been extended from 28 days to 90 days.
Appendix EU changes
New suitability changes will be introduced to the EUSS scheme to reduce ‘false claims’. Application that do not meet the new suitability requirements under the EUSS scheme will be refused if it is found that after the transition period, the EUSS holder has assisted another person fraudulently to obtain or attempt to obtain entry clearance into the UK.
Further changes include simplifying current provisions allowing individuals to make further applications to the EUSS if thy hold pre settled status granted under the scheme. Furthermore, non EEA nationals will be allowed to use expired biometric residence cards as proof of identity and nationality where it has expired for up to 60 days. This is to allow non EEA nationals to be able to continue to apply digitally rather than needing to seek biometric appointments.
Changes to English Language Requirements
The English language requirements will increase for those seeking Settlement to B2 level under the CERF frameworks. The changes will come into effect on March 26 2026, This increase will also apply to the following immigration categories where the current requirement is B1 level:
Skilled Worker
Minister of Religion
Representative of an Overseas Business
UK Ancestry Visa
Global Talent Visa
Scale Up Visa
Innovator Founder visa
Child Relative
Private Life
Settlement Family Life
Long residence
International Sportsperson
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