Source-led change tracking
UK immigration rules change tracker
Understand what changed, the effective date, who should check the new wording and where to find the original Home Office source.
A Statement of Changes may contain different commencement dates. Always check the provision applying to the relevant application.
When the government released the source.
When the particular change begins to apply.
The consolidated rule used for the application.
July 2026 Statement of Changes: practical overview
HC 259 changes several family, Graduate, EUSS, suitability, ETA, Scale-up and settlement provisions.
Graduate route provision for a child born in the UK
The rules will provide a route for a child born in the UK during a parent’s current Graduate permission to apply in line with that parent.
ETA criminality provisions updated
Suspended sentences of 12 months or more are brought into the ETA refusal and cancellation framework.
Scale-up earnings rules recognise neonatal leave
Neonatal leave is added as an allowable absence when assessing the Scale-up earnings requirement for permission and settlement.
Stateless settlement applications move to SET(O)
Appendix Statelessness will direct settlement applicants to the Settle in the UK (Other) form rather than FLR(S).
Child Student carer criminality rules aligned
The listed carer’s criminality assessment is aligned more closely with Part Suitability, including specified suspended sentences.
ETA enforcement begins for non-visa nationals
Carriers now check that affected non-visa nationals have an ETA, eVisa or other valid digital permission before travel.
Home Office immigration and nationality fees changed
Updated Home Office fees apply across visit, work, study, settlement, nationality and sponsor services.
Graduate permission length changes from January 2027
The official Student guidance states that non-doctoral Graduate permission is two years for applications made by 31 December 2026 and 18 months from 1 January 2027.
UKVI processing-time guidance updated
The outside-UK processing guidance was updated and now directs visit, study and work applicants to the current online checker.