UK Immigration Statement of Changes: summary
- Mar 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 6
On 5 March the Home Office laid a Statement of Changes to the UK Immigration Rules. Here are the key points to know from a business immigration perspective.
The English language requirement will be increased for applications for settlement (ILR) submitted from 26 March 2027 in certain categories. The current English language requirement for settlement is Level B1 (intermediate) from the Common European Framework of Reference, in speaking and listening. The new requirement from March 2027 will be Level B2 (upper intermediate) in speaking and listening, for settlement applications in Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Scale Up, Innovator Founder, UK Ancestry, International Sportsperson, Long Residence and certain family routes.
In a legal first, the Home Office is banning visa applications altogether for certain nationalities, referring to this as a ‘Visa Brake’. Overseas applications for Student visas from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan are to be refused, as are Skilled Worker applications from nationals of Afghanistan. The ban will take effect from 26 March 2026. The Home Office state that this is a temporary measure to reduce pressure on the UK asylum system, however the rules do not incorporate any specific time limit for the ban.
The Home Office is tightening salary rules for sponsored workers to cut down on variable rates of pay, and to require Skilled Workers to receive their required rate of pay at regular intervals. These new rules will apply where the Certificate of Sponsorship is issued from 8 April 2026 onwards. With the Home Office already receiving real time payroll data from HMRC, these changes will allow much quicker detection of underpayment of sponsored workers. Sponsors who pay Skilled Workers on a variable basis will need to consider carefully whether their arrangements are qualifying.
Asylum seekers whose claims have been outstanding for 12 months or longer, and are granted permission to work, will be allowed access to jobs eligible for the Skilled Worker route (occupations at Regulated Qualifications Framework level 6 or above).
Nicaragua and St Lucia nationals have been added to the visa national list, meaning they will need a pre-departure visa approval to visit the UK.
The Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route is being expanded. An existing main visa holder in the route can now sponsor their (adult) child to join them in the UK provided they are born on or after 1 July 1979. In accordance with other family members in this route, progression towards settlement does not depend on the continuing family relationship with the sponsor.
The Global Talent route is being expanded to include a new design pathway, to open from July 2026.
Alex Finch is an immigration partner at Constantine Law.
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