On March 5, 2026, the Home Office published a wide-ranging statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC1691). An explanatory memorandum accompanied the statement of changes, as well as a written statement to the House of Commons and several recent press releases.
The changes, which take effect on various dates between 5 and March 26, 2026, include:
- The introduction of an ‘emergency brake’ on visas issued to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan;
- The reduction of the duration of refugee and humanitarian protection, from five years to 30 months;
- The removal of accommodation and financial support for asylum seekers who break the law, work illegally or can support themselves financially;
- Introduction of a visit visa requirement for nationals of Nicaragua and St Lucia. These nationals will no longer be eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA);
- Changes relating to working restrictions in Part 11B (asylum seekers’ right to seek work in certain occupations);
- Changes relating to prison officers in the Skilled Worker route;
- Skilled Workers must now be paid the required salary in each pay period;
- Clarifying the specific circumstances in which a child can be granted settlement to join a ‘relative’ in the UK;
- Change to the criminality provisions in Part Suitability;
- Previously-announced extension of the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme for a further 24 months;
- Update to the Appendix Visitor: Permit Free Festival List;
- Changes to the Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier route to include provisions for Indian nationals;
- Reducing qualifying overseas employment period from 12 to 6 months for the Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker route;
- The expansion of the Global Talent route to include a design pathway covering additional design roles;
- Changes to Appendix EU;
- Changes to Appendix EU (Family Permit) changes;
- Changes to Youth Mobility Scheme partner country quotas for 2026;
- Updated identity requirements;
- Changes to Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse;
- Expansion of the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route to make BN(O) status holders’ adult children who were under 18 on July 1, 1997 eligible for the route;
- Increasing the English language requirement for settlement to B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for a number of immigration routes where the existing requirement is at B1 level.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.