On 5 March 2026 the UK government introduced a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1691). The changes affect several immigration routes and will take effect in stages between March 2026 and March 2027.
Many of the reforms relate to asylum procedures and humanitarian protection. However, the Statement also introduces changes that may affect people applying for UK visas, individuals already living in the UK on temporary visas and those planning to apply for settlement in the future.
The sections below summarise the key changes that applicants should be aware of, including visa restrictions affecting certain nationalities, new salary rules for sponsored workers and changes to English language requirements for settlement.
Visa restrictions affecting some nationalities
The Statement introduces nationality-based restrictions affecting some visa applications made from outside the UK, known as ‘visa brakes‘.
Under changes to the Student visa rules, nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan cannot apply for entry clearance as Students.
A separate rule also prevents Afghan nationals from applying for entry clearance as Skilled Workers.
These restrictions apply only to applications made from outside the UK. Individuals already in the UK may still be able to switch immigration routes if they meet the relevant eligibility requirements.
The government has indicated that the restrictions are intended to respond to patterns of asylum claims made by individuals who originally entered the UK on visa routes.
New salary payment rules for Skilled Worker visa holders
The Statement introduces new rules affecting how salaries are assessed for workers sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route.
Previously, salary compliance was assessed mainly by reference to the annual salary listed on the Certificate of Sponsorship. The amended rules allow the Home Office to assess whether a worker is being paid the correct salary within shorter pay periods.
This means that the salary paid in each pay period should meet the required hourly rate for the job and salary payments over several weeks or months should align with the required annual salary level.
For sponsored workers, this change means employers may need to monitor salary payments more closely to ensure they remain compliant with the immigration rules.
The change applies to applications and sponsorship arrangements from 8 April 2026.
Higher English language requirement for settlement
The Statement also introduces a future increase in the English language requirement for settlement in the UK.
Many immigration routes that lead to settlement currently require applicants to demonstrate English language ability at level B1 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Under the new rules, applicants will need to show English language ability at level B2 for settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027.
The change affects a number of immigration routes that lead to settlement, including the Skilled Worker visa, Global Talent visa, Scale-up route, Innovator Founder visa and UK Ancestry route.
Applicants planning to move to the UK or extend their stay should review the updated Immigration Rules and consider how the changes may affect their visa options, settlement plans or eligibility for particular routes.
Changes affecting Global Business Mobility visas
The Statement includes amendments to the Global Business Mobility visa routes used by multinational companies to transfer staff to the UK.
One change reduces the required overseas employment period for the Secondment Worker route from 12 months to six months. This means some workers may be eligible for secondment to the UK earlier than before.
Other changes affect the Service Supplier route under international trade agreements, allowing certain applicants providing services under the UK-India trade agreement to stay in the UK for up to 12 months.
These changes are intended to make it easier for companies to deploy staff to the UK for specific projects or contractual work.
Expansion of the Global Talent visa
HC 1691 also expands the Global Talent visa by introducing a new pathway for individuals working in the design sector.
Applicants working in fields such as product design, fashion, architecture and other design disciplines may now be eligible for endorsement under the Global Talent route if they can demonstrate recognition in their field.
The new pathway requires applicants to provide evidence of professional work, industry recognition and letters of recommendation from established organisations in the sector.
The government states that the change is intended to make the UK more attractive to internationally recognised designers and creative professionals.
What the changes may mean for visa applicants
The Statement of Changes HC 1691 introduces a mixture of policy reforms and technical amendments across the UK immigration system.
For visa applicants and individuals currently living in the UK on temporary visas, the most relevant changes include the nationality restrictions affecting certain visa applications, the new salary monitoring rules for Skilled Worker visa holders and the future increase in the English language requirement for settlement.
Applicants planning to move to the UK or extend their stay should review the updated Immigration Rules carefully and consider how the changes may affect their visa options, future settlement plans or eligibility for particular immigration routes.
