UK Immigration Rules Changes 2026: What's Now in Force

A staged rollout, not a single change

The Home Office published Statement of Changes HC 1691 on 5 March 2026, accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum setting out the reasoning behind each amendment. Unlike a single rule change with one effective date, HC 1691 rolls out across several separate dates through 2026, with one further change not landing until 26 March 2027. This staged structure matters practically: whether a particular change applies to an individual application can depend on the exact date the application was made, since several provisions explicitly state that applications made before the relevant date will still be decided under the immigration rules in force immediately beforehand.

The 'visa brake' on four nationalities

From 26 March 2026, the Home Office introduced what it has described as a temporary 'visa brake': Student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan are refused, alongside Skilled Worker visa applications from Afghan nationals. The Home Office has said this responds to an increase in in-country asylum claims from individuals of these nationalities. The restriction applies specifically to entry clearance applications made from outside the UK; individuals already in the UK on a different immigration route may still be able to switch into an affected route in some circumstances. The government has described the measure as temporary and subject to periodic review, though no fixed end date has been confirmed.

Stricter salary compliance for Skilled Worker sponsors

From 8 April 2026, employers sponsoring Skilled Worker visa holders must demonstrate that the required salary threshold and hourly going rate are met within each individual pay period, rather than relying solely on the annual salary figure recorded on the worker's Certificate of Sponsorship. Where a worker is paid monthly or less frequently, the salary paid over any three-month period must be at least one quarter of the required annual salary; where pay is more frequent, salary over any 12-week period must equal at least 12/52 of the annual figure. Sponsors with quarterly or otherwise irregular pay cycles may need to review payroll arrangements to ensure ongoing compliance, since underpayment can now in principle be identified within a pay period rather than only at the end of the sponsorship year. Employers managing sponsor licence obligations more broadly can find further context on the business guides hub.

Changes to visitor rules for Nicaragua and St Lucia

From 5 March 2026, nationals of Nicaragua and St Lucia were removed from the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) eligibility list and now require a full visitor visa before travelling to the UK, rather than the lighter-touch ETA that previously applied. A transitional arrangement allowed travellers from these countries who already held a confirmed ETA by 3pm GMT on 5 March 2026 to still travel without a visa, provided they arrived in the UK no later than 3pm BST on 16 April 2026. Outside that transitional window, nationals of both countries are treated as visa nationals for visitor purposes, including a requirement for a Direct Airside Transit Visa when transiting through UK airports in most cases.

A later, larger change: English language requirements for settlement

One of the longer-horizon changes in HC 1691 will raise the English language requirement for settlement applications from level B1 to the higher B2 standard under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, but not until settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027. The change is confirmed to apply across a wide range of routes leading to settlement, including the Skilled Worker route, Global Talent visa, Scale-up route, Innovator Founder visa and UK Ancestry route. Because the change does not take effect until 2027, it does not affect visa applications, sponsorship, or settlement applications made before that date, but anyone planning a settlement application close to or after March 2027 may want to check whether they meet the higher standard or qualify for an exemption well in advance. Wider settlement route guidance is available on the UK visa and immigration guides hub.

A narrower change: Global Business Mobility Secondment Worker route

From 8 April 2026, the Global Business Mobility Secondment Worker route was amended to reduce the required period of prior overseas employment from 12 months to 6 months. The route allows multinational businesses to bring staff to the UK for specific, high-value contract secondments, and the shortened qualifying period gives employers more flexibility to deploy staff who have worked for the sending business for a shorter period before the secondment begins. The route remains limited to secondment arrangements linked to qualifying high-value contracts rather than general overseas transfers.

Further rule updates from 1 July 2026

GOV.UK's own Immigration Rules updates log confirms that a further set of Appendix-level changes under HC 1691 took effect on 1 July 2026, covering parts of the rules including Appendix Global Talent, Appendix Settlement Protection, Appendix EU, Appendix EU (Family Permit), part 1 (leave to enter or stay), part 6A (the points-based system) and part 12 (procedure and rights of appeal), among others. The official updates log confirms these sections were amended in line with HC 1691 from that date, though it does not itself set out the detailed substance of each individual amendment; anyone with a live application affected by one of these specific rule sections should check the relevant Appendix directly on GOV.UK or seek professional immigration advice, since the practical effect can vary significantly by route.

What this means if you have a pending or upcoming application

Because HC 1691 changes apply from different dates and several provisions explicitly preserve the previous rules for applications made before a given date, the most useful first step for anyone with a live or upcoming UK immigration application is to identify exactly which route and which provision applies to their circumstances, and from what date. GOV.UK's Immigration Rules updates page is the authoritative record of which sections have changed and when. For complex cases, particularly settlement, sponsorship and asylum-related applications, professional immigration advice is generally the safer route given how the transitional provisions interact with individual application dates. General pre-application checks for visa and settlement forms are covered on the before you apply guides.

Frequently asked questions

When did HC 1691 come into force?

It was laid before Parliament on 5 March 2026, but its provisions take effect on several different dates through 2026 and into 2027, rather than all at once.

Who is affected by the 'visa brake'?

From 26 March 2026, Student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and Skilled Worker visa applications from Afghan nationals, are refused under this temporary measure.

What changed for Skilled Worker sponsors?

From 8 April 2026, sponsors must show that salary thresholds are met within each pay period, not just on an annual basis, which may require payroll reviews for employers with irregular pay cycles.

When does the higher English language requirement for settlement start?

The rise from B1 to B2 applies to settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027, across multiple routes including Skilled Worker, Global Talent and UK Ancestry.

Do Nicaragua and St Lucia nationals still need only an ETA to visit the UK?

No. From 5 March 2026 they require a full visitor visa rather than an ETA, subject to a transitional arrangement for travel booked before the change and completed by 16 April 2026.