New statement of changes to Immigration Rules published
New statement of changes to Immigration Rules published – 14 October 2025
The Home Office has announced a series of forthcoming amendments to the Immigration Rules, which are scheduled to be implemented in the coming months. These changes will affect a range of immigration categories, including work, study, and family routes. The updates introduce new eligibility requirements, adjustments to language proficiency standards, and modifications to visa conditions and durations.
Work conditions under Student visa
Student visa holders will be allowed to establish a business, in other words become self-employed, where they have completed their course and are switching to the Innovator Founder route. This change will be implemented on 25 November 2025.
English language requirement for work routes
There will be an increase in English language requirement from B1 Level to B2 Level under the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages (CEFR) for economic migration routes. This will impact individuals applying on or after 8 January 2026 under the Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual or Scale Up route. Those already in the UK under these routes making extension applications will not need to meet the higher threshold and will be able to continue meeting the B1 Level requirement.
Duration of stay under Graduate visa
Individuals applying for the Graduate visa in future will only be permitted to stay in the UK for a maximum of 18 months instead of 24 months (the current three-year period granted to PhD graduates will remain the same). This change will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027 and does not affect graduates in the UK under this route at present.
Further changes on the horizon
The Home Office is expected to introduce additional measures in the coming months to implement further proposals from the government’s May 2025 Immigration White Paper. These include:
- Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) increase – the proposed 32% increase to the ISC, payable by employers sponsoring workers under the skilled worker route is expected to be introduced before the end of the year.
- Preventing illegal working – the Home Office is due to launch a six-week public consultation later this month on their proposals to extend right to work checks to cover a wider range of working arrangements.
- Settlement consultation – an Earned Settlement and Citizenship consultation is expected later this year regarding proposals to double the qualifying period for settlement and citizenship from five to 10 years.
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1333, 14 October 2025 – GOV.UK