UK immigration update

The Home Office has published a 111 paged Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, introducing significant updates across several visa categories. These changes reflect commitments made in the Immigration White Paper and aim to streamline the system while ensuring alignment with economic and policy objectives.

The changes are to visit visa requirements for nationals of Botswana, a reduction in the Graduate route stay period, change to HPI visas and stricter English language requirements for migrant workers.

English language requirements: raised standards for economic migration routes

From 8 January 2026, the required English language proficiency level will increase from CEFR Level B1 to B2 for first-time applicants under the following routes:

• Skilled Worker

• High Potential Individual (HPI)

• Scale-up

Level B2, described as “upper intermediate” and equivalent to A-level English, will only apply to new applicants. Those extending their stay on the same route will remain subject to the B1 requirement.

Accepted evidence* includes:

• Approved English language test from a recognised centre

• GCSE, A-Level, or Scottish equivalent obtained before age 18 at a UK school

• Degree-level qualification taught in English (with ECCTIS confirmation if required)

• Nationality of a majority English-speaking country

*This may be subject to change and future updates could introduce more restrictive provisions regarding how the English Language requirement must be evidenced.

Skilled Worker route: suitability grounds and Immigration Salary List update

The Skilled Worker route now incorporates a new “Part Suitability” section, replacing the previous Part 9 Grounds of Refusal. This change is part of a broader simplification initiative recommended by the Law Commission in 2019.

Additionally, the List of Skilled Occupation will be updated with explanatory notes clarifying which salary tables apply to specific roles.

Immigration Salary List update:

Previously, SOC code 6131 was limited to roles such as nursing auxiliaries and assistants. The Home Office has now expanded its definition to include registered nurses and other registered healthcare professionals, significantly broadening the scope of roles eligible for sponsorship under this code. This update allows employers to sponsor a wider range of qualified healthcare professionals while benefiting from the lower salary thresholds available under the Immigration Salary List, provided the role and applicant meet the relevant criteria.

As a result, SOC 6131: Nursing auxiliaries and assistants now explicitly includes “registered nurse or other registered healthcare professional roles”.

Grounds of refusal replaced by “Part Suitability”

The new Part Suitability section consolidates all suitability-related refusal and cancellation grounds. Note: Family and Private Life routes retain their own suitability criteria and are not subject to Part Suitability.

High Potential Individual (HPI) route: expanded eligibility and annual cap

The HPI visa, designed to attract recent graduates from top global universities, has undergone two key changes:

• The list of eligible institutions has doubled (previously 50), now 100

• A new annual cap of 8,000 applications has been introduced. The annual period begins on 1 November and ends on 31 October of each year.

These updates aim to balance talent attraction with system sustainability, in line with the Immigration White Paper and will come into effect on 4 November 2025.

Graduate route: reduced duration for non-PhD graduates

Currently, the Graduate visa allows:

• 2 years for bachelor’s and master’s graduates

• 3 years for PhD graduates

From 1 January 2027:

• Duration for bachelor’s and master’s graduates will reduce to 18 months

• PhD graduates will continue to receive 3 years

This change responds to data indicating that many graduates are not transitioning into graduate-level roles, which the route was intended to support.

Visit visa requirements: Botswana and Palestine

Botswana

• Nationals will now require a visit visa.

• ETA eligibility removed due to misuse of visitor permissions.

• Transition Period: Until 15:00 GMT on 25 November 2025, those with confirmed bookings and an ETA can travel without a visa.

• ETA applications closed at 15:00 GMT on 14 October 2025 to stem rise in asylum claims.

Palestine

• Following UK recognition of the State of Palestine, nationals will now require a visit visa.

• This aligns with existing requirements for individuals from the Occupied Palestinian Territories or stateless persons.

• Palestinian nationals will continue to require a Direct Airside Transit Visa unless exempt.

These changes reflect the UK’s evolving immigration priorities and aim to ensure that visa routes remain fit for purpose, accessible and aligned with national interests.

Upcoming changes: Immigration Skills Charge

Though the Statement of Changes was silent on the Immigration Skills Charge, it was announced in the White Paper in May 2025 that the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), which is paid by employers sponsoring skilled foreign workers and reinvested in training the domestic workforce, is being raised by 32%. The ISC increase is the first since 2017 and will be used to boost investment in British workers and reduce reliance on overseas recruitment. The Home Secretary yesterday (14 October 2025) announced that the Parliamentary process to increase the charge will begin later this week. The Home Secretary announced that the Parliamentary process to increase the charge will begin later this week and it has. Draft legislation was laid before Parliament and the increased ISC will come into force on 16 December 2025.

Currently, the ISC exemption applies to key research and academic roles. From 16 December, this exemption will also apply to roles in SOC Codes:

• 2162 (other researchers, unspecified discipline);

• 2463 (Clergy)

• 3431 & 3432 (Sports players and coaches)

The costs will therefore be:

Your organisation is usually a small sponsor if at least 2 of the following apply:

• your annual turnover is £15 million or less

• your total assets are worth £7.5 million or less

• you have 50 employees or fewer

How we can support you

We can help you:

• Assess eligibility of roles under the SOC code and salary thresholds.

• Prepare and submit visa applications, including advice on salary benchmarking and job descriptions.

• Train HR teams on the implications of these changes and how to apply them in recruitment and onboarding processes.

If you would like tailored advice, please reach out to our Business Immigration team.