Consolidating the changes to both Immigration & Nationality Laws – Latest immigration and nationality news
It seems that given the state of our economy – immigration appears and will always become a paradigm of changes. History tells us that immigration is good for society, business and the economy for the UK – I have seen those in the last 2 decades.
MPs often have short political lifespans—and perhaps that’s why history is so easily overlooked. It’s likely we’ll see yet more changes introduced next year.
The core idea behind Brexit was to reduce immigration. However, the well-intentioned EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) never fully delivered on its promise. And now, once again, we find ourselves reshaping the UK’s immigration landscape.
Shajjad Miah, Immigration Lawyer regulated by the IAA
Here is a summary of the immigration and nationality changes.
At a glance – what is changing || UK immigration and nationality law changes
1. Appendix International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees – allowing certain individuals under this program to come to the UK.
2. Long Residency changes, whereby those who have had their British Citizenship deprived due to deception – could not use that periods to re-apply for indefinite leave to remain on those grounds.
3. Continuous residency requirements – will change in how the Home Office will approach an application for those looking to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
4. Private life application – allowing those holding leave to remain before 20th June 2022 – to apply for indefinite leave to remain. This applies to those meeting the half-life test and also for children who have lived in the UK for more than 7 years.
5. The continuous residency requirements being changed for those applying indefinite leave to remain on the private life route.
6. EUSS changes – for those looking to apply for settled status – requirement is to meet 30 months over the 60 months period would be sufficient.
7. Electronic Travel Authorisations – those travelling from Republic of Ireland will require to hold ETA permission.
8. Skilled worker visa – must now be sponsored under RQF Level 6. Those changes are from 22nd July 2025.
9. Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) – the route is now being closed.
Cancellation or refusal of a visa/immigration program application
Conduct including good character is part of the Home Office’s drive to ensure public interest arguments are being met. In doing so, those foreign nationals who have conduct issues, will not be permitted to come or hold indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
· Where a person has conduct or character issues including offences committed in the UK or outside – will not be allowed to stay, settle or apply for British Nationality.
Family visa programs
A person who holds pre-settled status, must be an EEA national to become a sponsor. Those who are non-EU national cannot sponsor someone even if they hold pre-settled status.
If the sponsor changes their legal status to settled status – then the above police does not apply.
Moving on – there are changes being applied on the evidences required for a family visa application:
- English language requirements met by the applicant in any immigration category would be permitted to be used on an application.
- Other changes applied in terms of financial evidences have been amended.
Skilled worker visa changes
Home Office following the white paper have removed over 180 employment occupation codes – to strength and prevent abuse in the sponsor licence program.
- Those occupations in either the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List – whereby employers can apply for allocations and sponsor migrants for those occupations.
- Transitional arrangements being applied to those already holding skilled worker program before the changes applied on the 22nd July 2025. It may allow for someone to change employment however this would not be indefinite and will be removed shortly.
- The new Temporary Shortage List – will be the new list of employments that would fall below the RQF Level 6 – however this would be time limited and conditional.
Dependants of skilled worker visa holders
The Home Office will not permit those sponsored in employment within RQF level 3-5 – cannot sponsor dependants. No changes being applied to those on RQF Level 6. There are some exceptions being applied which would be incorporated into the immigration policy law.
The closure of this route will be further restricted to 22nd July 2028. The legal requirements would be for the migrant to demonstrate they have worked for their employer for a period of 3 months before the certificate of sponsorship is issued.
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About the author
Shajjad Miah is a regulated Immigration Lawyer, accredited at Level 3—the highest level—by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/immigration-advice-authority.
With 19 years of experience in UK immigration and nationality law, he brings extensive expertise to every case. You can connect with him on Quora, where his insights have attracted over 2.4 million views: https://www.quora.com/profile/Shajjad-Miah.
References
- 24th June 2025 – changes announced here – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-836-24-june-2025.
- 1st June 2025 – changes announced here – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-997-1-july-2025
