Rule changes, and what they mean
UK immigration rules change often, sometimes at short notice and occasionally with immediate effect. A change to a salary threshold or an absence limit can move someone's settlement date by months.
This section records the changes that affect the routes and calculators on this site: what changed, when it takes effect, and which of our tools it touches.
What you will find here
Each post states the change, the date it applies from, who it affects, and what — if anything — to do about it. Every one links to the GOV.UK page or Statement of Changes it comes from.
Where a reform has been announced but is not yet law, we say so and report the status rather than describing a proposal as though it were in force. That distinction matters more than any detail: what governs your application is the rules in force on the day you apply.
How we notice
The GOV.UK pages our calculators depend on are monitored automatically for change. Detection is not the same as understanding, so a flagged change is read and assessed by a person before it becomes a new dated policy version.
The full method is in How we track changes to the Immigration Rules.
Before you rely on this
VisaXplain is not a law firm and does not give immigration advice. These posts report changes to published rules; they are not a decision on your case and not a recommendation to act. Check GOV.UK and take advice from a regulated adviser before you do.
AVAILABLE NEWS & UPDATES ROUTES
News & Updates Updates & Policy Breakdown
Graduate route drops to 18 months from 1 January 2027
Earned Settlement: consultation closed, nothing in force
How we track changes to the Immigration Rules
Why 11 April 2024 still splits your absence calculation
Frequently Asked Questions
Continuous residence means time spent in the UK without significant breaks. You are generally allowed to be outside the UK for up to 180 days in any 12-month period. For absences before April 11, 2024, total absences should not exceed 548 days, and no single absence should be longer than 184 days.
The Graduate Visa does not lead directly to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, time spent lawfully on a Graduate Visa counts toward the 10-Year Long Residence settlement route, and you can switch into a settlement-track visa (e.g. Skilled Worker) while your visa is valid.
You must show that the reasonable costs of your visit and your return journey can be met without working or accessing public funds. A third party may provide that support, provided they have a genuine relationship with you, are complying with immigration laws, and can and will support you for the whole visit.
Where someone else is funding you, expect to evidence both their means and the relationship.
Only within limits. A visitor may undertake a short course at an accredited institution. Longer or formal study needs the Student route. Check the current permitted duration on GOV.UK before booking a course.
It can be your own account, or your parent's or legal guardian's account with their written consent and evidence of the relationship. Not every account type is accepted, and money held by other relatives or friends generally is not. Check the current rules on acceptable accounts before relying on funds held by someone else.
Usually yes, but with limits on hours during term time and restrictions on the type of work — including a general prohibition on self-employment and on filling a permanent full-time role. The exact conditions depend on your course level and provider, and they are stated on your visa. Read the conditions attached to your own grant rather than relying on what another student tells you.
The requirement applies at each stage, but the level rises as you progress towards settlement. If you met it for your first application, you may still need a higher level later. Some applicants are exempt — by age, or on medical grounds among others.
The child must be under 18 on the date you apply, or have been under 18 when you were first granted permission on this route. Turning 18 during your permission does not automatically end it, but it affects future applications. Plan the next step before the child's eighteenth birthday rather than after it.
Eligibility is by occupation code, not by employer or by job title, and the list of eligible roles has been revised more than once. A role that qualified previously may not now. Check the current list of eligible occupation codes on GOV.UK before relying on a job offer.
Faster than most routes, and how fast depends on the field and the basis of your endorsement. Because it varies, work it out against your own dates rather than assuming the shortest period applies to you.