Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584, 3 September 2026 includes some important updates to UK immigration rules. At Thaxted Legal we prepared an overview of the main changes.
The changes being made relate to:
• Changes to Part Suitability: clarification regarding breach of immigration laws
• Changes to Appendix Skilled Worker to support victims of modern slavery
• Removal of the fee for a human rights claim by those in the Family Returns Process
• Changes to Part 1
• Extending Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse (VDA) eligibility to include adult dependent children • Changes to facilitate the UK rejoining the Erasmus+ programme
• Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Changes to the continuous residence requirement in Appendix Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O))
Changes to Part Suitability: clarification regarding breach of immigration laws
This change to SU11.4 will confirm that an applicant will additionally be classed as having been in breach of immigration laws if they previously acted to frustrate immigration controls. This is to ensure provisions apply equally to those in the UK and those outside of the UK applying for Entry Clearance. This change means applicants in the UK who previously failed to report for bail or absconded from bail or custody can now be refused on that basis.
Changes to Appendix Skilled Worker to support victims of modern slavery
The Skilled Worker route exists to allow people to work in a specific, sponsored job. Visa holders cannot normally take up other work if they are not working in the job they were originally sponsored to do. These changes lift that restriction for Skilled Workers who are identified by the Home Office Competent Authorities as victims of modern slavery, allowing them to work for any employer for the remaining duration of their existing permission. This incentivises victims to come forward early and guards against those who seek to weaponise the sponsorship system in order to exploit vulnerable workers.
Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Appendix EU changes
Consistent with the Withdrawal Agreement (WA), pre-settled status (PSS) granted under the EUSS may be removed where the holder no longer meets the eligibility requirements of the EUSS and it is proportionate to remove their PSS on that basis. The changes will enable a small number of PSS holders who no longer meet the requirements of the EUSS, e.g. due to a sudden change in family circumstances, but where it is not proportionate to remove their PSS, to remain in scope of the EUSS and qualify for settled status in due course.
The changes will amend the EUSS application deadline for first-time joining family member applicants to three months from their latest legal entry to the UK since the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, to better reflect WA requirements. To prevent abuse, an applicant whose previous EUSS application was rejected or refused after entering the UK without an EUSS family permit (which enables relevant requirements to be checked before they travel) will need to show reasonable grounds for applying more than three months after that previous entry or re-enter the UK with an EUSS family permit to trigger a new three-month deadline.
The EUSS allows a biometric residence permit (BRP) (which may have expired by up to 18 months) to be used as proof of identity and nationality. As almost all BRPs expired by 31 December 2024, there is no benefit in keeping this provision beyond June 2026 and therefore the scope to apply with a BRP is being removed.
In Ayoola [2025], the Court of Appeal held that a child who holds PSS and whose EU citizen parent was formerly a worker or self-employed person in the UK has a right of residence under the WA that continues until the completion of their education in the UK. That right is not lost solely because, after the end of the transition period, the child ceases to be a family member of an EU citizen and does not qualify as a family member who has retained the right of residence. The changes will therefore enable such a child who has obtained PSS as a family member to retain their PSS (and go on to qualify for settled status), and will enable their primary carer (and any dependant under the age of 18 of that person) to obtain or retain PSS (and go on to qualify for settled status), where this is necessary for the child to complete their education in the UK.
Appendix EU (Family Permit) changes
The changes will delete the EUSS travel permit route, which enabled an EUSS status holder to return to the UK on a new passport. It has been replaced by scope for an EUSS status holder to use the Update My Details service from outside the UK, including to link their EUSS status to a new passport.
Changes in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities to improve clarification
Changes are being made to ensure the Visitor route remains aligned with mobility commitments the United Kingdom has made in free trade agreements with other nation states.
The changes will clarify that: • visitors will no longer need to demonstrate that the training they wish to undertake in the UK is unavailable in their home country; and • artists, entertainers, and musicians will be
Additionally, a minor clarification has been made to address a spelling error in the word “remunerated”, located in PA.9.1(h). Change to introduce a new definition for “Entertainment staff” A new definition for entertainment staff has been added to paragraph 6.2(b) to define who would be considered as entertainment staff under PA 14.2 of Appendix Visitor Permitted Activities. This new definition is being added to limit the scope by which entertainment staff can be interpreted, as well as to keep the definition aligned to the Visitor route immigration rules. permitted to attend rehearsals under the Visitor route, while entertainment staff will be able to assist with activities permitted under PA.14.1.
Appendix Long Residence: changes to remove inconsistencies
In Appendix Long Residence, paragraph LR 15.2 contains provisions governing the variation of settlement applications and the consequences of failing to pay any required Immigration Health Charge, including rejection of the varied application as invalid. No equivalent provisions currently apply where a permission-to-stay application is varied under paragraph LR 6.2. These changes address that inconsistency and align the treatment of varied permission-to-stay and settlement applications.
Changes to facilitate the UK rejoining the Erasmus+ programme
At the May 2025 UK-EU summit, the UK and the European Union (EU) agreed that the UK would seek to rejoin the Erasmus+ programme, which is the EU’s main programme for education, training, youth, and sport activities.
Immigration Rules: Introduction – New definitions have been introduced to clarify the meaning of terms used in the Erasmus+ permitted activities set out in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities. Job shadowing, participative observation, skills competitions, and traineeships are all now defined activities within the Immigration Rules Introduction at paragraph 6.2(b). A new definition has also been added for youth workers under the Erasmus+ programme.
Additionally, the definition of course of study has been expanded to clarify that it includes courses undertaken by a visitor which are not part of a short educational exchange or visit
Appendix V: Visitor – Changes have been made to Appendix: V of the Immigration Rules to permit visitors to study at UK state funded schools and academies where they are participating in an Erasmus+ project. This will permit state funded schools and academies to host Erasmus+ participants on short-term study placements (up to 6 months). Additionally, new eligibility requirements have been introduced to ensure Erasmus+ participants are legitimate and, where applicable, have permission from their parent or legal guardian and their home institution to undertake Erasmus+ activities under the Visitor route. This is to prevent any potential abuse of the Visitor route and safeguard Erasmus+ participants who are under the age of 18.
The range of activities permitted under the Visitor route has been expanded to facilitate participation in Erasmus+. – Under the Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities, all visitors will now be able to partake in workshops, debates and attend Skills Competitions, provided they meet the relevant eligibility requirements outlined in Appendix V: Visitor.
Additionally, a new sub-section entitled “Erasmus+ Activities” has been added to the Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities, setting out a new permitted activities section reserved only for those on the Erasmus+ programme. Under the Visitor route, Erasmus+ participants (provided they meet the eligibility requirements outlined in Appendix V: Visitor), can now do the following additional permitted activities: • provide or receive training at a UK-based organisation or educational institution; • take part in courses at a UK-based organisation or educational institution; • undertake a traineeship for up to 30 days at a UK-based organisation or educational institution; • undertake practical learning in the form of job shadowing at a UK-based organisation (including sports organisations) or educational institution; and • partake in coaching or training assignments at a UK-based sports organisation.
Appendix Student and Appendix Child Student – To facilitate participation in Erasmus+ by international students coming to the UK, a number of amendments are being made to Appendix Student and Appendix Child Student. These changes will enable students undertaking programmes as part of Erasmus+ to meet the requirements of the Student and Child Student routes where they would otherwise fall outside the existing rules.
Extending Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse (VDA) eligibility to include adult dependent children
The eligibility requirements for Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse (VDA) currently cater for spouses, partners and their children whose relationship has broken down because of domestic abuse and where they had entered the UK with a legitimate expectation of settlement based on their relationship.
This change would extend Appendix VDA to adult child dependants whose relationship with their visa sponsor has broken down due to domestic abuse, which will equalise their treatment under the Immigration Rules.
Removal of the fee for a human rights claim by those in the Family Returns Process
Appendix FM and Appendix Private Life are amended so that families in the Family Returns Process can raise Article 8/private life or family life claims without having to make a formal valid application, pay a fee, or use a specified form. Instead, they can give their claim directly to Home Office staff. This process is already in operation, and the Rules have been amended accordingly to formalise this and provide a legal basis. This change aligns the Rules for those in the Family Returns Process with those who are in immigration detention, for whom provision for this process is already made in GEN.1.9. of Appendix FM and PL 1.3. of Appendix Private Life.