On 24 June 2025, the Home Office published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. We have summarised the key changes for you below:

Appendix Long Residence – Effective from 29 July 2025

The qualifying period requirements are being changed to clarify that time spent as a British citizen is considered lawful presence, except where that British citizenship has subsequently been deprived.  

So where a person has surrendered their British Citizenship, any time holding British Citizenship will count towards lawful presence for the purpose of a Long Residence application. On the other hand, those who have been deprived of British citizenship, for example because it was later found they obtained that citizenship falsely, then the time they spent in the UK with that citizenship does not count as lawful residence and so cannot be used towards a long residence application.

Appendix Continuous Residence – Effective from 29 July 2025

Currently Appendix Continuous Residence states that time spent in the Crown Dependencies (the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey) for the purpose of Long Residence applications only does not count as time lawfully spent in the UK. However, this is being amended to improve consistency on all routes to state that time spent in the Crown Dependencies, on a route equivalent to those in the UK, will count as lawful presence in the UK in future for Long Residence applications. 

Appendix Private Life – Effective from 29 July 2025

Currently Appendix Private Life allows young adults aged between 18 to 25 to apply for settlement after 5 years where they have spent half their life in the UK, however they must have been previously granted leave under the Private Life provisions.

Amendments are now being made to Appendix Private Life to extend the 5 year settlement route to those who were granted leave under Appendix FM or outside the rules before 20 June 2022.

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS): Changes to the continuous qualifying period definition – Effective from 16 July 2025

At present a pre-settled status holder must maintain their continuous residence in the UK in order to qualify for settled status. Currently, ‘continuous residence’ generally means that they have not been absent from the UK for more than six months in total in any given 12-month period. There are some exceptions to this, such as a single period of absence of up to 12 months for an important reason, as well as some exceptions for absences related to COVID 19.

The position under the new amendments now is that a pre-settled status holder to be granted settled status where they have been resident in the UK for at least 30 months in total in the most recent 60-month period. This can be any 30 months within that 60-month period.

Other changes:

Appendix International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees – Effective from 17 July 2025

Currently, the Immigration Rules, do not provide for US Department of Energy federal employees or sub-contractors and this cohort, such individuals would require entry clearance prior to travel to the UK.

However, changes are being made to a enable group of approximately 50 US Department of Energy federal employees and civilian sub-contractors to be recognised as civilian employees of an International Force so that they can come to the UK to work on US military equipment within 24 hours of an incident.

Part 9: Changes to make refusals of applications or cancellation of permission mandatory for people excluded from asylum or humanitarian protection or non-refoulement.

Part 9 of the Immigration Rules are being amended to make it mandatory to refuse or cancel immigration permission for individuals who are excluded from asylum, humanitarian protection, or non-refoulement due to serious conduct, such as criminality or security concerns.

Refusals and cancellations that were previously at the Home Office’s discretion will now be required by law. The changes are intended to ensure such individuals cannot gain leave to enter or remain under other immigration routes. Exceptions still apply where removal would breach the UK’s human rights obligations, in which case restricted leave may be granted on a temporary basis.

If you feel these changes affect you, contact us for an initial free consultation so we can advise you on how best to prepare for your next step.

SINCERE IMMIGRATION