The UK Government has released Statement of Changes (HC1333), announced today (14 October 2025), which includes amendments to the Immigration Rules, affecting student, graduate, and many work visa routes. The updates will come into force gradually in the coming months. Here are some key points for those affected.

Key Changes

1. Graduate visa stay shortened
   From 1 January 2027, the Graduate visa holders will only be allowed to stay in the UK for 18 months instead of current 2 years. PhD graduates will still be entitled to a 3-year stay.
   
   
2. Stricter English Language Requirement
   For visa routes such as Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual (HPI), and Scale-up, the English language requirement will be increased from B1 to B2. This change takes effect on 8 January 2026 and applies to new applicants only — existing visa holders extending their visas will remain under B1 requirement.
   The document does not mention any change to the BN(O) settlement, which will therefore remain at B1 level.
   
   
3. Cap introduced for High Potential Individual (HPI) visa
   The list of eligible universities will be expanded, but a new annual cap of 8,000 applicants will be imposed.
   
   
4. Botswana and Palestine nationals now require a visa before travel
   From 14 October 2025 (3 p.m.), Botswana nationals must apply for a visitor visa before travelling to the UK, with transitional arrangements being phased out.
   For Palestinian nationals, the same requirement will begin on 11 November 2025.
   
   
5. Easing German school group travel
   From November 2025, students aged 19 or under studying at German school or educational institutions travelling in school groups of five or more can enter the UK without a visa or ETA.
   Students aged 19 and under from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland can also enter with a national ID card instead of a passport.
   
   
6. Part 9 Grounds for Refusal will now also apply to Family and Private Life
   From 11 November 2025, Family and Private Life visa applications will be assessed under Part 9: Grounds for Refusal, replacing the current, more lenient “suitability” criteria. This change means these applications will now face the same stricter standards as other visa routes, and applicants with issues such as criminal convictions, deception, or past immigration breaches will face a significantly higher risk of refusal.
   

What does this mean to you?

• If you plan to study in the UK or switch from a student visa to a work or graduate visa, pay close attention to these new rules and requirements.
• Graduating students should plan ahead, as the new policy will limit post-study work duration.
• The higher English requirement means that applicants with insufficient language ability may no longer qualify.

These updates show that the proposals in the earlier White Paper are being implemented step by step. If you are considering applying for settlement or citizenship, we recommend acting as soon as you become eligible.
If you would like to understand these changes in more detail or prepare for your own application, feel free to comment or message us for advice. We also offer a free 30-min initial consultation.

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