How changes to immigration rules might affect you

Last updated: 17 October 2025

On 12 May 2025, the government announced plans to change UK immigration rules. They explained the changes in a ‘white paper’ - this is a type of government plan. Most of the plans in the white paper aren’t law yet and might change.

The plans might affect what visas you’ll be able to apply for after the rules change. They might also affect how long you have to wait before you can get indefinite leave or citizenship in the UK.

We’ll keep updating this page as we find out more about the government’s planned changes to immigration rules.

Applying for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship

Currently, most people on a ‘route to settlement’ can apply to live in the UK permanently after 5 years. This is called getting ‘indefinite leave to remain’ (ILR). The government plans to increase the wait to at least 10 years. 

The change will apply to most visas that let you get ILR - for example work visas. Refugees will also have to wait more than 5 years before they can apply for ILR.

We don't expect the changes to affect family visas. We don't know yet if it will affect people already in the UK on visas.

These new rules mean you’ll have to wait longer to get British citizenship - you can only apply for this when you have ILR. 

The government have said there might be exceptions for people who ‘make a contribution to the economy or society’. For example, this might include volunteering in the community. The exceptions would let people apply earlier for ILR or citizenship. We don’t know how these exceptions will work yet.

If you already have indefinite leave to remain or settled status

If you’re thinking of applying for British citizenship, it’s best to apply as soon as possible.

This is because the changes might mean you'll need to show you've been living in the UK for 10 years.

If you haven’t already taken your ‘Life in the UK’ and English tests, you should also take them soon. The changes might mean the tests will be harder.

Check if you can apply for British citizenship.

Health and Care Worker visas

You might be affected by the changes to immigration rules if both of the following apply:

• you have a Health and Care Worker visa - or you want to apply for one

• you work or want to work in the adult social care sector

Your job is in the adult social care sector if for example you’re a community support worker, home care worker or residential care worker. Adult social care doesn't include working with children, or working as a doctor, nurse or health professional.

If you're in the UK on a Health and Care Worker visa

Your visa will still be valid and you’ll still be able to extend your visa so you can stay in the UK longer.

If you're in the UK on a different visa and want to switch to a Health and Care Worker visa

There’s a new rule if you want to be sponsored by an employer in the adult social care sector. You must work for them for at least 3 months before you can apply to switch your visa. From 22 July 2028, you will not be able to switch to be sponsored by an employer in the adult social care sector.

If you live outside the UK

Since 22 July 2025, you can't apply for Health and Care Worker visas for jobs in the adult social care sector.

Skilled worker visas

The rules for skilled worker visas changed in July 2025. You’ll now usually only get a new skilled worker visa if you need a degree-level qualification to do your job.

The government have said there will be exceptions until the end of 2026. You'll be able to apply for jobs in sectors with staff shortages, even if they don't need a degree-level qualification. If you get a visa in this situation, you will not be able to bring your family to the UK as dependents. Check which jobs are in sectors with staff shortages on GOV.UK.

From 8 January 2026, you'll have to show you have a higher level of English when you first apply for any of the following visas:

• Skilled worker

• High Potential Individual

• Scale-up

Currently, you have to show you're at least level 'B1' on the ‘Common European Framework of Reference for Languages’ (CEFR) scale. From 8 January 2026 you'll have to show you're at least level 'B2'.

Graduate visas

If you’re a student and you graduate from a UK university, you can currently apply for a ‘Graduate visa’ to stay in the UK for 2 or 3 years.

From 1 January 2027, if you graduate with a PhD you’ll still be able to stay in the UK for 3 years. If you graduate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, you’ll only be able to stay in the UK for 18 months.

If you’re already on a Graduate visa, the new rules will not affect you.

Refugees and people with humanitarian protection

Refugees and people with humanitarian protection will have to wait more than 5 years before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). 

The government have also closed the ‘Refugee Family Reunion’ route to new applications. This route allowed people with refugee status or humanitarian protection to bring family members to the UK. The family members will have to apply for family visas instead.

Family visas

There weren't any changes to family visas in the white paper. The government have said there will be a consultation on family visas - we don’t know when this will happen.

If you’re in the UK on a family visa, you need to live in the UK for 5 years to apply for indefinite leave to remain. We don’t expect this to change to 10 years after the rules change. You can check the rules for applying for indefinite leave to remain.

The new rules will mean that it might be harder for family members to get visas. This includes if they:

• broke immigration law - for example, if they stayed in the UK for longer than they should have

• have a criminal record

English language requirements

The English language requirement will become stricter for most visas.

If you’re on a student or work visa and want to bring a partner to the UK, they’ll need to prove they have a basic level of English. If they later apply to extend their visa or to get ILR or apply for citizenship, they’ll need to show they have a higher level of English.

If you’re already in the UK, this change might affect you when you apply to extend your visa, get ILR or apply for citizenship. You might need a higher level of English than you needed when you first applied for a visa.

From 8 January 2026, you'll have to show you have a higher level of English when you first apply for any of the following visas:

• Skilled worker

• High Potential Individual

• Scale-up

Currently, you have to show you're at least level 'B1' on the ‘Common European Framework of Reference for Languages’ (CEFR) scale. From 8 January 2026 you'll have to show you're at least level 'B2'.

If you're finding things difficult

You can speak to a trained volunteer at organisations like Samaritans or Shout.

Samaritans

Shout

You can also text 'SHOUT' to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout volunteer. Texts are free, anonymous and confidential from anywhere in the UK.

If you think it's an emergency

If you think your life or someone else's is at risk, you should call 999 or go to A&E if you can.

You can also find a list of urgent mental health services on the Mind website.