The UK immigration rules have changed several times in 2026, and more changes are on the way. Here is a plain-English round-up of what has changed, what starts soon and what is still only a proposal, as of 28 October 2026.
Quick summary
- Skilled Worker: the general salary threshold is £41,700, and new applicants have needed English at B2 level since 8 January 2026.
- Graduate visa: it drops from 2 years to 18 months for applications made on or after 1 January 2027.
- Settlement (ILR): from 26 March 2027 most ILR applications need English at B2 level.
- Earned settlement: the 10-year ILR proposal is not law. The 5-year routes still apply.
- Fees: most visa fees went up on 8 April 2026. The health surcharge is unchanged at £1,035 a year.
Skilled Worker visa
Most Skilled Worker jobs must pay at least £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the occupation if that is higher. Since 22 July 2025 only higher-skilled jobs qualify, unless the job is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List. People who already had a certificate of sponsorship before that date keep the old rules for now.
From 8 January 2026 new Skilled Worker applicants need English at B2 level (up from B1). If you already held the visa before then, you stay at B1 when you extend.
Check whether your job and pay qualify with our free Skilled Worker salary checker, and see if your employer holds a licence with the licensed sponsor search.
Changes that came in recently
- 3 August 2026 (HC 259): a child born in the UK to a Graduate visa holder can now qualify on the Graduate route as a dependant, plus changes to family and asylum rules.
- 8 October 2026 (HC 584): changes for Erasmus+ visitors and students, the Victim of Domestic Abuse settlement route and Hong Kong BN(O) adult children. Skilled Workers confirmed as victims of modern slavery can also do most other work.
- 29 October 2026 (HC 584): Minister of Religion and Religious Worker visa holders can bring dependants, and the Religious Worker route becomes a maximum 2-year stay.
What starts next
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 30 November 2026 | Student maintenance funds rise to £1,570 a month in London (from £1,529) and £1,203 a month outside London (from £1,171). |
| 31 December 2026 | Last day an expired BRP can be used to sign in to your eVisa account. Make sure your UKVI account is set up. |
| 1 January 2027 | Graduate visa length drops to 18 months for new applications (PhD graduates still get 3 years). |
| 26 March 2027 | English at B2 level needed for most settlement (ILR) applications made on or after this date. |
If you are on a Student visa and finishing your course, applying for the Graduate visa on or before 31 December 2026 still gets you the full 2 years.
Earned settlement: still a proposal
The government consulted on an “earned settlement” model, with a 10-year baseline for ILR, from November 2025 to February 2026. As of today it has not published its response and the change is not in the immigration rules. Skilled Worker and most other work routes still lead to ILR after 5 years. Work out your earliest date with our ILR and citizenship date calculator.
Fees in October 2026
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years, from outside the UK) | £819 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | £324 |
| Student visa | £558 |
| Graduate visa | £937 |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain | £3,226 |
| British citizenship (naturalisation) | £1,709 + £130 ceremony |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £20 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 a year (£776 for students and children) |
Add up the total for you and your family with the visa cost calculator. If you are working towards citizenship, try our free Life in the UK practice test.
Official sources: Statements of changes to the Immigration Rules and the Home Office fees table on GOV.UK.
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules and fees change, so always check GOV.UK or speak to a regulated adviser before you apply.
