Autumn Immigration Changes

On 14 October 2025, the Home Office presented a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules to Parliament, incorporating various White Paper proposals that are summarised in our earlier article here. This article summarises the recent Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules, along with subsequent announcements concerning increases to the Immigration Skills Charge and sponsorship priority service.

Changes to English language requirements for economic migration rules

From 08 January 2026, new applicants under the Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual and Scale-up routes will need to comply with an increased Level B2 CEFR English language requirement (increasing from Level B1 CEFR). The change will not impact applicants who submit their application prior to 08 January 2026, or those who already hold permission to remain under any of the routes and who seek to extend their permission after 08 January 2026.

High Potential Individual - targeted and capped expansion of eligibility

The High Potential Individual immigration route enables recent graduates of top global universities to relocate to the UK for work. From 04 November 2025 the list of eligible institutions will be doubled, which means more individuals will be able to benefit from the route. However, a cap will be introduced, limiting the route to 8,000 applications per year.

Although a cap will be introduced, it is understood that less than 5,000 High Potential Individual visas were issued between May 2022 (when the route was established) and June 2024 (an average of 2.500 per year).

Reduction of the duration of stay under the Graduate route

Graduate applicants who submit their applications on or after 01 January 2027 will receive 18 months permission to remain (compared to the current 24 months/2 years). PhD graduates will, however, continue to receive 3 years permission to remain as a Graduate. This reduction has been implemented because the government claims that many graduates who secure permission to remain under the Graduate route are not securing graduate-level roles.

Students allowed to transition to the Innovator Founder Route

Students are subject to strict restrictions on their ability to work. From 25 November 2025, students will be able to establish a business when they have completed their course of study and have submitted an in-time application to switch into the Innovator Founder route.

Changes to Appendix Temporary Work - Seasonal Worker

At present, a Seasonal Worker cannot spend more than 6 months working in the UK during any rolling 12-month period. This 12-month period will be changed to a 10-month rolling period, enabling a Seasonal Worker to spend more time in the UK overall (6 months in any 10-month period).

Other changes

An important change to the Grounds for Refusal was also announced, which will result in the introduction of Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules, meaning new grounds for refusal will apply to all applications from 11 November 2025, including family members who benefited from more relaxed grounds for refusal previously.

Various other changes were also announced, including the immediate introduction of a visa requirement on citizens of Botswana visiting the UK, and the easing of travel requirements for German school groups visiting the UK. Further information about the changes can be accessed on the Gov.uk website here.

Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) increases

There has also been movement in relation to another White Paper proposal concerning the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) increases. Draft Regulations (The Immigration Skills Charge (Amendment) Regulations 2025) have been published. Assuming the Regulations are approved by Parliament – which is expected – they will increase the ISC payable by the sponsors of Skilled Workers and Senior or Specialist Workers from 16 December 2025. They will result in the ISC increasing as follows:

• Small sponsors – current ISC of £364 per year will be increased to £480 per year
• Medium or large sponsors – current ISC of £1000 per year will be increased to £1320 per year

There will continue to be exemptions to the ISC, with those sponsored as clergy under SOC 2463, sports players sponsored under SOC 3431, and sports coaches, instructors and officials sponsored under SOC 3432 also benefiting from an exemption.

Sponsors should urgently review planned sponsorships in an attempt to benefit from lower ISC levels; current rates will apply to Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned before 16 December 2025. It is also advisable to assign CoS for the maximum duration permitted, in order to benefit from the current lower rates for as long as possible.

Sponsorship Priority Service Fee Increases

On 21 October 2025, the Home Office also announced immediate increases to priority services that exist to speed up the consideration of sponsor licence applications and certain SMS updates. When applying for a sponsor licence, a sponsor can pay for expedited processing of their application which should result in a decision within 2 weeks. The fee is currently £500 and will be increasing to £750. The expedited processing of eligible SMS requests made by sponsor licence holders has also been increased from £200 to £350.