United Kingdom immigration rule changes

UK Graduate Route Visa: The UK Government's immigration white paper, 'Restoring Control over the Immigration System', proposed reducing the Graduate Route's standard post-study period from 24 to 18 months and introducing a levy on international student tuition fees to fund higher-education and skills spending. These measures were subject to consultation and phased Immigration Rules changes rather than taking effect immediately — confirm current status against gov.uk.

UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa: The UK Government's immigration white paper, 'Restoring Control over the Immigration System', proposed extending the standard qualifying period for settlement (ILR) from 5 to 10 years for most work-based routes, with a faster track for high-contributing/high-skill migrants — relevant to anyone using HPI as a bridge into a settlement-qualifying route. Measures were subject to consultation and phased implementation; confirm current status against gov.uk.

UK Ancestry Visa: UK abolished the non-domicile remittance basis; replaced by the FIG regime offering full foreign-income-and-gains exemption for the first 4 years of UK tax residence to new arrivals.

UK Skilled Worker Visa: Non-dom remittance basis abolished for new arrivals. 4-year FIG regime introduced.

UK Ancestry Visa / British National (Overseas) — BN(O): The UK Ancestry visa application fee increased to £637 per applicant (main applicant and each dependant). The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is also payable: £1,035 per year per person (at 2024 rates). For a 5-year visa, the IHS component is £5,175 per person — a significant additional cost on top of the visa fee.

UK Ancestry Visa: UK Visas & Immigration increased Ancestry-visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

UK Skilled Worker Visa: Skilled Worker minimum salary raised from £26,200 to £38,700. Shortage Occupation List abolished; Immigration Salary List created with narrower scope.

UK Global Talent Visa: Tech Nation endorsement route closed; tech talent must use alternative routes.

UK Student Visa: Immigration Health Surcharge increased -- the discounted student/under-18 rate rose to £776/year (from £470); the standard rate rose to £1,035/year.

UK Student Visa: Dependant visa eligibility for the Student route restricted to postgraduate research students (9+ months) and government-sponsored students on courses of 6+ months; taught master's and undergraduate students can no longer bring dependants.

UK Student Visa: Graduate Route confirmed retained (following the Migration Advisory Committee review) at 2 years post-undergraduate/master's and 3 years post-PhD, without a minimum salary requirement.

UK Innovator Founder Visa: £50,000 minimum investment requirement removed. Replaced with stricter "innovative, viable, scalable" business plan assessment.

UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa: High Potential Individual visa launched, creating the UK's first unsponsored route specifically targeting recent graduates of elite overseas universities.

UK Ancestry Visa / British National (Overseas) — BN(O): Post-Brexit, EU/EEA citizens lost free movement rights to the UK. Commonwealth citizens with UK-born grandparents became relatively more attractive candidates for the UK Ancestry visa route as a structured path to UK settlement, as EU nationals no longer have a free-movement alternative.

UK Graduate Route Visa: Graduate Route launched, reopening unsponsored post-study work rights in the UK for the first time since the original Tier 1 Post-Study Work route closed in 2012.