Statement of Changes HC 836 was laid before Parliament on 24 June 2025 and introduces a number of significant amendments to the UK Immigration Rules, with various parts coming into effect on 16 July 2025, 17 July 2025, and 29 July 2025.
Here’s a summary of the key changes:
1EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) – Relaxed Continuous Residence Rules (Effective 16 July 2025)
- Major Shift: This is one of the most impactful changes. For pre-settled status holders, the definition of “continuous qualifying period” has been significantly updated.
- Cumulative Test: Instead of the previous strict rule (no more than six months absence in any 12-month period, with limited exceptions), pre-settled status holders can now qualify for settled status if they have been resident in the UK for at least 30 months in total within the most recent 60-month period. This applies to both manual applications and the Home Office’s automated upgrade process.
- Benefits: This change is designed to simplify the assessment of continuous residence and to address concerns that many individuals inadvertently lost their eligibility for settled status due to temporary absences (e.g., for family reasons, study, or work travel). It offers greater flexibility for those with varied patterns of movement.
Appendix Private Life – Eased Settlement Criteria for Children and Young Adults (Effective 29 July 2025)
- “Half-Life Test” Extension: Young adults (aged 18-25 at application) who were granted permission in the UK on the basis of their family or private life before 20 June 2022 can now qualify for settlement under the five-year private life rules if they meet the “half-life test” (i.e., they have spent at least half their life continuously in the UK).
- Children with 7 Years’ Residence: Children who have lived in the UK for seven years will now be able to qualify for settlement after five years. This aims to align their path to settlement with other routes and ensure fairer treatment for children who have spent a significant portion of their lives in the UK.
- UK-Born Children: Continuous residence requirements for children born in the UK applying for settlement are being aligned with those for children not born in the UK but applying for permission to stay.
Appendix Continuous Residence – Harmonisation and Crown Dependencies (Effective 29 July 2025)
- New Appendix: A new “Appendix Continuous Residence” is introduced to standardise continuous residence rules across various work-route settlement applications (e.g., Skilled Worker, Scale-up, Innovator Founder, Global Talent).
- Crown Dependencies Count: Time spent with permission in the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man) on routes equivalent to those in the UK will now count as lawful presence for UK continuous residence purposes, provided the most recent leave was held in the UK.
- Skilled Worker Research Absences: Skilled Workers in designated research-related SOC codes (scientists, researchers, higher education teaching professionals) will benefit from an exemption to the 180-day annual absence limit for ILR if overseas travel is for research activity approved by the sponsor.
Appendix Long Residence – Clarification on British Citizenship (Effective 29 July 2025)
- Deprivation of Citizenship: The rules for Long Residence are being clarified to state that time spent as a British citizen will count as lawful presence unless that British citizenship has subsequently been deprived (e.g., if it was obtained by deception). This prevents individuals from counting time towards long residence if their citizenship was revoked.
Mandatory Refusals/Cancellations for Excluded Individuals (Effective 16 July 2025)
- Tougher Stance: Part 9 of the Immigration Rules is amended to make it mandatory to refuse an application or cancel existing permission for individuals who are excluded from asylum or humanitarian protection due to their conduct (e.g., serious criminality or security concerns). Previously, this was often discretionary. This aims to prevent such individuals from gaining leave under other immigration routes.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Extension (Effective 16 July 2025)
- The ETA scheme is widening beyond standard visitors. Creative Workers coming for engagements up to six months and travellers re-entering the UK from the Republic of Ireland after an overseas trip will now need an approved ETA.
Minor Corrections and Clarifications
- Appendix FM Evidential Flexibility: Where a degree certificate is delayed, an official academic reference or transcript can now meet English language exemption rules (with Ecctis confirmation).
- Family Dependants: Clarifications and corrections regarding eligibility timelines for family dependants, including ensuring that a sponsor with limited leave under the EUSS based on pre-exit UK residence can sponsor.
- Student and Graduate Dependants: If a Student or Graduate main applicant is refused, the associated dependent partner application must also be refused.
Where to find the full details
You can access the full Statement of Changes HC 836 and its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum on the official GOV.UK website:
It’s crucial for anyone affected by these changes to review the official documents or seek professional immigration advice, as the specifics of implementation and transitional arrangements can be complex.
