March 2026 Statement of Changes - What HC 1691 Means for Visa Holders
05 Mar 2026
The Home Secretary published a major Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1691) on 5 March 2026. If you are on a BNO, Skilled Worker, or Family visa working toward ILR, several of these changes affect you directly.
Settlement qualifying period stays at 5 years — for now. The widely discussed plan to extend the ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years under "earned settlement" was not included in this statement. It has been delayed and will require additional Parliamentary scrutiny before taking effect, likely in Autumn 2026. If you are approaching your 5-year mark, your current timeline has not changed yet.
English language for settlement rising to B2. From 26 March 2027, settlement applicants on Skilled Worker, Family, and other routes will need to demonstrate English at CEFR Level B2 (roughly A-Level standard), up from the current B1. BNO visa holders are not affected by this change. If you are on a Skilled Worker or Family visa and plan to apply for ILR after March 2027, start preparing for the higher requirement now.
Skilled Worker pay period compliance. From 8 April 2026, UKVI can check that your salary meets the required level in each individual pay period — not just annually. If your pay varies month to month, speak to your employer to ensure each payslip meets the threshold.
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