October Immigration Rules changes take effect on 8 October 2026
07 Oct 2026
A set of Immigration Rules changes starts on 8 October 2026. They come from the Home Office statement of changes HC 584. Two of them matter most if you are on a Skilled Worker or Hong Kong BN(O) route.
Skilled Worker. A new rule covers Skilled Workers who have been referred into the National Referral Mechanism and have a positive Conclusive Grounds decision. The rules say their work conditions may be amended to allow broader work, except as a professional sportsperson. Envoy says this gives access to "broader work permissions, subject to applicable eligibility requirements". If this is your situation, check the exact rule text and seek advice from a regulated adviser.
Hong Kong BN(O). The settlement route now asks for a continuous period of 5 years with permission in the UK on a route under which a person can settle. There is an exemption: "unless they are aged under 18 at the date of application." So most adults still need the 5 years, but applicants under 18 do not.
Other changes start on the same date. They cover visitor activities, EU Settlement Scheme technical amendments, and the victim of domestic abuse route. Fee waiver applicants must still give biometrics within the original application deadline. If you are on one of these routes, read the statement of changes for the parts that apply to you.
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