Latest UK Immigration and Visa Rule Changes

The UK changed its immigration rules and fees several times in 2026. Most changes affect work, study, family and settlement routes. This page lists the main changes and says which ones matter to Indian travellers. Indian passport holders are visa nationals, which means they need a UK visa to visit, and the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) does not apply to them. Always check GOV.UK before you apply.

Key changes in 2026

• 5 March 2026, HC 1691: the Home Office published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. It introduced a visa brake, which from 26 March 2026 stops certain applications from named nationalities (reported as student visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and Skilled Worker visas for Afghan nationals). It also added Nicaragua and St Lucia to the visitor visa national list from 5 March. Its explanatory memorandum also lists changes to the Global Business Mobility Service Supplier route that include provisions for Indian nationals. Some provisions start in stages up to 26 March 2027.
• 8 April 2026, fees: the Home Office raised several fees. The standard visitor visa for up to six months went from £127 to £135, the student visa from £524 to £558, and the ETA (which Indians do not use) from £16 to £20.
• 8 January 2026, English: new Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual and Scale-up applicants now need English at level B2 instead of B1.
• 26 March 2027, settlement: from this date most applicants for indefinite leave to remain will need B2 speaking and listening instead of B1. Confirm the exact routes and date on GOV.UK.
• 9 July 2026, HC 259: a further Statement of Changes took effect on 30 July and 3 August 2026. Its main changes cover the Graduate route (UK-born children can now apply as dependants), family and suitability provisions, and asylum procedure. It does not change how ordinary visitors apply.

Proposals that are not yet rules

The government has consulted on longer qualifying periods for settlement, including extending the standard route from five to ten years. Law-firm commentary says no binding start date has been set, so treat these as proposals until GOV.UK publishes the rules.

What this means for travellers

For tourism and family visits, apply for a Standard Visitor visa and check the current fee and documents on GOV.UK before you book. If you are changing flights in the UK, you may also need a transit visa, as explained in our transit guide. Work, study and settlement applicants face the largest changes, so check the rules for your specific route and the date your application will be decided.

How to stay up to date

GOV.UK keeps a change log for the Immigration Rules and publishes each Statement of Changes with an explanatory memorandum. Check it before you apply, and again before you travel, because dates and requirements can change.

Last verified: 5 November 2026 against the sources linked below. Visa rules change often, so confirm the details on the official link before you book or apply.

Official sources

• GOV.UK: Immigration Rules and change log
• GOV.UK: Statement of Changes HC 1691, 5 March 2026
• GOV.UK: Explanatory memorandum, HC 259, 9 July 2026
• GOV.UK: Check if you need a UK visa

Found something out of date? Tell us through our corrections policy. This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice: see our disclaimer.