Britain will change immigration rules for students, workers, families and settlement applicants from October 2026.
The Home Office presented HC 584 to Parliament on September 3. Most measures start October 8. Religion routes begin October 29, student funds November 30 and EUSS biometric permit changes December 9.
Erasmus+ routes expanded ahead of 2027 return
The UK and EU agreed Britain’s 2027 Erasmus+ association in December 2025. They amended their Trade and Cooperation Agreement protocol in April 2026.
The rules define youth workers, job shadowing, participative observation, skills competitions and traineeships. Visitors may study at state-funded schools and academies for up to six months. Permitted activities include training, courses, workshops, debates and sports coaching. Traineeships may last up to 30 days.
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Applicants must prove genuine participation. Under-18s may need consent from parents or guardians and their home institution.
Student and Child Student rules will cover Erasmus+ courses without approved qualifications, including some at RQF Level 2. Licensed state-funded schools may sponsor participants. Placements may exceed normal course limits and begin under newly licensed sponsors.
Erasmus+ will join the Government Authorised Exchange scheme. Around 60,000 participants entered Britain in 2019. Officials expect more after programme expansion and pent-up demand.
New protection and settlement provisions
Skilled Workers whom the Home Office identifies as modern slavery victims may work for any employer during their remaining permission.
The domestic abuse route will include adult dependent children whose sponsor relationship ended because of abuse. The Home Office expects 163 to 447 additional grants annually.
Some pre-settled EUSS holders may remain where removing status would be disproportionate. First-time joining family members will get three months from their latest legal entry after December 31, 2020.
Previously rejected applicants who entered without an EUSS family permit must justify a late application or re-enter with a permit. BRPs will no longer prove identity because almost all expired by December 31, 2024.
The Ayoola judgment lets qualifying children retain pre-settled status through education and later seek settlement. Primary carers and their under-18 dependants may also qualify.
The EUSS travel permit and closed administrative review route will disappear. Status holders can instead link new passports online from abroad. Eligible Hong Kong BN(O) children may settle with qualifying parents without completing five years’ residence.
Student finances and other routes change
From November 30, student maintenance funds will rise alongside 2026/27 home-student loans. The accommodation offset will change, but the memorandum gives no new amount.
Religion-route rules will revise finances for unpaid applicants and exempt religious-order members from the non-pastoral duties test. They will remove ministers’ maximum stay and replace religious-worker advertising with an affiliation test.
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Other changes cover bail absconders, fee-waiver application dates and one biometrics enrolment period. Families in the Family Returns Process may raise human-rights claims without a formal application, fee or prescribed form.
The rules remove the defunct Ofgem exchange scheme and outdated Tier 1 Investor and Entrepreneur provisions. They also delete Start-up provisions for new main applicants while retaining access for dependants.
Visitor rules will clarify training, rehearsals and entertainment support. Officials will align BN(O) terms, fix Long Residence inconsistencies and add an under-18 Child Relative test.
