1UK-born children of Graduate visa holders

Appendix Graduate has been amended to address the position of children born in the UK while a parent holds permission under the Graduate route.

Under the previous wording, dependant eligibility was generally limited to dependants who had already held permission as dependants under the Student route. This created a difficulty for children born after the parent had been granted Graduate permission.

• The child must have been born in the UK during the parent’s Graduate permission.
• The amendment does not create a new overseas dependant route.
• The Graduate route remains a temporary route and does not itself lead to settlement.
• Birth in the UK does not automatically make a child a British citizen.

2Children joining a settled relative under Part 8

The Home Office has amended the provisions concerning children seeking to join or remain with a relative who is settled in the UK.

The revised approach places greater emphasis on whether the child has another parent or family member who can reasonably be expected to provide care and support outside the UK.

• The whereabouts and circumstances of both parents.
• Who currently has responsibility for the child.
• Whether another relative can provide suitable care.
• The child’s welfare and best interests.
• Why current care arrangements outside the UK are not reasonable.

3New care requirement for children under Appendix FM

Child applications under Appendix FM must now include clear evidence that the proposed care and accommodation arrangements in the UK are safe, suitable and lawful.

Relevant evidence may include:

• Tenancy or ownership documents.
• Information about the number of occupants.
• Evidence of parental responsibility.
• Consent from the other parent.
• Court orders, school evidence or medical evidence where relevant.

4Partners of people granted temporary protection permission

Appendix FM has been amended in relation to partners of people who hold a limited period of protection permission.

Where the protection sponsor has been granted 30 months’ permission, the partner may receive leave only until the expiry date of the sponsor’s existing permission.

• Check the sponsor’s current immigration status.
• Check the sponsor’s visa expiry date.
• Consider whether a further application will be required at the same time as the sponsor’s next application.

5Immigration bail and overstayer exceptions

The Part Suitability provisions have been amended to clarify the relationship between immigration bail and applications made by overstayers.

Where an applicant falls within an applicable overstayer exception under paragraph SUI 13.1, the application should not be refused solely because the applicant is on immigration bail.

6Asylum decisions without a separate substantive interview

The Home Office is introducing a merged registration process in certain asylum cases. One interview may cover registration, screening and substantive questions concerning the basis of the claim.

Where the Home Office considers that it has sufficient information, it may make a positive or negative decision without arranging a separate substantive interview.

Paragraph 339NA has also been amended to make clear that the absence of a separate personal interview does not prevent the Secretary of State from deciding the claim.

7Clearly unfounded asylum claims

Paragraph 339NA has been expanded to include circumstances in which the Home Office may conclude that an asylum claim is clearly unfounded.

Nevertheless, every claim must still be considered individually by reference to the applicant’s personal history, the alleged risk on return, state protection, internal relocation and relevant country evidence.

8ETA applications and suspended sentences

The criminality provisions under Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation have been strengthened.

An ETA application may be refused and an existing ETA may be cancelled where the person has received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months or a suspended sentence of at least 12 months.

9Criminality requirements for carers of Child Students

Appendix Child Student has been amended so that an application may be refused where the proposed carer has received a suspended sentence of at least 12 months.

The amendment is intended to strengthen safeguarding arrangements for international children.

10Deportation and suspended sentences

Part 13 has been amended to clarify the application of deportation provisions following changes introduced by the Sentencing Act 2026.

The relevant framework may apply where a person has received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months or a suspended sentence of at least 12 months where the conviction occurred on or after 22 March 2026.

11Indian diplomatic passport holders

The Diplomatic Visa Arrangement has been extended to eligible Indian diplomatic passport holders who are nominated through the relevant diplomatic process.

• No application fee.
• No fingerprint biometrics requirement.
• Normally a two-year multiple-entry visa.
• Visits of up to six months at a time.

12EU Settlement Scheme travel permits

Appendix EU (Family Permit) has been amended to remove the fingerprint biometrics requirement in certain travel permit applications.

The change may assist EUSS status holders who are outside the UK and cannot update their UKVI account with details of a new travel document.

13Family members of qualifying British citizens under the EUSS

A person who previously held pre-settled status as the family member of a qualifying British citizen may still be able to apply for settled status even if that permission was later varied into another immigration category.

The full history of residence, relationship and immigration status should be examined before an application is made.

14Scale-up route and neonatal leave

Appendix Scale-up has been amended so that neonatal leave may be treated as an allowable period of absence when assessing the earnings requirement for permission to stay and settlement.

15Stateless settlement applications

Applicants seeking settlement under the Statelessness route should now use the SET(O) form rather than the FLR(S) form.

16Global Talent prestigious prizes

Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes has been updated to correct the names of certain recognised prizes, including the WH Pierce Global Impact in Microbiology Prize.

17Armed forces and technical amendments

HC 259 also makes amendments to several other parts of the Immigration Rules, including the armed forces provisions, Administrative Review, ECAA Settlement and a number of technical references across work, family and human rights routes.

What applicants should do now

1. Identify the immigration route under which the application is being made.
2. Confirm whether the application was submitted before or after 3 August 2026.
3. Check the current wording of the relevant Immigration Rules.
4. Review any transitional provision that may apply.
5. Provide updated evidence addressing care, safeguarding, criminality and immigration history where relevant.
6. Obtain legal advice where the position is unclear.