Published: 29 October 2026

Changes to the UK Immigration Rules affecting Ministers of Religion and Religious Workers have come into effect on 29 October 2026. The amendments were introduced under Statement of Changes HC 584, published by the Home Office on 3 September 2026.

Addison & Khan Solicitors explains the key changes and what they mean for visa applicants, religious organisations and licensed sponsors.

1. Which immigration routes are affected?

The changes concern two immigration routes:

• T2 Minister of Religion: For eligible individuals undertaking leading religious or mainly pastoral roles within faith-based organisations. This route can lead to settlement.
• Temporary Work – Religious Worker: For eligible individuals undertaking religious work, including certain non-pastoral duties or work within religious orders. This is a temporary route and does not lead directly to settlement.

2. Six-year maximum removed for Ministers of Religion

One significant change is the removal of the previous six-year maximum period of permission under the T2 Minister of Religion route.

Eligible applicants may now seek further permission without being subject to that former overall limit, provided they continue to meet the applicable Immigration Rules.

The Home Office has also made a minor amendment to how individual grants of permission are calculated. The removal of the overall limit does not mean that applicants automatically receive indefinite permission to stay.

3. New eligibility requirements for Religious Workers

The previous resident labour consideration requirement has been replaced by new role eligibility requirements.

Under the amended rules, a Religious Worker applicant must generally meet at least one of the following conditions:

• The proposed role is supernumerary, meaning it is additional to the organisation’s normal staffing requirements.
• The role involves living mainly within and being a member of a religious order.
• The applicant has undertaken religious duties outside the UK for an affiliated faith-based organisation for at least six months immediately before applying, supported by the required letter.

Different provisions may apply to certain applicants extending their permission with the same sponsor.

The role must also satisfy the relevant requirements concerning non-pastoral religious duties and must not amount to a Minister of Religion role where the rules require that route instead.

4. New maintenance and accommodation requirements

Changes have also been introduced for sponsored religious workers who are not entitled to receive the National Minimum Wage for their particular role.

In these circumstances, an A-rated sponsor must confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship that it will maintain and accommodate the worker throughout their period of permission in the UK.

Where applicable, the sponsor must also confirm that it will maintain and accommodate the worker’s eligible dependants.

Religious organisations should review their sponsorship arrangements carefully before assigning Certificates of Sponsorship or supporting new applications.

5. What happens to applications submitted before 29 October 2026?

The Statement of Changes includes transitional arrangements for the amendments affecting these two routes.

Applications submitted before 29 October 2026 are generally considered under the Immigration Rules in force on 28 October 2026, in accordance with the relevant transitional provisions.

The date of application is therefore important when determining which requirements apply.

6. What if a Certificate of Sponsorship was issued before the changes?

The Home Office’s updated sponsor guidance explains that where a Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned before 29 October 2026 but the worker applies on or after that date, the sponsor may need to add a sponsor note.

This may be necessary to explain how the worker satisfies the new financial or role eligibility requirements.

Sponsors should review the updated guidance and the information recorded on the Certificate of Sponsorship before the application is submitted.

7. What should applicants and sponsors do now?

• Check the updated Immigration Rules for the relevant visa route.
• Confirm that the proposed religious role meets the new eligibility requirements.
• Review financial, maintenance and accommodation arrangements.
• Check whether any Certificate of Sponsorship requires an additional sponsor note.
• Consider the application date and any applicable transitional provisions.
• Seek professional legal advice where the requirements are unclear.

8. How Addison & Khan Solicitors can assist

Our immigration team advises individuals, families, businesses and sponsoring organisations on UK immigration matters.

We can assist with visa applications, sponsorship matters, extensions, settlement applications and the preparation of supporting documentation.

Contact Addison & Khan Solicitors

Offices: Ilford and Enfield
Telephone: 0208 514 4836
Website: www.addisonkhansolicitors.co.uk

Official Home Office sources

• Statement of Changes HC 584 – Immigration Rules
• Home Office sponsor guidance – Ministers of Religion and Religious Workers

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law and Home Office guidance may change. Advice should be obtained based on the circumstances of each individual case.