Immigration Rules changes HC 584: Erasmus+, EUSS, BN(O) children and Skilled Workers
Published
The Home Office has changed the Immigration Rules in HC 584, affecting routes including Skilled Worker, the EU Settlement Scheme, Hong Kong BN(O), Victim of Domestic Abuse, Student and Visitor. Most changes came into effect on 8 October 2026. Some changes start later, on 29 October, 30 November and 9 December 2026.
- Who is affected
- Skilled Workers, EUSS applicants, BN(O) children, Erasmus+ participants, students, religious workers
- Takes effect
- October 8, 2026
What has changed
The statement of changes HC 584 was laid before Parliament on 3 September 2026. It changes many parts of the Immigration Rules. The main changes are listed below.
- Skilled Worker: Skilled Workers identified by the Home Office Competent Authorities as victims of modern slavery can work for any employer for the rest of their current permission.
- Hong Kong BN(O): dependent children no longer need to complete a five-year continuous residence period before they can settle. They can settle alongside their parents where the parents meet the settlement requirements.
- Victim of Domestic Abuse (Appendix VDA): adult dependent children whose relationship with their visa sponsor has broken down because of domestic abuse can now apply.
- EU Settlement Scheme: first-time joining family members must apply within three months of their latest legal entry to the UK since 31 December 2020.
- EU Settlement Scheme: from 9 December 2026, the option to use a biometric residence permit (BRP) as proof of identity and nationality will be removed.
- EU Settlement Scheme: the EUSS travel permit route is deleted. EUSS status holders can use the Update My Details service from outside the UK, including to link their status to a new passport.
- EU Settlement Scheme: some children with pre-settled status whose EU citizen parent was a worker or self-employed person can keep their status until they finish their education, following the Ayoola court case. Their primary carer may also get or keep pre-settled status.
- Erasmus+: changes to the Visitor, Student, Child Student and Government Authorised Exchange routes allow people to take part in Erasmus+, which the UK will join in 2027.
- Visitors: visitors no longer need to show that the training they want to do in the UK is not available in their home country.
- Suitability: applicants in the UK who previously failed to report for bail or absconded from bail or custody can now be refused on that basis.
- Student route: the maintenance requirement will increase to match maintenance loans for home students for the 2026/2027 academic year.
- Minister of Religion and Religious Worker routes: changes to how the financial requirement is assessed and other changes.
When the changes apply
Most changes came into effect on 8 October 2026.
The changes to the Minister of Religion and Religious Worker routes come into effect on 29 October 2026. The Student route maintenance increase comes into effect on 30 November 2026. The EUSS change about biometric residence permits comes into effect on 9 December 2026.
Who is affected
The changes affect several groups. These include Skilled Workers who are victims of modern slavery, BN(O) dependent children, adult dependent children who are victims of domestic abuse, EUSS applicants and status holders, Erasmus+ students and visitors, international students, and religious workers.
The Home Office estimates the Appendix VDA change will lead to 163 to 447 additional grants each year.
What you should do
The Home Office says guidance on these changes will be updated on GOV.UK when the changes take effect. General questions should go to UK Visas and Immigration through the Contact UKVI section of GOV.UK. Read the official page linked below for full details.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources
This summary is produced automatically from the official sources above and checked against them, but it can still contain mistakes. It is not legal advice. Always confirm the details on GOV.UK before you apply.