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ARTICLE · 23 MARCH 2026

Analysis Of Spring 2026 UK Immigration Rule Changes For Employers

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

Joint managing partners: Jo Farmer, Richard Miskella International offices: Dublin, Hong Kong...

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The latest Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 1691) was published on 5 March 2026, with changes being implemented on various dates.

United KingdomImmigration
Andrew Osborne
Andrew Osborne
Li Xiang
Li Xiang
Kathryn Denyer (Lewis Silkin LLP)
Kathryn Denyer (Lewis Silkin LLP)
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Although the Home Office's earned settlement model has been deferred to a future Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, there are still important developments employers need to be aware of. These include new payment-related requirements for Skilled Workers, and a higher English language requirement for settlement applicants from 26 March 2027.

The latest Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 1691) was published on 5 March 2026, with changes being implemented on various dates. In this article we outline the changes most likely to be of interest to employers and include some action points at the end of the article.

For information about recent sponsor guidance updates published on 6 March 2026, read our separate article here.

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