Introducing Part Suitability – New Good Character Immigration Rules From 11 November 2025

In October the Home Office announced its Autumn Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules. The Statement contained various updates and amendments to the rules, with a significant change being the replacement of Part 9: Grounds for Refusal, with a new all-encompassing 'Part Suitability'. The Statement of Changes confirms that this new part of the rules will function as the "central reference point for all suitability-related refusal and cancellation grounds" so it is essential to understand what it says before making your UK visa or residence application.

What is new?

Part Suitability defines all of the reasons why a visa may be refused in the UK, or why an individual's current permission may be cancelled. Part Suitability generally seeks to replicate the existing provisions in Part 9: Grounds for Refusal, with some changes noted below. One notable change is the integration of Paragraph 39E in its entirety; these rules are now located in SU13.1 of Part