New Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules introduces Skilled Worker modern slavery protections and expands Erasmus+ - Electronic Immigration Network

A new statement of changes to the Immigration Rules has been published today, introducing changes aimed at protecting Skilled Worker visa holders who have been recognised as victims of modern slavery, while also making it easier for the UK to participate in the Erasmus+ programme.

You can access the statement from here on GOV.UK. The 32-page statement (HC 584) is available here. The 15-page explanatory memorandum is available here.

The Migration and Citizenship Minister Jo White said in a written statement to Parliament that the changes will allow people who entered the UK on the Skilled Worker route but subsequently experienced exploitation to take up work in any occupation for the remainder of their existing visa. The Government says the measure is intended to reduce the risk of further exploitation and encourage victims to come forward.

As the minister also highlighted, amendments are being made to support the UK's re-entry into Erasmus+. They will expand the activities available to Erasmus+ participants in the UK, including study placements, training, traineeships and certain sports activities, with changes across the Visitor, Student and Government Authorised Exchange routes.

In addition, the statement of changes includes a number of other amendments. According to the explanatory memorandum, these include changes affecting families in the Family Returns Process, who will be able to raise Article 8/private life or family life claims directly with Home Office staff without making a formal valid application, paying a fee or using a specified form. The changes also amend the rules around fee waiver requests and biometric enrolment, including provisions intended to prevent abuse of the processes through repeated or varied applications.

A change to Part Suitability clarifies the circumstances in which an applicant can be treated as having breached immigration laws by previously acting to frustrate immigration controls. The explanatory memorandum says this means applicants in the UK who have previously failed to report for bail or absconded from bail or custody can now be refused on that basis.

The statement also makes a number of changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). These include provisions allowing some pre-settled status holders who no longer meet the EUSS eligibility requirements to remain in the scheme where it would not be proportionate to remove their status. The rules are also being amended in relation to first-time joining family members and the evidence that can be used when making an EUSS application.

Elsewhere, the five-year continuous residence requirement is being removed for eligible dependent children on the Hong Kong BN(O) route, allowing them to settle alongside their parents where the relevant requirements are met. The Student route maintenance requirement is also being increased in line with the maintenance loans available to home students for the 2026/27 academic year. The Victim of Domestic Abuse route is additionally being extended to adult dependent children whose relationship with their visa sponsor has broken down due to domestic abuse.

The changes take effect on various dates from 8 October 2026.

The minister's full statement is reproduced below: