The Home Office has published a Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules which will affect immigration applications for the UK.
The Statement was published on 9 July 2026. Please see each relevant change below for specific details about when it will take effect. Home Office guidance to accompany these changes may not be published until on, or after, the effective dates of the changes.
Graduate route
Currently, the Graduate route only permits dependants where they are already a current Student dependant. This means that babies born in the UK to a Graduate route visa holder are not currently eligible to apply as a dependant of that person.
As of 3 August 2026, babies born in the UK to a parent that holds Graduate route permission may now make an immigration application as a Graduate dependant.
It is important to note, however, that any application as a Graduate route dependant must still be made in the UK.
Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs)
For applications made on or after 3 August 2026, any applicant that has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas and has received a suspended sentence of 12-months or more will either have their ETA application refused, or current ETA cancelled.
Impact of immigration bail on future applications
Specific immigration routes (including the Student route) state that an individual cannot apply for the route whilst on immigration bail in the UK.
As of 3 August 2026, the suitability requirements of the following routes will now allow an application from an individual on immigration bail, where that person is provided for under specific exceptions for overstayers in Part Suitability (paragraph SUI 13.1):
- Student route (and dependants)
- Child Student route
- Parent of a Child student
- Graduate route (and dependants)
- Skilled Worker route
- Visitor route
(The above list is not exhaustive.)
For up-to-date comprehensive information about visas and immigration for international students, visit our international student advice pages.
