Supporting Highly Skilled Migration
The UK Government has announced that, from 4 November 2025, the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa will see significant expansion. The scheme will now permit graduates from double the number of eligible international universities, specifically including any institution ranked in the top 100 on prominent global lists, except UK universities. Each year, a cap of 8,000 principal applicants will apply.
Applicants must have gained an eligible qualification from one of these institutions within the last five years, verified through Ecctis. In addition, English language capability at CEFR Level B2 will become mandatory for HPI applicants from 8 January 2026, and all applicants will need to evidence sufficient maintenance funds unless exempt. The HPI visa remains non-extendable, granted for two years (or three for PhD holders), and can only be used once. After their stay, HPI visa holders will be eligible to switch to the Skilled Worker route if they meet the relevant requirements.
The Global Talent route will also be amended from 11 November 2025. The reforms will expand the list of recognised prestigious prizes and introduce new evidential requirements for architects, making it easier for global leaders and emerging talents to qualify under updated criteria.
From 25 November 2025, students who complete their studies in the UK will have enhanced opportunities to transition into the Innovator Founder route. New provisions will allow graduates to begin working on their business ventures while a decision on their Innovator Founder visa application is pending, thereby fostering entrepreneurial activity and graduate retention in the UK.
There are important changes to the post-study Graduate route. For applications submitted on or after 1 January 2027, the period of permission to stay will be reduced to 18 months for most UK graduates, while PhD holders retain a three-year allowance. This change is intended to encourage transition into graduate-level work and ensure that the Graduate route better meets its purpose of facilitating skilled employment and contribution to the UK economy.
Furthermore, from 8 January 2026, applicants for the Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual, and Scale Up visas will be required to demonstrate English language ability at the higher standard of CEFR Level B2. This uplift ensures greater capacity for integration and employability in the UK. Extension of requirements to dependants is expected in future rule changes.
Structural Changes to Suitability and Refusal Grounds
One of the biggest legal reforms is the replacement of “Part 9: Grounds for Refusal” with “Part Suitability” from 11 November 2025. This new structure creates a central reference point for all suitability-related refusal and cancellation decisions, streamlining and simplifying the rules. Under the new system, exceptions for overstayers are now specifically included within Part Suitability, ensuring a more consistent approach across all immigration routes. The definition of ‘permission’ is clarified to include both permission to enter and stay, as well as settlement status. Key family and private life categories—Appendix FM, Private Life, Adult Dependant Relative, and Settlement Family Life—will now also be subject to Part Suitability, unifying standards and replacing more generous previous suitability provisions.
Additional Administrative Measures
The Immigration Skills Charge paid by employer sponsors will rise by 32%, incentivising local recruitment and investment in resident workers. Late in 2025, a government consultation will begin on planned reforms to settlement and citizenship pathways, including a new ‘earned settlement’ model for indefinite leave to remain and naturalisation. The Home Office will also launch a six-week public consultation to extend right-to-work checks to a wider range of employment types, to further prevent illegal working.
Alongside this, the move toward e-Visas continues. Physical 90-day entry clearance vignettes have already been phased out for most work and study migrants since July 2025, and the digital transition will soon expand to other visa routes and dependant applicants, progressing toward a fully digital immigration status infrastructure.