Skip to content The Home Office published Statement of Changes HC 584 on 3 September 2026. It amends several immigration routes and procedures, with implementation dates between October and December.
Work rights and protection for abuse victims
Skilled Workers who receive a positive “Conclusive Grounds” modern slavery decision during their latest permission may qualify for amended conditions. These conditions allow other employment, self-employment and voluntary work, but exclude professional sport and sports coaching.
In addition, the Victim of Domestic Abuse route now covers certain adult dependent children. They may qualify where abuse causes their relationship with a parent or their parent’s partner to break down permanently.
Visitor activities and training
The changes expressly allow visitors to attend workshops, debates and skills competitions, and to take part in artistic rehearsals. Furthermore, training under PA 10.2 no longer depends on whether the visitor’s home country offers it.
Entertainment support staff may also assist with permitted activities. However, they must attend the same event as the artist and work for that artist outside the UK.
Erasmus+ opportunities for visitors and students
The Erasmus+ provisions cover training, job shadowing and sports assignments, provided participants do not fill permanent roles. In addition, participants aged 18 or under can undertake visitor traineeships lasting up to 30 days.
Participants must demonstrate genuine participation. Those under 18 must also provide written permissions for traineeships or job shadowing.
Meanwhile, the Student and Child Student provisions accommodate Erasmus+ study at state schools. The Student provisions also relax restrictions on qualifications, course levels and work placements.
Finally, the Government Authorised Exchange route now includes Erasmus+ for eligible placements lasting up to 12 months.
EU Settlement Scheme and family settlement
The changes protect certain pre-settled status holders where removal would be disproportionate. They also protect qualifying children who are completing their education and their carers.
First-time joining family members generally have three months from their latest lawful entry to apply. However, restrictions apply following unsuccessful applications.
The statement also removes obsolete EUSS travel permit and administrative review provisions. Separately, eligible BN(O) dependent children under 18 no longer need to complete their own five-year residence period to qualify for settlement.
Application procedures and immigration breaches
Varying an application does not reset the biometric deadline. In addition, applicants who rely on the date of a fee-waiver request must apply under the same immigration route and meet the specified timing conditions.
The changes also expressly include frustrating immigration controls within the relevant immigration breaches.
Meanwhile, families in the Family Returns Process can submit family or private life claims directly to Home Office staff. They do not need to make a formal paid application.
The Long Residence provisions also address variation into family or private life applications without an additional application fee. However, applicants must still pay any required immigration health charge.
Religious routes and other amendments
The religious routes introduce revised duties, sponsorship requirements and maintenance arrangements. In addition, the changes remove the overall Minister of Religion time limit.
The Child Relative route now includes age as an eligibility requirement. Finally, the statement deletes obsolete Tier 1, Start-up and Ofgem provisions and updates terminology, provider references and drafting.
Implementation dates and Student maintenance
Most amendments apply from 8 October 2026. The religious-route changes follow on 29 October 2026.
From 30 November 2026, the monthly Student maintenance requirement rises to £1,570 in London and £1,203 elsewhere. The accommodation offset also increases to £1,570.
From 9 December 2026, applicants can no longer use biometric residence permits (BRPs) as EUSS identity evidence.
Transitional protection applies only where the statement expressly specifies it.