Immigration Rule Changes July 2025

We set out a summary of the key changes; however, specific qualifications and conditions should always be reviewed individually and specific legal advice sought.

Long and Continuous Residence

The rules around long residence are changing to include time spent as a British citizen (unless that citizenship was later revoked e.g. if citizenship was obtained fraudulently). In addition, the definition of “continuous residence” is also being changed to include time (lawfully) spent in the Crown Dependencies – Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man - on a route equivalent to those in the UK.

Children and Young Adults who have “Grown up” in the UK

Changes are being made to the rules regarding children and young adults who have “gown up” in the UK. For children who have lived in the UK for seven years, they can now qualify for settlement after five years. Young Adults (18-25 years), subject to when they were originally granted permission, the rules under which permission was granted and provided they meet the “half-life” test, will also now be able to settle after five years in the UK.

The Explanatory Note also states that the continuous residence requirements for children born in the UK who are applying for settlement will be aligned with those for children who were not born in the UK who are also applying for permission to stay.

The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

There had been confusion as to what “continuous residence” meant for the purposes of the EUSS. However, changes announced will allow individuals to qualify for settled status if they have been resident in the UK for “at least 30 months out of the most recent 60 months”. This allows those EU settlement scheme holders to reach the required threshold even if they have spent some time abroad. These changes will apply where the individual applies personally or under the Home Office's automatic “upgrade” system.

Other changes

There are also some minor technical changes, for example:

• Fixing drafting errors in the family and student routes
• Updating the rules as to who can act as a sponsor under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Changes to the use of previous English language test certificates
• Clarifying that Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are required for certain travellers entering the UK from the Republic of Ireland
• Changes to Part 9 which will make it mandatory to refuse applications or cancel permission for individuals who are excluded from asylum, humanitarian protection, or protection under the principle of non-refoulement (e.g. if there are security or criminal concerns (subject to obligations under human rights laws))

Where can I find the changes?

The changes and the explanatory note can be found on these links.

Statement Of Changes In Immigration Rules

Explanatory memorandum to the statement of changes to the Immigration Rules