The UK has changed its immigration rules, and more changes are coming before January 2027. Some have already started. Some start in the next few weeks. And one has a deadline on 31 December 2026: miss it, and you could lose six months.
Whether you’re a student, skilled worker, care worker, Hong Kong BN(O) holder or religious worker, and whether you’re already in the UK or applying from abroad, at least one of these changes affects you.
In this guide, I explain every change in simple words: what it is, who it affects, when it starts, and what you can do now.
Quick summary: new UK visa rules at a glance
Graduate visa: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026. 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027.
Student visa money: higher monthly amounts from 30 November 2026.
Visa fees: went up on 8 April 2026, and the Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 a year (£776 for students).
Temporary Shortage List: experts have recommended cutting it from 52 jobs to 28. This is not decided yet.
Hong Kong BN(O): most adults now need 5 continuous years for settlement (from 8 October 2026).
Erasmus+ and religious workers: new rules from 8 October and 29 October 2026.
1. Graduate visa cut from 2 years to 18 months
The Graduate visa lets international students stay and work in the UK after they finish their degree. You don’t need a job offer or a sponsor, which is why it’s so popular.
According to the official
GOV.UK Graduate visa page, how long you get depends on the date you apply:
Apply on or before 31 December 2026: you get 2 years.
Apply on or after 1 January 2027: you get 18 months.
PhD and other doctoral graduates: still get 3 years.
A Graduate visa cannot be extended. Once it ends, you’ll need to switch to another visa if you want to stay.
Example: Tobi is finishing his master’s degree this winter. If he can apply in December, he gets two years. If he applies in January, he gets 18 months. Same degree, same person, six months less, just because of the application date. (This is a made-up example to explain the rule.)
Important: you can only apply once your university has told the Home Office you’ve successfully finished your course. If you’re finishing soon, ask your university when that will happen.
Cost: the Graduate visa fee is £937, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year (
GOV.UK).
2. Student visa: more money to show from 30 November 2026
When you apply for a UK Student visa, you usually need to show you have enough money to live on. This is called the maintenance requirement (or “financial requirement”).
From 30 November 2026, the monthly amounts go up (for up to 9 months)
Applied before 30 November 2026? The old amounts apply. Already lived in the UK on a visa for at least 12 months? You usually don’t need to prove this money.
The new amounts are set out in the Statement of Changes HC 584. The GOV.UK Student visa page will keep showing the old amounts until the change starts. If your bank balance is close to the limit, keep a little extra. Falling short is a common reason for refusal. UK Student visa maintenance funds rise to £1,570 in London and £1,203 outside London from 30 November 2026.
3. UK visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge in 2026
UK visa fees went up on 8 April 2026. Here are some of the main ones, per person.
On top of the fee, most people also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for using the NHS:
- £1,035 per year for most visas
- £776 per year for students, their dependants and Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders
Budget tip: add the fee, plus the health surcharge for every year of your visa, for every person coming with you.
Official sources: Students visa costs, Skilled Worker visa costs, Health and Care Worker visa costs, Healthcare surcharge
4. Temporary Shortage List: 52 jobs could become 28
The Temporary Shortage List is a list of jobs the UK finds hard to fill. Some jobs on it can still be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa even if they’re below degree level.
There are currently 52 jobs on the list.
In July 2026, the government’s expert advisers, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), recommended cutting it to 28 jobs, with access for 18 months from January 2027.
This is only a recommendation. The government has not yet decided whether to accept it.
The current list is due to expire on 31 December 2026, so a decision is expected soon.
If your job is on the list, check whether it’s among the 28 recommended jobs in the Mac Temporary Shortage List report, and talk to your employer.
Who it affects: workers applying from abroad, and people in the UK switching or extending in shortage-list jobs.
Read Next: UK Clearing 2026: Top Unis Accept Lower Grades
5. Hong Kong BN(O): 5 continuous years for settlement
From 8 October 2026, most adults on the BN(O) route need 5 continuous years with permission on a settlement route before they can apply for settlement.
“Continuous” means without long breaks, so keep a record of your time in the UK and any time abroad. The rule doesn’t apply to applicants under 18.
Hong Kong BN(O) visa settlement requires 5 continuous years from 8 October 2026
Who it affects: BN(O) holders already living in the UK.
6. Erasmus+ and religious workers
Erasmus+ (from 8 October 2026): new rules for people coming to the UK on the Erasmus+ programme, including training, traineeships, job shadowing and coaching.
Religious workers and ministers of religion (from 29 October 2026): the rules for these routes change. Applications made before 29 October are decided under the old rules.
If you work in either area, read the updated rules before you apply. Both are in the Statement of Changes HC 584
Myth: The UK just closed the Start-up visa
You may have seen posts saying the UK has just closed the Start-up visa. That’s not quite right.
The Start-up route actually closed on 13 July 2023. On 8 October 2026, the government simply removed the old Start-up rules from the Immigration Rules. It’s tidying up, not new news.
Myth vs fact: the UK Start-up visa closed on 13 July 2023
Does it affect you? Inside vs outside the UK
Timeline of UK visa changes
8 April 2026: visa fees went up
8 October 2026: BN(O) settlement and Erasmus+ changes start
29 October 2026: religious worker and minister of religion changes
30 November 2026: students must show more money
31 December 2026: last day to apply for a 2-year Graduate visa
1 January 2027: Graduate visa becomes 18 months, and the shortage list may change
What should you do now?
Students finishing soon: ask your university when they’ll confirm your course completion, so you can apply for the Graduate visa in time.
New Student visa applicants: make sure your bank balance meets the new amounts, with a little extra to be safe.
Everyone: budget for the full cost, including the health surcharge for every year and every person.
Shortage-list workers: check the recommended list and talk to your employer early.
Always check GOV.UK on the day you apply. Rules and fees can change.
Frequently asked questions
When does the UK Graduate visa change to 18 months?
For applications made on or after 1 January 2027. If you apply on or before 31 December 2026, you get 2 years.
Does the 18-month rule apply to PhD graduates?
No. PhD and other doctoral graduates still get 3 years.
Can I extend my Graduate visa?
No. A Graduate visa cannot be extended. You’d need to switch to another visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa, to stay longer.
How much money do I need for a UK Student visa from 30 November 2026?
£1,570 per month if you study in London, or £1,203 per month outside London, for up to 9 months. Applications made before 30 November use the old amounts (£1,529 and £1,171).
Do I need to show money if I’m already in the UK?
Usually not. If you’ve lived in the UK with a visa for at least 12 months before your Student visa application, you don’t need to prove the financial requirement.
How much does a UK Student visa cost in 2026?
The application fee is £558, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year for students.
How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost in 2026?
For up to 3 years: £819 from outside the UK or £943 from inside the UK. For more than 3 years: £1,618 outside or £1,865 inside. Most applicants also pay the health surcharge of £1,035 per year.
Is the Temporary Shortage List being cut to 28 jobs?
Not yet. The Migration Advisory Committee has recommended cutting it from 52 jobs to 28, but the government hasn’t decided. The current list is due to expire on 31 December 2026.
Has the UK closed the Start-up visa?
It closed back on 13 July 2023. In October 2026, the old rules were just removed from the rule book.
What changed for Hong Kong BN(O) holders?
From 8 October 2026, most adults need 5 continuous years with permission on a settlement route before applying for settlement. This doesn’t apply to applicants under 18.
Do the new rules apply if I applied before they started?
For most of these changes, applications made before the start date are decided under the old rules. Always check the specific rule for your route.
Is this legal or immigration advice?
No. This guide is general information only. For advice on your own situation, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.
