The latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1333) has now kicked in from 11 November 2025, and it brings some major shifts across work, student, visitor, and sponsorship routes.

If you’re an employer, a visa applicant, or someone keeping an eye on UK immigration updates—this guide breaks everything down in a simple, engaging way.

Key Takeaways at a Glance

  • Part 9 is gone—welcome Part Suitability, a new unified system for refusals & cancellations.
  • Sponsor licence fees are rising, and premium services are discontinued.
  • New limits for Seasonal Workers.
  • Higher maintenance requirements for Student visas.
  • Changes to visitor rules for German school groups.
  • Updates across EUSS, Ukraine schemes, Statelessness & Family routes.

Let’s walk through each section in detail:

1. Part Suitability Replaces Part 9

The UK has officially retired Part 9 and introduced a brand-new structure known as Part Suitability.

What this means:

  • All refusal and cancellation rules now sit in one place.
  • Overstayer exceptions (previously in Paragraph 39E) are now absorbed into this new framework.
  • Family and private life routes also follow this new system.
  • Appendix EU remains separate—overstayer exceptions don’t apply there.

If you’re an employer or applicant, this simplifies the rules… but also makes scrutiny more consistent across categories.

2. What Sponsor Licence Holders Need to Know

Sponsor licence management is getting more expensive and less “premium.”

Fee Changes

  • Pre-licence priority service: now £750
  • Priority change of circumstances: now £350

Premium Customer Service Shut Down

The Home Office has officially closed the Premium Sponsor Service.
No more applications. No more dedicated caseworkers.

Sponsors must now:

  • Manage everything through the standard or priority routes
  • Keep internal systems organised
  • Ensure Level 1 users stay trained and alert

This is a major shift for organisations that relied on priority handling or fast escalations.

3. Changes to Work Visa Rules

Work visa routes now:

  • Follow the new Part Suitability framework
  • Apply overstayer exceptions through this new structure

Nothing too dramatic here—mostly structural, but it affects how cases are assessed.

4. Seasonal Worker Visa Tightening

Agricultural and short-term labour employers should note:

  • Permission now capped at 6 months in any rolling 10-month period
  • No application allowed if the worker was in the UK as a Seasonal Worker in the last 4 months
  • If the CoS was assigned before 11 Nov 2025, old rules apply

This could lead to labour shortages during peak seasons.

5. Global Talent Visa Updates

Good news for creatives:

  • Architects and artists can rely on work done individually or as part of a group
  • Prestigious prize lists are expanded
  • But—you must still be a named winner, not just nominated

This makes the route a little more accessible, but still maintains its high bar.

6. Changes to Student Visa Rules

Big financial updates from today:

Higher Maintenance Requirements

  • London: £1,529/month
  • Outside London: £1,171/month
  • Accommodation offset also increases to £1,529

Students will now need significantly higher proof of funds.

Child Student Safeguards

  • A guardian can now provide care only for under 28 continuous days
  • Schools/agents must update consent letters & guardianship agreements

7. Visitor Rules Update

A small but interesting update:

  • Pupils (19 or under) from accredited German schools can visit in groups of 5+
  • No visa or ETA needed
  • Must carry the official Germany-UK School Trip Travel Information Form

8. Other Key Changes

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

  • Pre-settled holders can gain settled status once they have 30 months residence within the last 60 months
  • Entry cancellation now aligns with in-country curtailment rules

Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

  • A child’s permission can now align with their legal guardian, not just a parent
  • New power to refuse if a UK-born child has lived outside the UK since birth
  • Suitability is now linked to Part Suitability

Statelessness & Family Routes

  • Dependants who were part of the family before status was granted can apply under Appendix Statelessness
  • Later-joining family members use Appendix FM
  • Family, Private Life, ADR, Settlement Family Life all now follow Part Suitability rules

EduGlobe Perspective

At EduGlobe Visas, we see these November rule changes shaping the immigration environment in three major ways:

1. Higher Operational Costs for Employers

Priority fees have increased, meaning:

  • Urgent licence approvals cost more
  • Rapid change requests cost more
  • Fast-track recruitment budgets need to stretch

2. Slower Processing Without Premium Service

With the Premium Sponsor Service gone:

  • All sponsors must use SMS
  • Expect more delays and fewer direct communication channels
  • Internal organisation and early planning become essential

3. Seasonal Worker Restriction Impact

Agriculture, food supply chains, and logistics may feel labour pressure during peak months. Companies will need:

  • Better forecasting
  • Smarter scheduling
  • Cross-training domestic staff

Overall:
The UK immigration system is becoming more structured, more centralised, and slightly more expensive for employers. Being proactive—not reactive—will now make all the difference.

Need Expert Help?

If you’re unsure how these changes affect your business, staff planning, or visa eligibility, EduGlobe Visas is here to help.

Book a fixed-fee consultation with our experts and get personalised, practical guidance.