Immigration changes on the 9th July 2026

Kristian Armstrong, Director at the Home Office began with the changes being announced as a new approach by the Labour government policy on how immigration reforms to take place.

Key points to consider

1. Those children born in the UK to parents who holds limited leave to remain including the Graduate visa programs – can include those as dependants. This is regardless of any restrictions being placed and that was phased across all.
2. As the UK strengthens its relationship with India, simplifying the light-touch approaches to those applications. Those holding diplomatic passports would be afforded greater consideration.

Appendix Child Relative (Sponsors with Protection)

Home Office will permit applications for children to join their relatives in the UK. There will be other requirements to be met as part of the application.

EU Settlement Scheme

The EUSS travel permit has been reformed and remains in position for those eligible to apply.

Further changes have been applied whereby someone holding previously holding a pre-settled status as a family member of a British citizen and have moved to another immigration status – can still apply for EUSS Settled Status in the UK. The issues around continuous residency requirements needs to be met.

Global Talent visa

Application routes have been simplified and have added a few more categories for those eligible to apply under the immigration program. The concept is to allow highly-skilled migrants to apply on wider categories – allowing them to remain in the UK and contribute.

Stateless applications

Those who do not have any forms of nationality including adult & children – can apply for further leave to remain. Whilst applications are available within British Nationality – those new changes have been introduced to permit those who do not have any forms of nationality to apply.

About the author

ICS Legal are a regulated law firm in the UK. Shajjad Miah is a regulated Immigration Lawyer, accredited at Level 3—the highest level—by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/immigration-advice-authority.

With 20 years of experience in UK immigration and nationality law, he brings extensive expertise to every case. You can connect with him on Quora, where his insights have attracted over 2.5million views: https://www.quora.com/profile/Shajjad-Miah.

Resources:

Home Office Statement of Changes – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-259-9-july-2026/explanatory-memorandum-to-the-statement-of-changes-in-immigration-rules-hc-259-9-july-2026-accessible