Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules

• ​The UK Home Office has laid before Parliament a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 733) on 12 March 2025. This document outlines several key amendments to the immigration system, effective from 9 April 2025, with some provisions taking effect earlier.
• Key Changes Introduced
•  

• Introduction of Visit Visa Requirement for Trinidad and Tobago Nationals

  • Effective from 15:00 GMT on 12 March 2025, all visitors from Trinidad and Tobago must obtain a visa to enter the UK.

  • Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago are also required to obtain a direct airside transit visa if they intend to transit via the UK en route to another country.

  • A six-week, visa-free transition period is provided for those who already hold an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and have confirmed bookings to the UK obtained on or before 15:00 GMT on 12 March 2025, with arrival in the UK no later than 15:00 BST on 23 April 2025.

  • This change is implemented due to an increase in asylum claims from nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, which has added significant operational pressures at the UK border. 

  • Changes to the Ukraine Scheme

    • The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, which opened on 4 February 2025, allows Ukrainians and their eligible family members who have been living in the UK under existing routes to apply for a further 18 months' permission to stay.

    • Modifications to the Homes for Ukraine (HfU) scheme include the inclusion of "approved sponsor" requirements for eligible minors and alignment of the definition of "parent" across both the HfU and UPE schemes.

    • A requirement is introduced for parents wishing to be joined by their children under the HfU scheme to be lawfully resident in the UK.

    • The use of "permission to travel" (PTT) letters under the Ukraine schemes will end from 13 February 2025, and the rules are amended accordingly. ​

    • Changes Relating to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

    • Non-EEA national applicants can now use a UK-issued biometric residence card or permit that has expired by up to 18 months as proof of identity and nationality.

      • Individuals with a pending administrative review of an EUSS decision, who have not left the UK or have been granted entry into the UK (except on immigration bail), will not be removed from the UK.

      • Applications can be refused on suitability grounds without a deportation or exclusion order being in place, where the applicant's conduct before the end of the transition period meets the relevant EU law public policy test. ​

      • Changes Relating to Care Workers in the Skilled Worker Route

      • Care providers in England must now demonstrate that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship before sponsoring new applicants from overseas.

        • This measure aims to ensure that individuals who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care are given opportunities before new recruits are brought in from abroad.

        • These changes do not apply to workers outside England or where providers are seeking to sponsor someone switching from another immigration route who has already been working for them for at least three months. 

        • Changes to the Minimum Salary for Skilled Worker Visas

          • The minimum salary floor for Skilled Worker visa applicants is increased from £23,200 per year (£11.90 per hour) to £25,000 per year (£12.82 per hour).

          • This adjustment reflects the latest pay situation for UK workers, using data from the Office for National Statistics. ​

          • Appendix ETA – Exemption for British Nationals (Overseas)

            • British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)) holders are removed from the list of nationalities requiring an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for travel to the UK.

            • BN(O) passport holders can now travel to or transit via the UK without requiring an ETA. ​

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