UK Immigration Update: March 2026

This update summarises the latest developments in relation to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) eligibility periods for most UK Visa categories, the temporary freezing of the grant of Student and Skilled Worker Visas for certain countries and changes to applicants for Refugee status.

Update on ‘Earned Settlement’ changes

Whilst not formally confirmed, the expectation now is that, due to requirements for additional Parliamentary scrutiny, the new Law increasing eligibility periods for ILR applicants in most UK Visa categories will come into force in Autumn 2026 rather than April 2026 as previously indicated.  As covered in our recent Bulletins, these proposed changes were the subject of the Home Office’s recent Consultation on Earned Settlement which closed on 12 February 2026. 

Temporary Freezing of UK Student Visas for certain nationalities and Skilled Worker Visas for Afghan nationals

With immediate effect, applications for UK Student Visas from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan will fall for mandatory refusal as will, more controversially, Afghan national Skilled Worker Visa applications. This is due to a sharp increase in Asylum applications submitted by nationals of those countries once in the UK under Student Visas. The changes do not impact current holders of UK Student Visas or Afghan nationals holding Skilled Worker Visas.

Changes for Asylum applications submitted from 2 March 2026

Save for unaccompanied minors, all successful Asylum applicants with applications submitted on or after 2 March 2026 will receive a 30-month period of protection, as opposed to 5 years. Transitional arrangements will apply to pre 2 March 2026 applicants who, if successful, will still be granted 5 years’ leave to remain and, subject to confirmation, will be eligible to apply for ILR at the expiry of the 5-year period. For those submitting applications from 2 March 2026, the ILR eligibility period will be extended to 20 years from the current 5 years.

For further information please contact Jonathan Chaimovic or your usual Clyde & Co contact.