HC 584: Statement of Changes laid on 3 September 2026
HC 584 makes three changes this handbook covers. From : Skilled Workers identified as victims of modern slavery may work for any employer (new SW 18.3).
Also from that date: BN(O) dependent children under 18 no longer need 5 years continuous residence for settlement. Later: Student maintenance amounts raised from 30 November 2026.
Status and dates
Laid before Parliament on . Status: In force.
| Takes effect | Ledger entries |
|---|---|
| Scheduled |
Other parts of this Statement take effect on 29 October 2026 and 9 December 2026 and do not change the rules this handbook covers.
The changes it made
- 8 October 2026 In force
Skilled Workers identified as victims of modern slavery may work for any employer (new SW 18.3). See GOV.UK
- 8 October 2026 In force
BN(O) dependants who apply to settle while still children no longer need a period of continuous residence.
- 30 November 2026 Scheduled
Student maintenance amounts raised from 30 November 2026. See GOV.UK
How this Ledger is kept
This Ledger starts on . It covers the Statements of Changes reviewed so far: HC 590, HC 217, HC 334, HC 733, HC 836, HC 997, CP 1373, HC 1298, HC 1333, HC 1491, HC 1691, HC 259 and HC 584.
Sources: the Statements of Changes collection (gov.uk), each Statement and its explanatory memorandum.
- In force: in the Immigration Rules or current GOV.UK guidance, and applying today.
- Scheduled: already in the rules, but it applies only from a later date.
- Laid: in a Statement laid before Parliament that has not yet taken effect.
- Proposed: a government statement or consultation only. Never a rule.
- Dropped: a proposal or Statement withdrawn, with its source.
The target is a Ledger entry within two days of a Statement being laid. Checked against GOV.UK on .
Found an error? Write to desk@ukvisasponsorguide.com. Fixes are listed in Corrections.
Sources
- Statement of Changes HC 584 (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
(b) the applicant must have spent a continuous period of 5 years with permission in the UK on a route under which a person can settle, unless they are aged under 18 at the date of application.”.
SW 18.3. A Skilled Worker who has been referred into the National Referral Mechanism and is in receipt of a positive Conclusive Grounds decision, where that decision was made during their most recent permission, may have the conditions in SW 18.2(b) to (e) amended, such that any work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted, except for work as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach).
The following paragraphs shall take effect on 29 October 2026.
- Statement of Changes HC 584: explanatory memorandum (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
5.32 This change removes the requirement for dependent children on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route to complete a five-year continuous residence period before qualifying for settlement.
These changes lift that restriction for Skilled Workers who are identified by the Home Office Competent Authorities as victims of modern slavery, allowing them to work for any employer for the remaining duration of their existing permission.
the changes relating to the Annual Uplift to the Student Route Maintenance Requirement will come into effect on 30 November 2026 and the EUSS changes relating to biometric residence permits will come into effect on 9 December 2026. All other changes will come into effect on 8 October 2026 as detailed in the implementation section of the Statement of Changes.
How each figure is checked: Sources and method.
This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).