Immigration

United Kingdom | Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules

Summary

The UK Government published a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules on 9 July 2026.

Although the Statement does not introduce significant changes to the principal sponsored work routes, two developments will be relevant to employers and global mobility teams:

• children born in the UK while a parent holds Graduate route permission will be able to obtain dependant permission in line with that parent; and
• the criminality grounds for refusing or cancelling an Electronic Travel Authorisation will be expanded to include suspended sentences of 12 months or more.

These changes take effect on 3 August 2026. Applications for an Electronic Travel Authorisation submitted before that date will be decided under the Rules in force on 2 August 2026.

The detail

UK-born children of Graduate visa holders

A child born in the UK during a parent’s current period of Graduate permission will be able to apply as that parent’s dependant and receive permission in line with the parent.

This addresses a gap in the current Rules, which generally restrict Graduate dependants to those who were already dependants under the student route.

For employers, the change should reduce uncertainty for Graduate visa holders who have children in the UK and assist with family travel and future immigration planning. However, it does not extend eligibility to children born overseas or otherwise widen the Graduate dependant provisions.

Where an employee is expected to move from the Graduate route to Skilled Worker sponsorship, employers should consider the immigration position of the whole family as part of that transition.

Expanded ETA criminality rules

From 3 August 2026, an Electronic Travel Authorisation must be refused, and may be cancelled, where the traveller has received a suspended sentence of 12 months or more.

This is relevant to businesses arranging short-term travel to the UK for meetings, conferences, training, site visits and other permitted business activities.

A traveller affected by the change may need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead, creating additional cost, scrutiny and lead time. A visitor visa is not guaranteed and the individual’s criminal history will be assessed under the wider suitability rules.

Businesses should therefore ensure that pre-travel screening asks about both custodial and suspended sentences and that any concerns are identified before travel is booked.

Other changes of potential relevance

The Statement also:

• allows neonatal leave to be taken into account when assessing Scale-up route earnings requirements;
• prevents refusal solely because an applicant is on immigration bail where an overstayer exception applies;
• updates the Global Talent prestigious prize list;
• clarifies the position of dependants of exempt international armed forces personnel; and
• introduces revised arrangements for certain Indian diplomatic passport holders.

Recommended actions

Employers should:

• update ETA and visitor screening processes;
• build additional lead time into travel planning where criminality issues arise;
• identify Graduate visa holders with UK-born children who may need dependant permission; and
• consider family immigration arrangements when moving employees from Graduate permission to sponsorship.

Vialto can support with ETA and visitor eligibility assessments, criminality-related travel advice, Graduate dependant applications and transition planning into the Skilled Worker route.

What this means

These developments reinforce Saudi Arabia’s continued emphasis on immigration compliance, workforce regulation, and labour market oversight. Employers should review recruitment and onboarding procedures to ensure work authorization requirements are met, particularly for Premium Residency holders and employees sponsored under Instant Work Visa arrangements.

Organizations should also proactively review their compliance with Saudization obligations, labour regulations, and government platform requirements, as regulatory enforcement activity continues to increase. Businesses recruiting foreign nationals should ensure medical examinations are completed through approved Wafid channels to minimise delays during visa processing

 

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact.

Lyudmyla Davis
Partner

Sarah Ingles
Partner

Ian Robinson
Partner

Andrea Als
Director

Adam Sinfield
Director

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