UK visa changes effecting families, students and seasonal workers come into force on November 11.

The Home Office is putting in place a raft of new immigration measures in a bid to reduce Britain’s reliance on cheap foreign labour.

The changes, announced in October, are being rolled out in stages throughout 2025 and into 2026.

New rules that will require migrants coming to work to learn English to an A-level standard are not due be enforced until January.

Tougher requirements for speaking, listening, reading and writing will be needed for certain visas as part of the immigration measures from 2026.

Here are the new rules from November 11:

Students

People from abroad applying for a UK Student Visa from today must show bank statements proving that they meet new, higher maintenance requirements.

Those coming to London will need to show they have at least £1,529 per month for up to nine months. Students studying outside the capital will need £1,171 per month.

Applicants will need to ensure their financial documents are updated before submitting their visa application and verify they have held the funds for a consecutive period of 28 days.

Mandatory Refusals

New tougher rules on refusing visas for migrants convicted of crimes will be imposed from November 11.

The Home Office has removed previous flexibility and introduced mandatory refusal for certain serious offences.

A visa application will now be refused if the applicant has received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, regardless of how long ago the offence occurred.

Previously, some people who received sentences of fewer than 4 years could qualify for a visa if the crime was a decade or longer ago, but that flexibility has been removed.

Those who are considered persistent offenders, or who have committed crimes that caused serious harm will be refused a visa.

‘Suitability rules’ have also come into effect, which allow the Home Office to refuse visa applications based on previous overstaying, breaching conditions, illegal entry or deception.

Seasonal Workers

Horticulture workers will be allowed to return to the UK sooner under changes that come into force on November 11.

A relaxed re-entry period is now in place for visa decisions meaning seasonal workers in the horticulture sector can now work in Britain for up to six months within any rolling 10-month period.

Under previous restrictions the limit was set at six months a year. The Home Office said the reduction in the “cooling-off” period between visas will allow greater flexibility for workers and farmers, making it easier for workers to return for different crop seasons.

The seasonal worker visa scheme has been extended until the end of 2029 in a bid to help provide long term certainty for the agricultural sector.

Families

New safeguarding measures have been added to UK immigration rules. Some family visa applications will be automatically refused if there are safeguarding concerns.

Under the updated rules, caseworkers must refuse an application if they believe a parent or the parent’s partner could pose a risk to the applicant.

This change means family visa applicants facing any safeguarding issues will face tougher checks.