| 26 Mar 2027Settlement | B2 English required for ILR (also for people already on a route)Skilled Workers and most work routes | B1 → B2 | AnnouncedGOV.UK: Higher standard of English to settle |
| 1 Jan 2027Visa | Graduate visa shortenedStudents finishing UK degrees | 2 years → 18 months (PhD 3 years) | AnnouncedGOV.UK: Graduate visa |
| 1 Jan 2027Living | Bus single fare cap in England (outside London)Bus users | £3 → £2 | AnnouncedGOV.UK: bus fare cap |
| 31 Dec 2026Visa | Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List entries endRQF 3–5 and shortage roles | Lists in force → CoS must be issued before 31 Dec 2026 | AnnouncedGOV.UK: Temporary Shortage List |
| 30 Nov 2026Visa | Student visa maintenance funds per monthStudents applying from this date | £1,529 London / £1,171 elsewhere → £1,570 / £1,203 | AnnouncedGOV.UK: Student visa |
| 1 Oct 2026Work | Right-to-work checks extended to gig and contract workEmployers and gig workers | Employees only → Also worker contracts, sub-contractors, platforms | In forceGOV.UK: Prove your right to work |
| 1 Oct 2026Living | Energy price cap (typical dual fuel, Direct Debit)All households | £1,663 → £1,723 a year | In forceOfgem: price cap from 1 October 2026 |
| 1 May 2026Living | Renters' Rights Act phase 1 (England)Tenants in England | Fixed terms, Section 21 → Periodic tenancies, no Section 21, max 1 month rent in advance | In forceGOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act roadmap |
| 8 Apr 2026Visa | Visa fees rise: Skilled Worker (outside UK, ≤3 years)All applicants | £769 → £819 | In forceGOV.UK: Home Office immigration and nationality fees (8 October 2026) |
| 8 Apr 2026Visa | ILR and citizenship feesSettlement and citizenship applicants | £3,029 / £1,735 → £3,226 / £1,839 | In forceGOV.UK: Home Office immigration and nationality fees (8 October 2026) |
| 8 Apr 2026Visa | Sponsor licence fees (small / large)Employers | £574 / £1,579 → £611 / £1,682 | In forceGOV.UK: UK visa sponsorship for employers |
| 6 Apr 2026Tax | Scottish starter and basic bands raised (rates unchanged)Scottish taxpayers | starter to £15,397 → starter to £16,537, basic to £29,526 | In forcemygov.scot: Scottish Income Tax rates |
| 6 Apr 2026Tax | Personal Allowance and higher-rate threshold frozen until April 2031All taxpayers | freeze to 2028 → £12,570 / £50,270 to 2031 | In forceGOV.UK: thresholds maintained until April 2031 |
| 1 Apr 2026Pay | National Living Wage (21+)Low-paid workers, students | £12.21 → £12.71 an hour | In forceGOV.UK: National Living Wage £12.71 |
| 1 Apr 2026Living | TV licenceHouseholds watching live TV | £174.50 → £180 a year | In forceGOV.UK: TV licence fee 2026/27 |
| 8 Jan 2026Visa | English for new Skilled Worker, Scale-up and HPI applicantsNew work-visa applicants | B1 → B2 | In forceStatement of changes HC 1333 (Graduate 18 months, B2 English) |
| 16 Dec 2025Visa | Immigration Skills Charge (per year, small / large)Employers sponsoring workers | £364 / £1,000 → £480 / £1,320 | In forceGOV.UK: Sponsor guidance Part 2 (sponsor a worker) |
| 20 Nov 2025Settlement | "Earned settlement" consultation: 10-year baseline proposedEveryone heading for ILR | 5 years → Proposal only, not law | ProposedGOV.UK: Earned settlement consultation |
| 4 Nov 2025Visa | High Potential Individual list doubled, capped at 8,000 a yearGraduates of top universities | Shorter list → Wider list | In forceGOV.UK: High Potential Individual visa |
| 22 Jul 2025Visa | Skilled Worker general salary threshold and skill levelNew Skilled Worker applicants | £38,700, RQF 3+ → £41,700, RQF 6+ | In forceGOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa |
| 22 Jul 2025Visa | New overseas care-worker visas closedCare workers | Open → Closed (in-country switching until July 2028) | In forceGOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa |
