Part Suitability replaces Part 9
From today Part 9 is deleted and replaced in full by Part Suitability. Application refusal and cancellation grounds now sit in one place and routes point to this document for both suitability and any overstayer exceptions. Paragraph 39E is moved into Part Suitability so the overstayer disregard is applied through the new framework across affected routes, including family and private life.
Appendix EU is excluded and the Exceptions for overstayers do not apply to Appendix EU applications
Changes Affecting Sponsor Licence Holders
The pre-licence priority service now costs £750, and the priority change of circumstances service now costs £350.
The updated sponsor guidance also confirms that the Premium Customer Service has been closed, and new premium service applications are no longer accepted. Sponsors are now expected to manage cases through the standard or priority routes.
Changes to Work Visa Rules
UK work route rules now reference Part Suitability for refusal and cancellation checks, with overstayer exceptions applied through the new framework.
Seasonal Worker visa
Seasonal Worker permission is now capped at six months in any rolling ten-month period and an application is not permitted if the worker has been in the UK as a Seasonal Worker within the previous four months. Where the CoS was issued before 11 November 2025, the pre-change framework applies.
Global Talent visa
Architects and artists applying under the Global Talent route can rely on work as an individual, named group member or contributor. The prestigious prizes lists are expanded, but eligibility still requires being a named winner, not just a nominee.
Changes to Student Rules
Financial and procedural changes have now taken effect:
Higher Student visa Maintenance Requirement
Students applying from today need to evidence higher maintenance at £1,529 per month in London and £1,171 per month outside London, and the accommodation offset increases to £1,529.
Child Student safeguards
A nominated guardian must provide care for less than 28 continuous days, including during term time. Schools and agents should update consent letters and guardianship agreements to match the rule text.
Changes to Visitor Rules
Pupils aged 19 or under from accredited German schools can travel in a group of five or more without visas or ETAs, provided an accompanying adult carries the authenticated Germany-UK School Trip Travel Information Form.
Other Changes
Additional changes include the following:
EU Settlement Scheme
Pre-settled status holders can be granted settled status once they have at least 30 months’ residence in total within the most recent 60-month period, with cancellation at entry now aligned to in-country curtailment where proportionate. This matters for late absences and for border interventions.
Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
A child’s permission can now line up with that of a legal guardian in the UK, not just a parent. There is also an express power to refuse where a UK‑born child has lived outside the UK or Islands since birth. Suitability points now cross‑refer to Part Suitability.
Statelessness and family
Dependants can now apply within Appendix Statelessness if they were part of the family before the principal was granted permission. Family members who joined later must use Appendix FM. Family, Private Life, ADR and Settlement Family Life now apply the common Part Suitability rules.
DMS Perspective
The November 2025 rule changes could have operational and cost implications for employers holding, or intending to apply for, a sponsor licence. The rise in pre-licence and post-licence priority fees immediately increases the cost of urgent recruitment. Employers that rely on fast-track licence approval or rapid change requests will now need to budget for higher spend or accept slower timelines. For time-sensitive projects, this means workforce mobilisation will require earlier planning and stronger internal coordination between HR, recruitment and finance teams.
The abolition of the Premium Sponsor Service removes the option of a direct Home Office relationship or escalation route. Sponsors accustomed to premium-tier support will now compete with standard caseloads through the Sponsor Management System, increasing the likelihood of procedural delays and communication bottlenecks. Businesses should review their licence management protocols, ensure Level 1 users are fully trained and maintain proactive monitoring of SMS submissions to prevent avoidable compliance breaches or expired allocations.
The tightening of the Seasonal Worker route limits short-term agricultural labour capacity and could impact supply chain continuity for agribusinesses and logistics providers reliant on cyclical peaks. Longer-term workforce stability will depend on better forecasting and cross-training of domestic staff.
Overall, these changes could point to a higher-cost, slower-moving sponsorship environment, with proactive planning advisable to mitigate impact on recruitment programmes.
Need Assistance?
For advice on what the changes mean for you or your organisation, contact us to arrange a fixed-fee telephone consultation. Remember also that other changes under the October Statement of Changes come into effect on different dates, including a higher English language requirement for key work visas.
