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The Home Office updates UK immigration rules regularly. The most recent changes are published under the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 733). It outlines key changes, including the following:
- Removal of Trinidad and Tobago from the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme from 12 March 2025. A transition period for existing ETAs applies until 23 April 2025.
- Further ETA adjustments, but regarding exemptions. ETA is no longer required on children visiting as part of a French school group from 2 April 2025 and British nationals (overseas) from 9 April 2025.
- The minimum wage for a skilled worker increases from £23,200 to £25,000 per year.
- From 9 April 2025, sponsors of care workers must prioritise recruiting the existing overseas care workers in the UK whose former sponsor lost licence (or other reasons for displacement), instead of from abroad.
- Changes in Ukraine Visa scheme: (1) parents joined by a child must be lawful residents in the UK; (2) removal of ‘step parent’ from the definition of ‘parent,’ effective from 9 April 2025.
- Amendments to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), wherein applicants outside the European Economic Area (EEA) are allowed to use their expired biometric residence permit/card as proof of identity for 18 months after the expiry date.
Find out more about the UK new immigration rules 2025 below.
Visit Visa Requirement for Trinidad and Tobago Nationals
This is one of the major changes to the immigration rules this year, Trinidad and Tobago being removed from the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, i.e., visa-free privilege. This took effect on 12 March 2025, but with a six-week grace period to transition to the new rules up to 23 April 2025.
For Trinidad and Tobago nationals, this means:
- They can no longer apply for ETA to travel into the UK; they need to secure a Visit visa prior to arrival.
- They can still visit the UK without a visa (only existing valid ETAs) until 23 April 2025, 3 pm, if they have booked for travel before the new rules were announced.
- They need to secure a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) if they transit the UK airside.
What triggered this new visa regime? This was due to a considerable increase of Trinidad and Tobago nationals in the UK, most common cases being asylum claims. The UK immigration rules do not allow visitors to live and work in the UK, more so to claim asylum.
With this new rule, like any other visit visa applicants, Trinidad and Tobago nationals are subject to regular immigration screening—refused if not compliant with the requirements and granted a visa if they pass.
Other Changes to Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
Aside from Trinidad and Tobago being removed from the ETA scheme, other adjustments were made. The following, originally not required a visa, will also no longer need to apply for an ETA:
- Children who visit the UK as a part of a French school group
- British Nationals (Overseas) or BN(O)
Minimum Salary Changes for Skilled Workers
Starting 9 April 2025, skilled workers will see an increase of minimum wage from £11.90 to £12.82 per hour. That means they will make £25,000 per year, from £23,200. This aligns with the data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) to ensure competitiveness in pay and that overseas workers are not exploited.
Others you need to know:
- Going rates for specific occupations, especially healthcare and education, are yet to be clarified.
- It is now clear that deductions from an applicant’s salary will include payments for loans, investments, and other financial commitments. Some aspects await further clarification.
- Those who apply for the ‘new entrant’ salary rates are now required to come from a UK-based institution.
New Rules to Protect Care Workers
Care workers get displaced when their sponsors can no longer offer them sufficient work or have a revoked/suspended sponsor licence. The latest Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules aims to protect these ‘displaced’ care workers. If you are a care or domestic worker sponsor in England, the new rules mean:
- You need to recruit from the existing pool of overseas foreign workers first before attempting to hire new recruits from abroad.
- You can only start recruiting new care workers from overseas once you have confirmed to the relevant regional or sub-regional partnership that you have prioritised hiring existing ‘displaced’ workers but were not able to find.
This only applies in England, effective from 9 April 2025. Care jobs in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland are not affected.
Changes to the Global Talent Route
The Global Talent visa route is for talented, promising individuals who excel in the fields of arts and culture, science, and digital technology and want to further their careers in the UK. The changes were requested by the Arts Council England and their sub-endorsing bodies, specifically regarding their visa requirements.
If an individual is included in the Prestigious Prizes list, they automatically qualify for the Global Talent visa without having to secure endorsement from the Global Talent endorsing bodies.
Changes to the Ukraine Schemes
The UKR Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) was launched on 4 February 2025, which allows Ukrainian families already in the UK to extend their stay. From 9 April 2025, parents joined by a child must prove that they are lawfully residents in the UK.
Another scheme for Ukrainians, the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, also had an adjustment. This update is about removing ‘step-parent’ or ‘adoptive parent’ from the definition of ‘parent.’
EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) allows EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals, including their family, to continue living in the UK after Brexit. They may hold either a settled status or a pre-settled status. Here are the adjustments under this scheme:
- From 9 April 2025, non-EEA applicants are allowed to use their expired Biometrics Residence Permit (BRP) and Biometric Residence Cards (BRC) as proof of identity and nationality—only up to 18 months after the expiry date printed in their cards.
- If EU, EEA, or Swiss nationals become citizens when their transition period ends, they are no longer eligible to apply to bring family into the UK through the EUSS.
- An applicant with a pending administrative review of an EUSS decision will not be removed from the UK if:
- They have not left the UK.
- They have already been granted entry to the UK.
Other Important Amendments
- Revised annual quotas of Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) partner countries for 2025.
- The Appendix Short-Term Student added ‘genuine intention to study.’
- The Appendix Student adjusted to exempt PhD students from some academic progress checks when moving to a new school with their advisor.
- Errors in visa conditions can now be reviewed for free within the UK, not just for applicants outside the country.
- New rules enhance protection (safeguarding) for child students, including updated requirements for guardians and living arrangements.
UK Immigration and Business Support
UK immigration laws are updated regularly and may change at any time. The above information only outlines the key changes in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 733). We recommend you seek advice from a UK immigration law professional for an accurate assessment of your situation.
Legend Consults specialises in UK immigration and business development. Let’s see how we can help. Talk to our immigration consultant today!
The UK Home Office issued a new Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 733) on 12 March 2025. It outlined several key amendments, especially the removal of Trinidad and Tobago’s privilege of visa-free travel to the UK. Let’s examine every change more closely.
