Graduate-route eligibility expanded for UK-born children

Material UK international-student policy update

1. Graduate-route eligibility expanded for UK-born children

Status: Confirmed Immigration Rules change
Published: 9 July 2026
Effective: 3 August 2026
Urgency: High for affected families

A child born in the UK while a parent holds current Graduate-route permission can now apply as that parent’s dependant and receive permission ending on the same date as the parent. This closes a gap that previously left some UK-born children without a clear route to regularise their status. It does not allow other new dependants to apply from overseas. Statement of Changes HC 259, Home Office explanatory memorandum.

Who is affected: Graduate visa holders whose child was born in the UK during their current Graduate permission.

Transitional position: The amendment took effect on 3 August. HC 259 does not provide a separate saving provision for pending Graduate-route dependant applications, so unusual applications submitted before that date should be checked individually.

Update for Global Educational Consultants:

• Amend Graduate visa FAQs, dependant guidance and counsellor scripts.
• Add UK birth certificate and both parents’ immigration details to the document checklist.
• Do not suggest that a UK-born child automatically becomes British.
• Continue stating that new partners and overseas-born children generally cannot join someone as new Graduate-route dependants.

Recommended wording:

From 3 August 2026, a child born in the UK during a parent’s current Graduate visa may apply as that parent’s dependant. The child’s permission will normally end with the parent’s Graduate visa. A UK birth does not automatically give the child British citizenship.

The updated GOV.UK Graduate visa family guidance now reflects this change.

2. Additional safeguarding rule for Child Student carers

Status: Confirmed Immigration Rules change
Effective: 3 August 2026
Urgency: Medium; high if advising applicants under 18

For an overseas Child Student application requiring a UK-based carer, a suspended sentence of at least 12 months received by the listed carer is now a mandatory refusal ground. Shorter sentences and certain other criminal disposals may still result in discretionary refusal. Home Office explanatory memorandum.

Applications made before 3 August 2026 are assessed under the rules in force on 2 August.

Update:

• Add carer criminal-history questions to the Child Student intake form.
• Update safeguarding and accommodation checklists.
• Escalate disclosed convictions or suspended sentences to a regulated immigration adviser.
• Never advise a client to omit a carer’s criminal history.

3. Stricter university sponsor-compliance requirements

Status: Confirmed and already operating
Effective: 1 June 2026
Urgency: High for recruitment and application quality

For Basic Compliance Assessments made from 1 June 2026, education providers must maintain:

• Visa refusal rate below 5%—previously below 10%
• Enrolment rate of at least 95%—previously 90%
• Course completion rate of at least 85%, increasing to 90% from 1 June 2027

A new red-amber-green system applies. Red ratings can lead to CAS reductions, action plans and potentially loss of sponsor status. UKVI Student sponsor compliance guidance.

Practical implication: Universities may conduct stricter document, finance, English-language, academic-progression and genuine-student checks before issuing a CAS.

Update:

• Strengthen pre-CAS screening and credibility-interview preparation.
• Verify qualifications, funds and study rationale before submission.
• Monitor the official Register of Student Sponsors and partner-university status.
• Remove wording implying that admission, CAS issuance or visa approval is guaranteed.

Recommended wording:

Admission and CAS issuance remain subject to each university’s academic, credibility and compliance checks. A university offer does not guarantee a CAS or Student visa.

4. £925 international-student levy planned for England

Status: Confirmed government policy with draft legislation; still subject to parliamentary approval
Published: Government response issued 13 July 2026
Planned effective date: 1 August 2028
Urgency: Low now; monitor

Higher-education providers in England are expected to pay a flat £925 per international student per year, collected by the Office for Students. It is a provider liability—not currently a separate visa charge payable directly by students. Department for Education consultation outcome.

Providers could subsequently adjust tuition fees or scholarships in response, but that is a possible indirect effect rather than a confirmed student charge.

Update:

• Do not advertise the levy as a new £925 student or visa fee.
• Review future tuition-fee and scholarship content only after individual universities publish confirmed changes.
• Add an internal monitoring note for 2027–28 university fee announcements.

This is general policy information, not individual immigration legal advice.