Changes to the Suitability Requirements in the Immigration Rules

The Home Office published a new Statement of Changes (HC 1333) to the Immigration Rules on 14th October 2025, which introduced a new Part Suitability. The provisions in the Statement of Changes are effective from different dates, with most of the provisions coming into effect from 11th November 2025.

For the purposes of this blog, I will focus on how the changes may impact those making applications under the family routes. 

At present, Appendix FM, which contains the requirements for making applications under the family routes, has self-contained suitability requirements; while the suitability requirements for other visa routes are contained within Part 9 of the Immigration Rules. The purpose, or so it would seem, of the introduction of Part Suitability is to consolidate the suitability requirements for all visas into one appendix. 

The impact of consolidating the suitability requirements is that applications under the family routes will now be subject to more stringent suitability requirements, including re-entry bans for previous breaches of immigration law. Such bans, while applying to other visa routes, did not previously apply to applications made under the family routes. Another implication of the consolidation is stricter requirements in relation to criminality.  

The impact of these changes will likely be far reaching, and may result in more detailed representations requiring to be made as to why the refusal of an application would breach the human rights of those involved. 

If you would like any advice or assistance regarding these changes and the potential impact on your immigration matters then please do not hesitate to contact one of the experienced solicitors in our immigration team.