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UK Settlement Guidance for Family and Private Life Routes Updated: New Guidance for Immigration Rules Paragraphs 297 and

🇬🇧 United KingdomPermanent Residence1 recorded versionLast change 19 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The new guidance introduces provisions for paragraphs 297 and 298 within Part 8 of the Immigration Rules, updates references to Part Suitability, and improves the accuracy of information. It specifically details suitability requirements for the 5-year family settlement route in Appendix FM, and the process for handling simultaneous EU Settlement Scheme applications, including confirming which application the applicant wants decided if both are granted.

Overview

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its 'Settlement – family life, private life and bereaved partners: caseworker guidance'. Effective 19 August 2026, the revised guidance now includes specific instructions for caseworkers regarding paragraphs 297 and 298 of Part 8 of the Immigration Rules. This update aims to ensure consistent decision-making for settlement applications on family and private life routes by improving accuracy and updating suitability references.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Immigration staff (caseworkers) of UK Visas and Immigration
  • Applicants for settlement on the 5-year family route (partners and parents)
  • Applicants for settlement on the 10-year family route (Appendix Settlement Family Life)
  • Applicants for settlement on the private life route (Appendix Private Life)
  • Applicants for settlement on the bereaved partner route (Appendix Bereaved Partner)
  • Applicants with simultaneous EU Settlement Scheme applications

What changed in the latest version

Before

The previous guidance was versions 1 to 4 of the 'Settlement family and private life guidance'.

After

The new guidance adds rules for paragraphs 297 and 298. These are in Part 8 of the Immigration Rules. It updates references to 'Part Suitability'. It makes information more accurate. The guidance details suitability rules for the 5-year family settlement route in Appendix FM. It also explains how to handle applications for the EU Settlement Scheme and settlement at the same time. This includes asking applicants to confirm their preferred application if both are approved.

This update makes staff procedures the same for checking settlement applications. This means decisions will be consistent, especially for suitability and complex cases. Complex cases include those where people apply for more than one scheme at once. People who have applied for both the EU Settlement Scheme and a family or private life settlement route must now choose which application to continue with if both are approved. They might have only 14 days to choose. This stops two grants for the same person. It also makes clear their final immigration status. This choice will affect their long-term right to live in the UK.

Explained simply

Imagine the UK immigration office has a big rulebook for deciding who can live in the UK permanently with their family or based on their personal life. They've just updated a specific chapter in this rulebook, adding clearer instructions for how their staff should handle two particular types of cases (called paragraph 297 and 298). They also tidied up other parts to make sure everything is super clear and accurate. So, if you're trying to get permanent residency based on family or private life, the people reviewing your case now have more precise instructions to follow.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 19 Aug 2026EffectiveMedium impact
    UK Settlement Guidance for Family and Private Life Routes Updated: New Guidance for Immigration Rules Paragraphs 297 and 298

    UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its guidance for staff. This guidance is for settlement applications based on family and private life. The new version 5.0 started on 17 August 2026. It adds specific rules for paragraphs 297 and 298 in Part 8 of the Immigration Rules. It also changes references to Part Suitability. New instructions are included for applications where people apply for both settlement and the EU Settlement Scheme at the same time. Staff must work together on these. Applicants must choose which application they want if both can be granted. They have 14 days to do this.

Timeline

  1. Takes effect

    19 Aug 2026

    The new guidance introduces provisions for paragraphs 297 and 298 within Part 8 of the Immigration Rules, updates references to Part Suitability, and improves the accuracy of information. It specifically details suitability requirements for the 5-year family settlement route in Appendix FM, and the process for handling simultaneous EU Settlement Scheme applications, including confirming which appl

  2. Announced

    17 Aug 2022

    UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its 'Settlement – family life, private life and bereaved partners: caseworker guidance'. Effective 19 August 2026, the revised guidance now includes specific instructions for caseworkers regarding paragraphs 297 and 298 of Part 8 of the Immigration Rules. This update aims to ensure consistent decision-making for settlement applications on family and pri

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