Family reunificationEffectiveMedium impactVerified

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 rules were versions 1 to 4 of the guidance for settlement based on family and private life.

After

The new guidance adds rules for paragraphs 297 and 298 in Part 8 of the Immigration Rules. It updates the references to 'Part Suitability'. It also makes the information more accurate. The guidance now clearly states the suitability rules for the 5-year family settlement route in Appendix FM. It also explains how to deal with applications to the EU Settlement Scheme at the same time. This includes asking the applicant to confirm which application they want approved if both can be granted.

This update makes caseworker procedures the same for all settlement applications. It ensures decisions are consistent, especially for suitability and complex cases with more than one application. Applicants who have applied for both the EU Settlement Scheme and a family or private life settlement route must now be ready to choose which application they want if both are successful. This choice might need to be made within 14 days. This stops two grants from happening and makes clear what a person's final immigration status will be. This directly affects how long they can 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

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 rules for people applying to settle in the UK based on family and private life. These changes started on 17 August 2026. This new version 5.0 of the guidance includes specific rules for paragraphs 297 and 298 in Part 8 of the Immigration Rules. It also updates information about suitability checks. New instructions explain how to handle applications where people have applied for both settlement and the EU Settlement Scheme at the same time. Caseworkers must work together, and applicants must say which application they want if both can be approved. They have 14 days to choose.

Timeline

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
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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