UK Settlement Guidance for Family and Private Life Routes Updated: New Guidance for Immigration Rules Paragraphs 297 and 298

What changed

New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa lets skilled people live in the country forever. To get it, people must have a job or a job offer in New Zealand. There are three ways to qualify: * Points-based system: People need 6 skilled resident points. * Skilled Work Experience pathway: For people with a lot of work history. * Trades and Technician pathway: For people in specific hands-on jobs. All applicants must meet general rules. These include rules about health, character, and English language skills. They must also meet specific wage levels. This visa lets successful applicants live, work, and study in New Zealand forever. Their family members (partners and children up to 24 years old) can also come. They may apply for a Permanent Resident Visa later.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration has updated its 'Form MN1: guidance' document, used for registering a child under 18 as a British citizen. Effective 20 August 2026, the 'Citizenship-related queries' section has been updated. Additionally, the guidance now confirms that the priority service for these applications is live, a new section titled 'when will the child become British?' has been added (effective 7 July 2026), and the section on returning Biometric Residence Permits has been updated and renamed 'destroy your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)'. These updates apply to individuals seeking to register a child under 18 as a British citizen through various qualifying circumstances.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and Immigration Enforcement have updated the 'Powers and operational procedure: caseworker guidance'. This change took effect on 20 August 2026. The update adds new guidance called 'Post-incident procedures: in the event of death or serious injury'. This new guidance is for immigration staff who deal with enforcement matters in the UK. It adds to the current rules on how officers use their administrative and criminal powers. It expands how they must handle serious incidents.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) for Albania. These notes help UKVI decide asylum and human rights applications. On 7 April 2026, UKVI replaced the CPIN on domestic violence against women with a new CPIN on gender-based violence. On 17 August 2026, UKVI removed the CPIN on human trafficking from July 2024 because it was old. On 3 October 2025, UKVI updated information about sexual orientation and gender identity. On 21 July 2025, UKVI added a new CPIN about unaccompanied children. On 22 November 2022, UKVI removed information about Roma and Balkan Egyptians.