Alex Piletska analyses suitability changes for family visas and human rights

24 October 2025

Suitability changes to the UK’s immigration rules mean harsher rules for family and private life visas.

Suitability requirements are changing significantly, mainly through the introduction of a new “Part Suitability” in the UK Immigration Rules on November 11, 2025. This new part replaces “Part 9: Grounds for Refusal” and aims to consolidate all suitability-related refusal and cancellation grounds. It will apply common suitability provisions to the family and private life routes deleting the suitability rules that were bespoke to the Family and Private Life Rules. Key impacts include stricter rules for family and private life visas.

Higher good character standards will apply to family and private life routes starting November 11, 2025. While previously a prison sentence of 12 months may not have stopped a loved one joining someone settled in the UK on a family visa after ten years, for example, it may now become a tougher hurdle indefinitely.

Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law’s Senior Associate Alex Piletska has written a briefing for immigration lawyers in the professional publication Free Movement this week, outlining possible implications of these changes and a troubling lack of clarity over transitional provisions in the legislation.

You can currently read her analysis if you click the link below, (though there will be a paywall before long).

If you are concerned about how the changes may affect any applications you are making or have any UK immigration queries, please contact alexp@vanessaganguin.com or call +44(0)207 033 9527.