The UK is bringing in a new set of immigration changes this month.
Updated right-to-work rules came into force on October 1,2026. They apply to jobs starting from that date and to repeat checks required from then. The rules now cover a wider range of working arrangements, including some workers' contracts and individual subcontracting. Employers check status and the type of work, not nationality.
Most of the Home Office's latest package of rule changes, known as Statement of Changes HC 584, takes effect on October 8. Its main points are:
- Skilled Workers officially as identified as victims of modern slavery can work for any employer for the rest of their permission.
- The Victim of Domestic Abuse route is widened to include some adult independent children.
New rules support the UK's return to the Erasmus+exchange scheme. Only people in eligible Erasmus+ programs can use them so they do not open a new route for Nepali students in general.
Is Nepal affected by the visa brake?
No. The UK's visa brake currently covers student applications from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and Skilled Worker applications from Afghanistan. Nepal is not on the list.
The Student visa fee remains £558. The October 8 fee table shows no increase.
Bigger changes for students
From November 30, 2026, students must show more money for living costs. The monthly requirement outside London rises from £1,171 to £1,203. For nine months, the maximum goes from £10,539 to £10,827. University guidance gives the London figure as £1,570 a month. From January 1, 2027, the Graduate visa for most bachelor's and master's graduates will last 18 months instead of two years. Doctoral graduates keep three years. A student who applies before December 31, 2026 can still get the two-year visa.
Why it matters to Nepal
Nepal is one of the UK's biggest sources of international students. In the year ending September 2025, 20,572 Nepalese main applicants received sponsored study visas, 89% more than the year before. That put Nepal among the UK's top five nationalities for study visas. Overall, the UK is issuing fewer visas. In the year ending June 2026, it granted 383,455 sponsored study visas, 11% fewer than the previous year. Work-related visas fell 18% to 234,841. The UK also stopped overseas recruitment of care workers and senior care workers from July 22, 2025, but that is an older change and not part of this month's package.
The UK has discussed wider changes to settlement rules, but those are proposals and are not in force. Nepali students and workers should check the official GOV.UK guidance before applying, because rules and costs are changing. Consult a licensed immigration adviser for your specific case.
