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On 9 December 2025, the Labour Government released the December 2025 Statement of Changes, which is its seventh statement of the year. It is mainly made up of smaller changes, with the most notable being related to nationals of Nauru.
Aside from updates to the rules for nationals of Nauru, there are some updates related to Switzerland, the EU Settlement Scheme, and some other areas of the rules.
Keep reading to find out more and see if any of the updates will impact you.
Visitor Visa for Nauru nationals
The first announcement in the December 2025 Statement of Changes is related to nationals of Nauru.
Nauru nationals will once again require a Visitor Visa to enter the UK, as they will no longer be eligible for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The ETA is a faster way of entering the UK than a Visitor Visa.
This means that Nauru nationals will need to go through a longer process with more indepth checks before they can visit the UK.
The Government is doing this due to Nauru introducing a scheme that allows people to buy citizenship there. They are worried that it will be misused by criminals and others who plan to act in bad faith, and so could be a risk to the UK.
There are transitional arrangements in place that allow Nauru nationals who have already applied to come to the UK with an ETA to be able to visit still, as well as to allow those who have made plans to visit to come. This transition period will end on 20 January 2026.
Service Providers from Switzerland route closed
The Service Providers from Switzerland route will close on 31 December 2025. This is not a very well-known route into the UK; it was originally created as part of transitional arrangements following the UK leaving the EU.
The route existed so that Swiss and British companies could continue to provide services to clients in their respective countries.
Both countries have agreed to end this arrangement. It seems there will be no transition period, and any applications made from 1 January 2026 will be rejected.
EU Settlement Scheme updates
Regarding the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), there have been a few smaller updates in the December 2025 Statement of Changes.
Pre-settled status curtailment
Earlier this year in the October 2025 Statement of Changes, the Government updated the rules around Grounds for Refusal, including visa curtailment. They did this to make the rules more universal and simpler to understand.
Now, the EUSS rules have been updated to bring them into alignment with those related to visa curtailment.
Essentially, anyone with pre-settled status who has assisted someone with fraudulently entering the UK, will now have their visa curtailed. There will be an appeal process for people who think they have grounds to appeal.
EUSS Travel Permit expansion
All EUSS status holders, including those from the European Economic Area (EEA), can now apply for an EUSS Travel Permit if they are unable to update their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account with their new travel document.
This will be useful for those who are struggling to get a share code through their UKVI account as they attempt to return to the UK.
Other minor changes in the December 2025 Statement of Changes
Within the Statement of Changes, there are several more minor updates, most of which appear to be amendments to wording to reflect announcements made in past Statements of Changes.
The most notable minor change clarifies the wording regarding Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children.
Children who do not qualify for humanitarian protection or refugee status, but who cannot return to their home country, are allowed limited leave to remain on this route. The wording for this route has been updated to clarify that it can only be applied for once the child has been rejected both refugee status and humanitarian protection.
If you would like to learn more about the other minor technical updates, then please read the ‘Other Minor Changes’ section of the Explanatory Memorandum provided by the Government.
Looking to the future
Unlike several of the Statements of Changes released this year, this was a relatively small one focussed on a few more minor issues. However, with it being the seventh statement of the year, it is clear that the Government is taking action to change the immigration rules.
With what was announced in the White Paper earlier this year, combined with how active they have been, it is likely we will see more announcements in the coming new year.
For now though, it seems unlikely that we will see any more updates in 2025, as the end of the year closes in and the Government’s employees take time off over the festive period.
As always, we will aim to keep you informed of any future announcements made by the Government, so that you know what might affect you.
How we can help
Although the December 2025 Statement of Changes had a small focus, there have been many updates to the immigration rules recently, so it can be hard to keep track of what applies to you
Whether you are applying for a UK visa, settlement, or even citizenship, our team of immigration experts can assist you.
To discuss your needs with them, you can begin by booking a free 10-minute assessment. After this, you can then book a longer paid consultation which lasts either 30 minutes, or an hour. Your consultation can be with one of our immigration specialists, or with our Principal Solicitor Nathan Woodcock. The choice is yours.
During your paid consultation, you will be given assistance with your application, as well as legal advice. We will help you every step of the way.
Get in touch with us today for our expert immigration advice, and keep visiting our website to find out about future Statements of Changes.
Still unsure about using our services? Then visit our testimonials and client success stories pages to see how we have helped people in the past.
Finally, you can read our blogs about past Statements of Changes on our website if you would like to learn about any rule changes you may have missed.
Ready for assistance?
If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment with one of our legal experts, contact Woodcock Law today. Call us on +44 (0)20 7712 1705 or email info@woodcocklaw.co.uk.
