Written statement on Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules

Mr Robert Goodwill (Minister for Immigration, Home Office): My Rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules [HC 1078].

The changes include a new requirement that individuals over the age of 18, who are applying for entry clearance under the Tier 2 General route to work in education, health and social care sectors must provide a criminal record certificate from any country in which they have lived for 12 months or more in the previous ten years. This requirement will also apply to the partner of the applicant and a partner applying to join existing Tier 2 migrant in one of these work sectors.

This is the second stage in a phased implementation of the requirement. It currently applies to individuals over 18 applying for entry clearance under Tier 1 to come to the UK as entrepreneurs or investors, and their adult dependents. The Home Office will continue to monitor implementation with a view to extending the requirement to other migrants in the future.

On 24 March 2016 the Government announced two phases of reforms to Tier 2, following a review by the independent Migration Advisory Committee. The first phase was implemented on 24 November and the changes being laid today implement the second phase of the announced reforms. The changes also update the codes of practice relating to skilled workers, and make other minor updates to the rules for work routes.

Further changes are being made to amend or clarify other provisions in the Immigration Rules.