Immigration Rules: Part Suitability
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-11)

Part Suitability

Part Suitability applies to most routes under these Rules (see section 1).

If an applicant is refused under this Part, they will not meet the suitability requirements of the route on which they are applying.

A person may also have their entry clearance or permission cancelled under this Part. The Immigration Act 1971, section 76 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (revocation of indefinite leave), the Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000 and Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971 provide the powers to cancel entry clearance and permission. This Part sets out how those powers are to be exercised.

Where a person has settlement and is in-country (not including at the UK border) their permission can only be cancelled on the grounds contained in section 76 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Decisions on suitability are either mandatory (must) or discretionary (may). Where a refusal under this Part would be incompatible with the UK obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) the route specific rules set out the approach to be taken.

Some routes have their own, or additional, suitability requirements.

This Part is in 5 sections.
- 1. Application of this Part
- 2. Grounds for refusal, or cancellation, of entry clearance or permission
- 3. Additional grounds for refusal or entry, or cancellation of entry clearance or permission, on arrival in the UK
- 4. Additional grounds for refusal, or cancellation of permission to stay
- 5. Additional grounds for cancellation of entry clearance and permission
1. Application of this Part
- (a) Appendix EU; and
- (b) Appendix EU (Family Permit); and
- (c) Part 11 (Asylum), except Part Suitability does apply to paragraphs 352ZH to 352ZS, and 352I to 352X; and
- (d) Appendix Service Providers from Switzerland; and
- (e) Appendix Settlement Protection.
- (a) For applications for permission to stay under Appendix Domestic Worker who is a Victim of Modern Slavery: SUI.2.1(c), SUI.2.2, SUI .3.1, SUI.3.2, SUI 5.1(b), SUI 5.1(c), SUI 5.2, SUI 5.5, SUI 9.1., SUI 10.1., SUI 10.2., SUI 14.1, SUI 14.2., SUI 19.2, SUI 25.1, SUI 29.1, SUI 30.1; and
- (b) For applications permission granted under the Agreement, paragraphs SUI 2.2, SUI 3.2, SUI 5.2, SUI 5.5., SUI 8.2, SUI 10.2., and SUI 27.2 apply where the criminal offence or adverse conduct occurred after 11pm on 31 December 2020; and
- (c) for applications for permission to stay under Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay, paragraphs SUI 2.1, SUI 3.1, SUI 5.1, SUI 5.3., SUI 8.1, SUI 9.1, SUI 10.1, SUI 16.1, SUI 17.1 and SUI 27.1, and in relation to such permission paragraphs SUI 2.2, SUI 3.2, SUI 5.2, SUI 5.5, SUI 8.2, SUI 10.2. and SUI 27.2 apply where the criminal offence or adverse conduct occurred after 11pm on 31 December 2020.
SUI 1.3. This Part also does not apply to Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation.

SUI 1.4. Where a person has settlement and is in-country (not including at the UK border) their permission can only be cancelled on the grounds contained in section 76 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

2. Grounds for refusal, or cancellation, of entry clearance or permission

Exclusion, deportation order or travel ban grounds
- (a) the Secretary of State has personally directed that the applicant be excluded from the UK; or
- (b) the applicant is the subject of an exclusion order; or
- (c) the applicant is the subject of a deportation order, or a decision to make a deportation order.
SUI 2.2. Entry clearance or permission held by a person must be cancelled where the Secretary of State has personally directed that the person be excluded from the UK.

SUI 2.3. An application for entry clearance must be refused where the applicant is an excluded person, as defined by section 8B(4) of the Immigration Act 1971, and the person does not fall within section 8B(5A) or 8B(5B) of that Act.

SUI.2.4. Entry clearance must be cancelled where the person is subject to a travel ban and is an excluded person, as defined by section 8B(4) of the Immigration Act 1971, and the person does not fall within section 8B(5A) or 8B(5B) of that Act.

Non-conducive grounds

SUI 3.1. An application for entry clearance or permission must be refused where the applicant’s presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good because of their conduct, character, associations or other reasons (including convictions which do not fall within the criminality grounds).

SUI 3.2. Entry clearance or permission held by a person must be cancelled, where the person’s presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good.

Exclusion from asylum or humanitarian protection grounds
- (a) has at any time decided that paragraph 339AA (exclusion from Refugee Convention), 339AC (danger to the UK), 339D (exclusion from a grant of humanitarian protection) or 339GB (revocation of humanitarian protection on grounds of exclusion) of these rules applies to the applicant; or
- (b) has decided that paragraph 339AA, 339AC, 339D or 339GB of these rules would apply, but for the fact that the person has not made a protection claim in the UK, or that the person has made a protection claim which was finally determined without reference to any of the relevant matters described in paragraphs 339AA, 339AC, 339D or 339GB.
- (a) has at any time decided that paragraph 339AA (exclusion from Refugee Convention), 339AC (danger to the UK), 339D (exclusion from a grant of humanitarian protection) or 339GB (revocation of humanitarian protection on grounds of exclusion) of these rules applies to the applicant; or
- (b) has decided that paragraph 339AA, 339AC, 339D or 339GB of these rules would apply, but for the fact that the person has not made a protection claim in the UK, or that the person has made a protection claim which was finally determined without reference to any of the relevant matters described in paragraphs 339AA, 339AC, 339D or 339GB.
Criminality grounds
- (a) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more; or
- (b) is a persistent offender who shows a particular disregard for the law; or
- (c) has committed a criminal offence, or offences, which caused serious harm.
- (a) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more; or
- (b) is a persistent offender who shows a particular disregard for the law; or
- (c) has committed a criminal offence, or offences, which caused serious harm.
- (a) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial sentence of less than 12 months; or
- (b) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a non-custodial sentence, or received an out-of-court disposal that is recorded on their criminal record.
- (a) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial sentence of less than 12 months, unless more than 12 months have passed since the end of the custodial sentence; or
- (b) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a non-custodial sentence, or received an out-of-court disposal that is recorded on their criminal record, unless more than 12 months have passed since the date of conviction.
- (a) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial sentence of less than 12 months; or
- (b) has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a non-custodial sentence, or received an out-of-court disposal that is recorded on their criminal record.
Appendix FM: Safeguarding Ground

SUI 6.1. An application for entry clearance under Appendix FM must be refused if the decision maker considers the applicant’s parent or parent’s partner poses a risk to the applicant.

Innovator Founder: fit and proper person grounds
- (a) is the subject of any serious civil or criminal investigations or proceedings with regard to corruption or other financial crime or financial misconduct; or
- (b) is, or has been, the subject of non-criminal sanctions, including being disbarred from acting as a director or carrying out regulated financial activities in any country.
- (a) the subject of any serious civil or criminal action with regard to corruption or other financial crime or serious misconduct; or
- (b) disbarred from acting as a director or carrying out regulated financial activities in any country.
Involvement in a sham marriage or sham civil partnership grounds

SUI 8.1. An application for entry clearance or permission may be refused where the decision maker is satisfied that it is more likely than not that that the applicant is, or has been, involved in a sham marriage or sham civil partnership.

SUI 8.2. Entry clearance or permission held by a person may be cancelled where the decision maker is satisfied that it is more likely than not the person is, or has been, involved in a sham marriage or sham civil partnership.

Deception grounds
- (a) making false representations or providing false documents or false information in relation to the application (whether or not relevant to the application); or
- (b) not disclosing relevant facts in relation to the application.
- (a) making false representations or providing false documents or false information in relation to an application (whether or not relevant to the application); or
- (b) not disclosing relevant facts in relation to an application.
False representations, etc grounds
- (a) made false representations or provided false documents or false information in relation to the application (whether or not relevant to the application, and whether or not to the applicant’s knowledge); or
- (b) did not disclose relevant facts in relation to the application.
- (a) made false representations or provided false documents or false information in relation to an application (whether or not relevant to the application, and whether or not to the applicant’s knowledge); or
- (b) did not disclose relevant facts in relation to an application.
Previous breach of immigration law grounds
- (a) the applicant has previously breached immigration laws as defined in SUI 11.4; and
- (b) the application was made within the relevant time period in SUI 12.1.
- (a) the applicant has previously breached immigration laws as defined in SUI 11.4; and
- (b) the application was made outside the relevant time period in SUI 12.1; and
- (c) the applicant has acted to frustrate immigration controls (see SUI 11.7.).
SUI 11.3. An application for permission may be refused where the applicant is, or has been, in breach of immigration laws as defined in SUI 11.4.
- (a) overstayed their permission, unless an exception in SUI 11.5. or SUI 11.6. applied to that period of overstaying; or
- (b) breached a condition attached to their permission, unless entry clearance or further permission has subsequently been granted in the knowledge of the breach; or
- (c) were (or still are) an illegal entrant; or
- (d) used deception in relation to a previous application (whether or not successfully).
- (a) the person overstayed for 90 days or less, where the overstaying began before 6 April 2017; or
- (b) the person overstayed for 30 days or less, where the overstaying began on or after 6 April 2017; or
- (c) SUI 13.1. applied to the period of overstaying.
SUI 11.6. A period of overstaying will not be counted for the purpose of paragraph SUI 11.4.(a) where the overstaying arose from a decision to refuse an application, or cancellation of permission, which was subsequently withdrawn, or quashed, or reconsidered by direction of a court or tribunal, unless the legal challenge which led to the reconsideration was brought more than 3 months after the date of the decision to refuse or cancel.
- (a) failed to cooperate with the redocumentation, arrest or removal process; or
- (b) used a false identity; or
- (c) failed to report as required or absconded from immigration custody or bail; or
- (d) obtained state or public authority benefits, tax credits, employment, rented accommodation in the private sector or goods or services they were not entitled to; or
- (e) used multiple identities; or
- (f) participated in immigration related crime.
SUI 11.8. Permission (including that extended under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971) may be cancelled where the person has failed to comply with the conditions of their permission.

Mandatory Refusal Periods (also known as re-entry bans)

SUI 12.1. The relevant time period under SUI 11.1. and SUI 11.2. is as set out in the following table (and where the person previously breached more than one immigration law, only the breach which leads to the longest period of absence from the UK will apply):

Exceptions for overstayers
- (a) their application was made within 14 days of their previous permission expiring, and the decision maker considers that there was a good reason beyond the control of the applicant or their representative, provided in or with the application, why the application could not be made in-time; or
- (i) following the refusal or rejection of a previous application for permission which was made in-time; and
- (1) the refusal or rejection of that previous application; or
- (2) the expiry of any permission extended by section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971; or
- (3) the expiry of the time-limit for making an in-time application for administrative review or appeal in relation to the previous application (where applicable); or
- (4) any administrative review or appeal in relation to the previous application being concluded, withdrawn, abandoned or lapsing; or
- (c) the period of overstaying was between 24 January 2020 and 31 August 2020; or
- (d) the applicant has, or had, permission on the Hong Kong BN(O) route, and the period of overstaying was between 1 July 2020 and 31 January 2021: or
- (i) is between 1 September 2020 and 28 February 2023; and
- (ii) is covered by an exceptional assurance.
SUI 13.2. For the purpose of SUI 13.1(e)(ii), “exceptional assurance” means a written notice given to a person by the Home Office stating that they would not be considered an overstayer for the period specified in the notice.

Failure to provide required information, etc grounds
- (a) attend an interview; or
- (b) provide information; or
- (c) provide biometrics (whether or not requested as part of an application); or
- (d) undergo a medical examination; or
- (e) provide a medical report.
- (a) attend an interview; or
- (b) provide information; or
- (c) provide biometrics; or
- (d) undergo a medical examination; or
- (e) provide a medical report.
Admissibility to the Common Travel Area or other countries grounds

SUI 15.1. An application for entry clearance or permission to enter must be refused where a person is seeking entry to the UK with the intention of entering another part of the Common Travel Area and fails to satisfy the decision maker that they are acceptable to the immigration authorities there.

SUI 15.2. An application for entry clearance or permission may be refused where a person seeking entry fails to satisfy the decision maker that they will be admitted to another country after a stay in the UK.

Debt to the NHS grounds

SUI 16.1. An application for entry clearance or permission may be refused where a relevant NHS body has notified the Secretary of State that the applicant has failed to pay charges under relevant NHS regulations on charges to overseas visitors and the outstanding charges have a total value of at least £500.

Unpaid litigation costs grounds

SUI 17.1. An application for entry clearance or permission may be refused where a person has failed to pay litigation costs awarded to the Home Office.

Purpose not covered by the Immigration Rules grounds

SUI 18.1. An application for entry clearance or permission may be refused where a person is seeking to come to or stay in the UK for a purpose not covered by these rules.

Medical Grounds

SUI 19.1. Entry clearance or permission to enter must be refused where a medical inspector advises that for medical reasons it is undesirable to grant entry clearance or permission to enter, unless the decision maker is satisfied that there are strong compassionate reasons justifying admission.

SUI 19.2. Entry clearance or permission to enter held by a person may be cancelled where a medical inspector advises that for medical reasons it is undesirable to grant entry to the person.

3. Additional grounds for refusal of entry, or cancellation of entry clearance or permission, on arrival in the UK

No entry clearance grounds

SUI 20.1. Permission to enter must be refused on arrival if the person seeking entry is required under these rules to obtain entry clearance in advance of travel to the UK, and the person does not hold the required entry clearance.

Failure to produce recognised passport or travel document grounds

SUI 21.1. Permission to enter must be refused if the person seeking entry fails to produce a passport or other travel document that satisfies the decision maker as to their identity and nationality, unless the person holds a travel document issued by the national authority of a state of which the person is not a national and the person’s statelessness or other status prevents the person from obtaining a document satisfactorily establishing their identity and nationality.
- (a) was issued by a territorial entity or authority which is not recognised by His Majesty’s Government as a state, or is not dealt with as a government by them; or
- (b) was issued by a territorial entity or authority which does not accept valid UK passports for the purpose of its own immigration controls; or
- (c) does not comply with international passport practice.
SUI 21.3. Entry clearance or permission to stay held by a person may be cancelled where on arrival they fail to produce a passport or other travel document that meets the requirements in SUI 21.1.

Consent for a child to travel grounds

SUI 22.1. A child may be refused permission to enter if they are not travelling with their parent or legal guardian and, if required to do so, the child’s parent or legal guardian fails to provide the decision maker with written consent to the child seeking entry to the UK.

Returning residents grounds

SUI 23.1. A person granted settlement may return to the UK where, although having been absent from the UK and Islands, that permission has not lapsed, but where that permission has lapsed, Appendix Returning Resident applies if the person wants to return to and settle in the UK.

SUI 23.2. A person granted settlement who is seeking entry to the UK may be refused permission to enter if they fail to satisfy the decision maker that their leave has not lapsed, and they do not have entry clearance granted under Appendix Returning Resident.

Customs breaches grounds

SUI 24.1. Permission to enter may be refused where the decision maker is satisfied that a person has committed a customs breach, whether or not a criminal prosecution is pursued.

SUI 24.2. Where the decision maker is satisfied that a person has committed a customs breach, whether or not a criminal prosecution is pursued, any entry clearance or permission may be cancelled.

Change of circumstances or purpose grounds

SUI 25.1. Entry clearance or permission held by a person may be cancelled where there has been such a change in circumstances since the entry clearance or permission was granted that it should be cancelled.

SUI 25.2. Entry clearance or permission to enter held by a person on arrival in the UK may be cancelled where the person’s purpose in seeking entry is different from the purpose specified in their entry clearance.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) grounds

SUI 26.1. Permission to enter may be refused if the person seeking entry is required under these rules to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travel to the UK, and the person does not hold the required Electronic Travel Authorisation on arrival in the UK.

4. Additional grounds for refusal, or cancellation, of permission to stay

Rough sleeping in the UK grounds

SUI 27.1. Permission to stay may be refused where the decision maker is satisfied that a person has been rough sleeping in the UK and has repeatedly refused offers of suitable support and has engaged in persistent anti-social behaviour.

SUI 27.2. Where the decision maker is satisfied that a person has been rough sleeping in the UK and has repeatedly refused offers of suitable support, and has engaged in persistent anti-social behaviour, any permission to stay held by the person may be cancelled.

Crew members grounds

SUI 28.1. Where a person has permission to enter as a crew member an application for permission to stay may be refused, unless permission to stay is granted to fulfil the purpose for which the person has permission to enter.

5. Additional grounds for cancellation of entry clearance and permission

Ceasing to meet requirement of rules

SUI 29.1. A person’s entry clearance or permission may be cancelled if they cease to meet the requirements of the rules under which the entry clearance or permission was granted.

Dependent grounds

SUI 30.1. A person’s entry clearance or permission may be cancelled where they are the dependent of another person whose permission is, or has been, cancelled.

Withdrawal of sponsorship or endorsement grounds
- (a) Student; or
- (b) Child Student; or
- (c) Skilled Worker; or
- (d) Intra-Company Transfer; or
- (e) Intra-Company Graduate Trainee; or
- (f) Representative of an Overseas Business; or
- (g) T2 Minister of Religion; or
- (h) International Sportsperson; or
- (i) Temporary Worker; or
- (j) Start-up; or
- (k) Innovator Founder; or
- (l) Global Talent; or
- (m) Global Business Mobility routes; or
- (n) Scale-up (subject to SUI 39.1.).
SUI 31.2. A Student’s permission may be cancelled where the sponsor withdraws their sponsorship of the Student because, having completed a pre-sessional course, the student does not have a knowledge of English equivalent to level B2 or above in all four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework for Language Learning.

SUI 31.3. Entry clearance or permission held under the Global Talent route may be cancelled where the prize named in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes which they used to qualify, has been withdrawn.

SUI 31.4. Entry Clearance or permission on the Innovator Founder route may be cancelled where that entry clearance or permission was granted on or after 13 April 2023 and the holder fails to undergo a contact point meeting with their Endorsing Body.

Student does not start course or ceases to study
- (a) they do not start their studies with their sponsor; or
- (b) they or their sponsor confirm that their course of study has ceased, or will cease before the end date recorded on the Certificate of Acceptance for Studies; or
- (c) the start date for the course is delayed for more than 28 days; or
- (d) they cease to study with their sponsor.
Worker does not start work or ceases their employment
- (a) they do not start working for their sponsor; or
- (b) they or their sponsor confirm that their employment, volunteering, training or job shadowing has ceased or will cease before the end date recorded on the Certificate of Sponsorship; or
- (c) the start date for the job, as recorded in the Certificate of Sponsorship, is delayed by more than 28 days; or
- (d) they cease to work for their sponsor.
Sponsor loses licence or transfers business
- (a) their sponsor does not have a sponsor licence; or
- (i) fails to apply for a sponsor licence; or
- (ii) fails to apply for a sponsor licence within 28 days of the date of a transfer of their business or institution; or
- (iii) applies for a sponsor licence but is refused; or
- (iv) makes a successful application for a sponsor licence, but the sponsor licence granted is not in a category that would allow the sponsor to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies to the person.
Change of employer
- (a) they are a person on the Government Authorised Exchange route, or a Seasonal Worker and the change of employer is authorised by the sponsor; or
- (b) hey are working for a different sponsor, unless the change of sponsor does not result in a change of employer, or the change in employer is covered by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, equivalent statutory transfer schemes, or the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector; or
- (i) they are sponsored by a sports club; and
- (ii) they are sponsored as a player and are being temporarily loaned to another sports club; and
- (iii) player loans are specifically permitted in rules set down by the relevant sports governing body; and
- (iv) their sponsor has made arrangements with the loan club to enable to the sponsor to continue to meet its sponsor duties; and
- (v) the player will return to working for the sponsor at the end of the loan.
Absence from employment
- (a) statutory maternity leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, or parental leave; or
- (b) statutory adoption leave; or
- (c) sick leave; or
- (d) assisting with a national or international humanitarian or environmental crisis, providing their sponsor agreed to the absence for that purpose; or
- (e) taking part in legally organised industrial action; or
- (f) jury service; or
- (g) attending court as a witness.
Change of job or lower salary rate
- (a) they are a person on the Intra-Company, Global Business Mobility, Skilled Worker or a Scale-up Worker routes and have changed to a different job in the same SOC 2020 occupation code but the salary rate for the new job is lower than the salary rate for the old job as set out in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
- (b) they are a Skilled Worker and scored points for a job in Appendix Immigration Salary List (or the previous Appendix Shortage Occupation List) and the new job does not appear in Appendix Immigration Salary List.
- (c) they have changed jobs and the new job has a different SOC 2020 occupation code to that recorded by the Certificate of Sponsorship (unless SUI 37.2. applies), or unless they are sponsored in a SOC 2010 occupation code and the change is a result of switching to a SOC 2020 occupation code; or
- (d) the person no longer meets the salary requirement or going rate requirement for the job.
- (a) the person is sponsored to undertake a graduate training programme covering multiple roles within the organisation; and
- (b) the person is changing to a job with a different SOC 2020 occupation code either as a part of that programme or when appointed to a permanent role with the sponsor at the end of that programme; and
- (c) their sponsor has notified the Home Office of the change of job and any change in salary.
- (a) a reduction in salary coincides with an absence from employment permitted under paragraph SUI 36.1; or
- (b) the person is on the Intra-Company or Global Business Mobility routes and a reduction in salary coincides with working for the sponsor group while the person is not physically present in the UK; or
- (i) if the person has permission under Appendix Skilled Worker, they would, after the change to the job, score 20 tradeable points in either the same option in the table in SW 4.2, or under SW 14.5(b), whichever they had scored points under when obtaining their most recent grant of permission; or
- (ii) if the person has permission as a Tier 2 (General) Migrant, they would, after the change to the job, score 20 tradeable points under option A or F in the table in SW 4.2, or under SW 14.5(b), if they were to apply under Appendix Skilled Worker; or
- (iii) if the person has permission as a Tier 2 (General) Migrant who was considered a new entrant in their application for that Tier 2 (General) permission, they would, after the change to the job, score 20 tradeable points under option E in the table in SW 4.2, if they were to apply under Appendix Skilled Worker; or
- (d) a reduction in salary coincides with a temporary reduction in the person’s hours for individual health reasons, or a phased return to work for individual health reasons, in either case being supported by an occupational health assessment and where the reduction in pay does not result in the hourly rate falling below any requirement which applied when the person obtained their most recent grant of permission.
Endorsing body no longer approved

SUI 38.1. Where a person has entry clearance or permission to stay on the Global Talent, Start-up or Innovator Founder route their entry clearance or permission to stay may be cancelled if their endorsing body ceases to hold that status for the route in which they were endorsed.

Exception for Scale-up Workers

SUI 39.1. SUI 31.1. and SUI. 33.1. to SUI 37.1. only apply to a Scale-up Worker during the 6-month period that the Scale-up Worker is required to work for a Sponsor under Appendix Scale-up.