TL;DR: HC 1691 amends Appendix Global Talent to add a design pathway and related endorsement criteria, implementing a commitment referenced in the Immigration White Paper (May 2025) in the official explanatory memorandum. The statement of changes implementation section shows staged commencement: paragraphs APP GT2 to APP GT5 are listed among changes taking effect on 8 April 2026 (with transitional wording for applications made before that date), while APP GT1 is listed as taking effect on 1 July 2026. APP GT6 and APP GT7 appear in the 26 March 2026 commencement band in the same implementation list.
The memorandum states that the design pathway is intended to cover additional design roles not already catered for under existing Global Talent arrangements.
What the memorandum says about endorsement and evidence
The published memorandum summarises endorsement concepts such as a Design Industry Endorsement and field track record requirements, including references to CVs, letters from established design organisations, and criteria involving international design awards as set out in the legal text.
Readers should rely on the Appendix Global Talent wording in the consolidated Immigration Rules after each commencement date, because endorsement evidential thresholds are technical and version-specific.
Appointments fast track (GT6/GT7 band)
The memorandum also describes simplifications to the appointments fast track criteria agreed with the named academies, intended to reduce confusion where applicants who could use the fast track instead pursue the longer peer-review pathway.
Official source
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1619-5-march-2026