UK Opens First 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot for Hong Kong and Taiwan
On January 16, 2026, the government announced that the first ballot for the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme will open from 12:01am on February 10, 2026 and close at 12:01am on
Read More »UK Raises English Requirements for Key Visa Routes in 2026
Effective January 8, 2026, the Home Office has increased the English language level required for entry under the Skilled Worker, High Potential Individual and Scale-up routes
Read More »UK Immigration Skills Charge Increase Effective December 16, 2025
The UK Government has announced the first significant increase to the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) since its introduction in 2017. Effective December 16, 2025, this change
Read More »UK ETA Scheme Enforcement Begins February 2026
The Home Office has announced that, effective February 25, 2026, visitors from 85 nationalities, including the United States, Canada, and France, who do not need a visa will
Read More »UK Home Office “Earned Settlement” Consultation Released
The UK Government has published and now opened its consultation on the proposed changes to the new ‘Earned Settlement’ ILR (also referred to as Indefinite Leave to
Read More »UK Home Office Publishes ‘Restoring Order and Control’ on Asylum Policy
On November 17, 2025, the UK Secretary of State presented to Parliament a policy paper, Restoring Order and Control, on the government’s asylum and returns policy. The
Read More »UK to Replace Visa Stickers with eVisas by 2026: What You Need to Know
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has provided updates about the move to a digital immigration system, replacing physical documents with digital records of identity and
Read More »UK Home Office Issues ‘Right to Work’ Consultation Notification
The consultation on extending legislation to prevent illegal working (the Right to Work Scheme) to other working arrangements opened on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Per the
Read More »UK and Switzerland Extend Services Mobility Agreement to 2029
On October 21, 2025, the UK and Switzerland agreed a further extension to the existing UK-Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement (SMA) to cover the next four years, up to
Read More »UK Increases Fees for Expedited Sponsorship Applications
The UK government has significantly increased certain fees for sponsorship applications. Effective October 21, 2025: the fee for expedited processing of a sponsorship
Read More »UK Announces Major Immigration Rule Changes in HC1333 Statement
On October 14, 2025, the Home Office published a 111-page statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC1333). An explanatory memorandum accompanied the statement of
Read More »UK to Launch Mandatory Digital ID for Right to Work Checks
On September 26, 2025, the UK government has announced the rollout of a new digital ID scheme aimed at strengthening border security, curbing illegal employment, and
Read More »