Free movement between the UK and the EU ended at 11pm on 31 December 2020. The same moment also closed the old Ankara Agreement routes to new applicants. If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who was living in the UK by that date, your position now usually depends on the EU Settlement…
From 2 June 2026, the specific duty in Regulation 5 of the Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2005 was revoked. That means the Home Office’s asylum support framework has moved back to the discretionary powers in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, rather than the previous EU-derived duty to offer support to destitute asylum seekers….
The Windrush Scheme is still open in 2026, it is free to apply, and it remains important for people who are settled in the UK but do not have evidence to prove it. Windrush Day on 22 June is a useful prompt to sort out status paperwork, especially if older relatives have lived in the…
Yes, but only in a limited way. In 2026, an expired biometric residence permit may still help evidence your settled status in a British citizenship application if you still hold that status and the card is within the permitted use period. The stronger option is to set up your UKVI account and use your eVisa,…
If you left London Tech Week 2026 planning a UK move, the right immigration route depends on whether you are a founder, a researcher or an overseas business sending senior staff to establish a UK presence. London Tech Week ran from 8 to 12 June 2026 across London, with Olympia London at the centre of…
UK scale-ups can now apply for help with eligible visa application fees when hiring overseas talent. The Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups opened on 9 June 2026, with up to £25,000 a year available per business and a cap of £5,000 for each international hire and their dependants. The scheme sits alongside a…
If you have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK and want your partner or children to join you, the dedicated Refugee Family Reunion route remains closed to new applications. The pause began at 3pm on 4 September 2025 and is still in place. The government says replacement rules are being designed, but no…
If your business recruits overseas workers for medium-skilled roles, the Migration Advisory Committee is expected to publish its final Temporary Shortage List recommendations in July 2026. The government will then decide which occupations should continue to have access to the Skilled Worker route. The current interim arrangements are time-limited. Unless the Immigration Rules change, Temporary…
If you are planning a business trip or family visit to London this summer, check the travel permission required for every passenger before departure. Since 25 February 2026, carriers have been required to confirm that travellers who need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA, hold valid digital permission before travelling to the UK. An ETA…
In June 2026, access to the Global Talent visa UKRI endorsed-funder pathway widened when 13 additional AIRTO member organisations were added to UKRI’s list of approved UK host organisations. The change did not make every AIRTO member an endorsed funder. A researcher must still be hosted or employed by an approved organisation and work on…
