In brief
- The Home Office published seven factsheets on the Immigration and Asylum Bill on 8 October 2026.
- The final version of the impact assessment was published on 13 October 2026; the first version appeared on 30 June 2026.
- The Bill proposes an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority, a new Article 8 framework, a single core protection model and contributions to asylum support.
- The final impact assessment says no material impact on businesses is expected.
- The Bill is still in committee stage in the Commons; it has not received Royal Assent and nothing is in force.
On 13 October 2026 the Home Office published the final version of the impact assessment for the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026. Five days earlier, on 8 October 2026, it released seven factsheets explaining the Bill. The Bill is not law and none of its measures is in force.
What was published
The impact assessment is not new. It was first published on 30 June 2026, when the Bill was introduced in the House of Commons. The 13 October document replaces it with a final version. We have not compared the two versions line by line, so we cannot say what has changed.
The seven factsheets cover:
- an overview of the Bill;
- Article 8 reform;
- Article 8 and foreign national offenders;
- recouping asylum costs;
- core protection;
- the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority; and
- modern slavery.
Where the Bill stands
The Bill was introduced on 30 June 2026 and had its second reading in the Commons on 13 July 2026. It follows the King's Speech of 13 May 2026. It puts into law reforms set out in the Government's policy statement of 21 November 2025.
Key measures
A new appeals body
The Bill would create an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority. The Government says it would give a swift and fair appeals system able to cope with higher demand. The Authority would eventually replace the current tribunal. Appeals would be decided by adjudicators, who would not need to be legally qualified. The Government says this would make recruitment easier and reduce delays. The explanatory notes give the average time to decide an appeal as 61 weeks. Some campaign groups dispute that the new body would be independent. See our page on appeals and judicial review.
A new approach to Article 8
Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the right to private and family life. The Bill would amend the legislation that tells judges how to apply it in immigration appeals. The June version of the impact assessment estimated that about 11,700 more Article 8 cases would be refused. We have not confirmed whether that figure is unchanged in the final version. See our pages on human rights claims and the private life route.
One core protection model
The Bill would let the Home Secretary replace the separate refugee and humanitarian protection systems with a single "core protection" model. We have not reviewed the detail, such as length of leave or reviews.
Contributions to asylum support
People who received asylum support would have to contribute towards it when they can afford to. The Bill does not state how much.
Context from the Government
The overview factsheet says 86,000 people claimed asylum in the year ending June 2026. Of these, 34,000 (40%) arrived by small boat, and 35,000 (41%) first arrived by legal means.
What it means for employers
The final impact assessment says the proposals are not expected to have a material effect on businesses. It expects small one-off familiarisation costs for advisers and legal providers.
Since then
As at 2 November 2026 the Bill is at committee stage in the House of Commons. The Public Bill Committee sat on 13, 15, 16, 20, 22 and 27 October. On 27 October it agreed clauses 38 to 49 and Schedule 5, some with amendments. Government amendments have been tabled, including a new Schedule 1 on Article 8 certification and a new clause on enforcing payments to the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority. The Joint Committee on Human Rights took oral evidence on 21 October. We have not confirmed when committee stage ends or when later stages will take place. The Bill has not received Royal Assent and nothing in it is in force.
How Garth Coates Solicitors can help
If you or your organisation want to understand how the proposals might affect appeals, family life or protection claims, we can explain the current law and the proposed changes. Please request a consultation with our team.
This article is general information and was correct on 3 November 2026. It is not legal advice on your circumstances; immigration rules and fees change often. For advice on your case, request a consultation.
