House of Lords pushes Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill toward final vote
ONS releases quarterly roadmap on population and migration overhaul
9,000 airline staff trained to verify UK visas before boarding
Latest News
Law-firm briefing: Digital immigration systems reshape UK–EU travel
A DLA Piper alert maps how the EU’s EES/ETIAS systems and the UK’s ETA/eVisa regime will interact. Longer first-time border queues, automatic overstay detection and the end of physical BRPs mean companies need new travel-risk and compliance workflows before summer 2026.
Home Office publishes consolidated Immigration Rules archive for October – November
A 1,422-page archive consolidating all Immigration Rules in force up to 3 November was published on 7 November. Employers must cite the correct historic rules when auditing sponsorship or right-to-work checks, especially for applications lodged during October’s rule-change window.
Small-area population estimates revised ahead of 2026 funding rounds
Revised small-area population tables published on 7 November adjust mid-2022–24 head-counts across England and Wales. While changes are modest, they influence local funding, council-tax rates and service planning—cost drivers that affect expatriate budgets.
UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement extended to 2029
A four-year extension of the UK-Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement takes effect, guaranteeing visa-free professional visits (90 days in Switzerland, 12 months in the UK) until end-2029 and giving businesses certainty while a full FTA is negotiated.
UK raises Student-visa maintenance funds and shortens Graduate Route
From 11 November 2025 the monthly maintenance funds for a UK Student-route visa jump to £1,529, meaning a minimum £13,761 bank balance for a full-year course. Separately, the post-study Graduate Route will shorten to 18 months for new applicants from 2027. The changes raise up-front costs for students and compress employers’ timelines for moving graduates onto Skilled Worker visas.
10-day Heathrow security strike announced for Easter travel peak
Security guards at Heathrow Terminal 5 will strike for 10 days from 31 March 2026, threatening Easter peak travel. Heathrow is drafting managers to cover roles, but airlines expect flight caps and delays, with business travellers urged to consider alternative routings.
Further Heathrow walkouts threaten King’s coronation travel plans
Unite has called eight additional security-staff strike days at Heathrow around 4-6, 9-10 and 25-27 May 2026, jeopardising travel plans for the King’s coronation anniversary events and creating fresh uncertainty for inbound corporate visitors.
Law-firm webinar to decode latest UK Immigration Rule changes
DG Legal is running a free 6 November webinar unpacking the latest Statement of Changes, salary thresholds and upcoming English-language rules, offering HR and mobility teams practical compliance tips.
St Andrews hosts ‘Working in the UK on a Student Visa’ briefing
A 6 November webinar at the University of St Andrews updated international students on work-rights, internship options and compliance tips, reflecting tighter enforcement of student-visa conditions.