Ryanair warns UK families to brace for long passport queues as EU Entry/Exit System glitches persist
Home Office data show 46 % jump in disruptions to organised immigration crime
UK-France ‘one in, one out’ pilot tops 1,100 transfers each way, new stats reveal
Latest News
FCDO staff strike kicks off, risking delays to emergency travel documents and overseas services
PCS union members at the Foreign Office launched a strike on 16 July, with additional dates later in the month. The action threatens slower issuance of emergency passports and consular documents that businesses and travelling employees depend on, adding another layer of complexity to summer mobility planning.
UK closes 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme ballots as focus shifts to 2027 quota
The Home Office has confirmed that both 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) ballots are now closed, with all 2,000 remaining places for Hong Kong and Taiwan allocated. Successful entrants have 90 days to apply and will receive digital status only. Unsuccessful applicants must wait until the 2027 ballots. Employers should plan talent pipelines accordingly.
Gibraltar aligns short-stay entry rules with Schengen as UK-EU treaty takes effect
With effect from 15 July 2026, Gibraltar’s airport and land-border controls switch to Schengen procedures under a UK-EU treaty. British business travellers must now count time in Gibraltar towards their 90/180 Schengen limit and expect biometric EES checks on arrival.
Parliament Invites Evidence on Sweeping Immigration and Asylum Bill
MPs are seeking rapid input on a far-reaching Immigration and Asylum Bill that would tighten family-life rules, reshape appeals and extend ‘temporary’ migrant status to 10 years. Businesses should analyse cost and compliance implications and file evidence before committee scrutiny starts.
Home Office weekly update shows 63 people crossed Channel in small boats last week
Home Office transparency data updated on 15 July show 63 people reached the UK by small boat in the week to 5 July, while 25 were prevented from leaving France. The low numbers ease immediate operational pressure but keep irregular migration—and potential knock-on policy tightening—on the corporate radar.
UK Parliament Opens Call for Evidence on Landmark Immigration and Asylum Bill
The Commons Public Bill Committee has launched a call for evidence on the government’s Immigration and Asylum Bill, with submissions due before 10 September 2026. The Bill overhauls settlement rules, speeds up asylum removals and tightens modern-slavery safeguards—changes that could significantly affect UK employers and global-mobility programmes.
Gibraltar aligns visitor rules with Schengen as UK-EU Treaty takes provisional effect
Gibraltar’s entry conditions now fully align with Schengen following provisional application of the UK-EU Treaty on 15 July 2026. British visitors keep visa-free access but their days count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and third-country nationals can no longer rely on a UK visa alone. Dual passport holders, new biometric checks via EES, and a bespoke customs regime require businesses to update travel-tracking and assignee compliance processes.
Youth Mobility Scheme Update: 2026 Ballots Close as UK Confirms No Further Places This Year
UKVI has confirmed that all Youth Mobility Scheme places for 2026 have been allocated and that no third ballot will be held. Employers should plan for tighter entry-level hiring and remind current YMS visa-holders to convert to digital eVisas and manage expiry dates carefully.
Global switch to VFS Global: UK Visa Application Centres enter new era
UKVI has begun the final phase of replacing TLScontact with VFS Global at overseas Visa Application Centres, with a new service platform live from 15 July 2026. While application rules and fees stay the same, corporate travellers will see new booking portals, different help-desk contacts and faster passport-return promises. Mobility teams must update internal guidance and data-processing arrangements.