UKVI publishes last-minute guidance on proving eVisa status to airlines before boarding
Channel Tunnel operator warns EU software issues could delay biometric checks beyond September deadline
Getlink warns EU biometric software glitches could push EES car-channel launch beyond September
Latest News
Heathrow urges Brussels to ‘stop the misery’ as EES queues triple processing times
Heathrow’s boss has urged EU leaders to relax or redesign Entry/Exit System procedures after wait times for UK nationals tripled at continental airports. Airlines fear escalating disruption during the imminent holiday peak, and corporates are warned to allow longer connection buffers.
Home Office launches £500 Priority Service promising 30-day decisions for British citizenship
A new £500 Priority Service promises most British citizenship applicants a decision in 30 working days, slashing the wait from up to six months. The premium will help globally mobile staff secure passports quicker but demands watertight applications and careful cost planning.
Parliament flags new Right-to-Work and Right-to-Rent codes in Immigration Regulations laid 23 July
A new statutory instrument updates right-to-work and right-to-rent checks, replaces BRP data with eVisa share-codes and sharply increases civil-penalty ceilings. The Lords have 40 days to object, but HR and relocation teams should start updating compliance processes now.
UKVI publishes new guidance requiring travellers to prove their immigration status to airlines
UKVI’s new guidance makes travellers – not airlines – responsible for ensuring their digital immigration record matches their booking data. Passport renewals or un-updated UKVI accounts could now trigger denied boarding. Mobility teams should add UKVI-account checks and share-code generation to their travel procedures.
Channel Tunnel warns EU Entry/Exit System software glitch could postpone biometric checks
Getlink says EU-supplied software for the new EU Entry/Exit System is still unstable, putting the 6 September start of mandatory biometric checks for Channel Tunnel car passengers at risk. A delay would avert potential summer gridlock but prolongs uncertainty for operators and business travellers dependent on the route.
Migration Advisory Committee recommends first Temporary Shortage List covering 28 mid-skill jobs
The MAC’s Stage 2 report recommends giving temporary visa access to just 28 mid-skill occupations, each for 18 months and at full market salary. Employers must lodge “Jobs Plans” to prove they will train locals, and many roles have been excluded entirely. The move signals a tougher, skills-driven immigration stance that will force mobility planners to rethink talent pipelines.
UK universities launch online scholarships for students hit by ‘visa brake’
Nine UK universities have created a remote-learning scholarship for applicants from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Cameroon after the Home Office suspended their study visa route. The ‘Mosaik Scholarship’ keeps affected students in the UK higher-education ecosystem while complying with the visa brake.
Getlink warns EU software flaws could stall biometric border checks in Channel Tunnel
Getlink says EU software problems threaten to push back the start of biometric car-passenger checks under the Entry/Exit System. A postponement would avert major holiday queues but leaves transport firms uncertain about staffing and infrastructure plans for September.
Fast-track British citizenship decisions now available—for a £500 fee
The Home Office has introduced a £500 Priority Service promising British citizenship decisions in about six weeks. The premium option is aimed at applicants who need a passport urgently for work or travel, but it does not relax the underlying eligibility tests.
UK travellers urged to pre-verify digital immigration status with airlines
The Home Office has published new instructions telling passengers to prove their immigration status digitally before boarding transport to the UK. Travellers must ensure their passport details match their UKVI eVisa or ETA record, or be ready to present a share code or physical document. The move tightens carrier liability and underscores the UK’s shift to a fully digital border, making advance checks essential for business travel planning.
Channel data show first small-boat crossings in a week as 172 arrive
Provisional Home Office data show 172 migrant arrivals in small boats on 22 July after a week-long lull. The spike underscores the volatility of Channel crossings and their potential to disrupt coastal transport and logistics.
Migration Advisory Committee unveils first ‘Temporary Shortage List’ for mid-skill visas
The MAC’s Stage 2 report recommends that only 28 mid-skilled occupations qualify for the new Temporary Shortage List, giving them 18-month visa access in exchange for sector training plans. The move tightens employer sponsorship options and signals a tougher stance on using migration to fill routine skill gaps.
Perk integrates real-time eVisa and ETA payments into corporate booking tool
Perk’s new “Entry Ready” tool lets travellers see requirements and pay for eVisas or ETAs without leaving the booking screen, eliminating manual checks and expense claims. The launch comes ahead of the UK’s full ETA roll-out and signals the booking-tool industry’s drive to bake immigration compliance into trip approval workflows.
Home Office schedules first post-eVisa quarterly ‘Immigration system statistics’ release
The Home Office has pencilled 27 August for its first quarterly ‘Immigration system statistics’—the main dataset to track visa and eVisa trends after Britain’s switch to digital status. Mobility teams will soon get faster intelligence on refusal rates, sponsorship demand and carrier compliance.
Home Office schedules major immigration statistics release for 23 July
The Home Office will publish its year-to-June 2026 immigration statistics on 23 July, offering the first comprehensive data since the latest policy tightening. HR and mobility teams should review the figures for trends that could affect sponsorship strategies.
Heathrow reports record 40 million passengers in H1 2026 and presses government on third-runway policy
Heathrow’s half-year figures show passenger numbers at an historic high and underline the airport’s push for policy certainty on its third runway. Record demand strengthens Heathrow’s case for early capacity growth, a development that could reshape UK business-travel networks later this decade.