UK clears modern-slavery decision backlog and lifts employer tie for affected Skilled Worker visa holders
Home Office tightens immigration checks for taxi and private-hire licences
Eurostar warns of cancellations and delays as strikes and border checks hit business travellers
Latest News
Civil service strike ballot could hit Border Force operations during winter peak
PCS will ballot civil servants—including Border Force staff—between 20 Oct and 1 Dec. A yes vote could trigger strikes over Christmas, causing significant airport and port disruption despite minimum-service rules. Businesses reliant on international travel should start contingency planning now.
Authority-to-Carry guidance updated, raising airline and GA liability for inadmissible passengers
Border Force’s 12 October update to the Authority to Carry guidance tightens carrier obligations, spells out higher fines and extends full compliance requirements to private jets. Airlines, charter brokers and corporate travel teams must verify ETAs and other permissions pre-departure or risk five-figure penalties and denied entry for passengers.
Digital border shift continues as eVisa accepted as ID for Secure English Language Tests
Updated Home Office guidance allows visa applicants to present their digital eVisa—via a UKVI share code—as identification for Secure English Language Tests, removing the need for a physical passport or BRP. The change simplifies onboarding timelines for employers and underlines the UK’s shift toward a paperless immigration system.
National security rules sharpened as ‘Exclusion from the UK’ guidance is overhauled
UKVI has updated its exclusion-order guidance to dovetail with July’s Immigration Rules overhaul, making it easier for the Home Secretary to bar people viewed as security risks. The move could translate into tougher entry controls and unexpected visa cancellations for high-profile travellers.
UKVI releases new eVisa account-creation statistics, highlighting 8 million users and looming compliance deadlines
New statistics published on 12 October 2026 reveal that more than eight million migrants now hold eVisa accounts, but around 1.7 million BRP holders must still register before physical cards expire on 31 December 2026. Employers are urged to audit their workforce and prepare for an entirely digital status-verification regime.
Parliament publishes 12 October amendment paper for Immigration and Asylum Bill ahead of line-by-line scrutiny
The Commons has issued its 12 October 2026 Notice of Amendments for the Immigration and Asylum Bill, detailing over 150 proposed changes—from impact studies on skilled-worker salary thresholds to short-stay visas for emergency technicians. Businesses should watch the committee debates as surviving clauses could reshape sponsorship rules and visa costs.
Reform UK proposes five-year suspension of asylum system; human-rights groups warn of legal chaos
Reform UK has promised to halt all asylum processing and deport current applicants for five years, a move that advocacy groups and business leaders say would breach international law and deter global talent. While not government policy, the announcement signals escalating political pressure that could steer mainstream parties toward tougher immigration positions.
UK issues urgent travel warning for Saudi Arabia after explosive incident at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport
After a missile-drone strike at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on 10 October, the UK government has updated its Saudi Arabia travel advice. British nationals are urged to avoid the airport, prepare for flight cancellations and stay alert to further attacks. The warning has direct implications for UK firms with staff or projects in the kingdom and highlights the importance of robust travel-risk management.
End of ‘one-in, one-out’ deal leaves Channel smuggling networks buoyant
• The UK-France ‘one in, one out’ pilot has been scrapped after limited success. • Smuggling networks continue to profit; 1,739 migrants crossed in six days earlier this month despite increased policing. • Unions and NGOs propose a refugee visa-to-travel scheme; employers should anticipate ongoing Channel disruption.
Border Force staff plan 12 October strike, threatening delays at UK ports and airports
The PCS union has pencilled in a Border Force strike for 12 October, which could slow passport-control processing at UK airports and ports. Businesses with inbound travellers should build in extra buffer time and stay alert for Home Office contingency announcements.
FCDO warns UK travellers as Hurricane Simon heads for Mexico’s Pacific coast
Hurricane Simon is on track to strike Mexico’s Pacific coast on 11 October. The UK government has updated its travel advice, warning of airport closures, port shutdowns and potential landslides. UK firms with staff or cargo routed through Manzanillo and Guadalajara should activate weather-contingency plans.
Durga Puja crowds and flood risk prompt new FCDO guidance for travel to Bangladesh
The UK has refreshed its Bangladesh travel advice ahead of the Durga Puja festival, citing crowd-related security risks, ongoing flooding and fuel shortages. Businesses with staff in Dhaka, Chittagong or Sylhet should stagger travel, review evacuation routes and prepare for power disruptions.