ILPA also flagged a revised application form for the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession, published 19 October 2026. The update mirrors Immigration Rule amendments widening eligibility and simplifies evidence requirements for victims trapped on spousal or family visas. Applicants can now rely on statements from registered charities and social-workers in lieu of police reports—crucial where fear of retaliation deters criminal complaints. Processing times have been cut from 30 to 20 working days, granting successful applicants three months’ leave outside the normal points-based system so they can access work and public funds. For employers, the concession offers a lawful path to retain skilled staff whose dependent status collapses when relationships break down. Global-mobility heads should ensure employee-assistance programmes signpost the revised route; failure to act could see valuable talent forced out of the UK. Practitioners welcome the changes but warn the concession remains discretionary and requires credible evidence of abuse. Companies should not give immigration advice but can facilitate access to specialist legal counsel and maintain confidentiality protocols.
Source: ILPA
