You may stay up to date on the most recent Immigration developments from the UK Home Office by visiting our What's New? page. These updates include modifications to the requirments for Visa, income threshold, skilled worker routes, Student Visa, Family migration regulations, and settlement policies. Immigration laws in the UK are constantly changing, and even little adjustments can play a huge role on your eligibility or application process. Here, we offer concise, useful explanations of the changes, who is impacted, when the new regulations go into effect, and what applicants should do next. Throughout your UK immigration journey, our staff will keep a close eye on official announcments and guidance updates to make sure you recieve timely and correct advice that will keep you compliant.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/13/dual-nationals-denied-entry-to-uk-british-passport-border-control?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) becomes mandatory

 Starts: 25 February 2026

• Visitors from visa-free countries must apply online for an ETA before travelling to the UK.

• Without ETA, airlines/transport will not allow boarding.

• It applies to short stays (tourism, business visits, etc.). 

• Around 85 visa-free nationalities are affected

 Dual nationals must use a British passport

 Starts: 25 February 2026

Dual British citizens must show a UK passport when entering the UK.

Otherwise they can be refused boarding or entry.

This is part of stricter digital border controls.

Alternative: pay for a certificate of entitlement (~£589). 

 Settlement (ILR) rules becoming stricter (“earned settlement”)

 Proposed / ongoing in early 2026

Main ideas:

Waiting time for settlement could increase from 5 years to about 10 years for many migrants.

Some low-skilled workers may wait up to 15 years. 

These changes are controversial and still being debated.

• More requirements like income thresholds, English, and integration. 

Changes to visa routes (early-2026 updates)

Examples already implemented:

• The Swiss service-provider visa route removed in early 2026. 

• Ongoing updates to skilled worker and graduate visa rules from 2025 reforms.

 Hong Kong BNO visa expansion

 Announced Feb 2026

Adult children of BNO passport holders can now apply independently.

Expected to allow ~26,000 more people to move to the UK.

Data transparency changes (not a rule but policy change)

Home Office will publish more detailed migration data dashboards in 2026.

Big picture: What the Home Office is trying to do

Overall goals (from the 2025 white paper and reforms):

• Reduce net migration

• Tighten settlement pathways

• Digitise border controls

• Focus on skilled migration

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