Country Update 2024: UNITED KINGDOM

Contributed by: Kingsley Napley LLP

May 2024

1. Legislative Changes

Students. Since January 2024 international students – except postgraduate research students – cannot be accompanied by family members. The Government may restrict the Graduate (post-study visa) route, despite a review by the Migration Advisory Committee recommending that the route should be retained in its current form.

Youth Mobility Scheme. 2-year maximum increased to 3 years for some nationals (New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Korea).

EU Settlement Scheme. Stricter rules on late applications introduced on 9 August 2023. Automatic 2-year extensions for people with pre-settled status. Some people with pre-settled status will automatically be granted settled status.

The Immigration Health Surcharge increased on 6 February 2024 from £624 to £1,035 per year.

2. Business Immigration

• Business visitors. Extra flexibility for some business visitors since 31 January 2024. Client-facing activities allowed during intra-corporate visits. People carrying out permitted paid engagements no longer need to be stamped in.

  Electronic Travel Authorisation introduced for Gulf States and Jordan. Will be rolled out to other nationalities over the coming year.

• Employment-based immigration. Minimum salary required for a Skilled Worker visa increased on 4 April 2024 from £26,200 to £38,700 per year – and in many cases the minimum is higher than this. Detailed information on the KN website here.

  Since 19 February 2024 care workers can no longer be accompanied by family members.
  

3. Family based immigration

Minimum income requirement increased on 11 April 2024 from £18,600 to £29,000 per year. The intention is to increase it in stages to £38,700 per year.

4. Asylum

Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024

5. Deportation

No significant changes

6. Citizenship

British Nationality (Regularisation of Past Practice) Act confirms that a child born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 1 October 2000 to an EU/EEA/Swiss parent exercising a free movement right is a British citizen.