Timeline of UK business immigration law changes

Home Services Immigration Timeline of UK business immigration law changes

31 January 2024

Unmarried partner definition changes

Appendix FM definition of an unmarried partner changes.

Read more here

31 January 2024

Business visitor rules more flexible

Business visitor rules become more flexible for some visitors.

31 January 2024

Youth Mobility Scheme expands

Youth Mobility Scheme rule changes for nationals of Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea, Uruguay and Andorra.

Read more here

1 February 2024

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme expands to Gulf states

Nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and UAE can start to apply to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. They must have an ETA to enter the UK on or after 22 February 2024.

Read more here

6 February 2024

Immigration Health Surcharge increases

Immigration Health Surcharge increases to £1,035 for most adults.

Read more here

13 February 2024

Civil penalty fines triple

Civil penalty fines triple for illegal working offences.

19 February 2024

Ukraine scheme changes

Without warning the Ukraine Family Scheme closes to new applicants, and new permission granted under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme is reduced from 36 to 18 months. The Ukraine Extension Scheme will also close on 16 May 2024

19 February 2024

No family members for care workers

Draft rules laid removing ability for care workers to bring dependent family members to the UK. Care providers in England will only be able to sponsor workers if they are undertaking activities regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

March – April 2024

Transition to eVisas begins

Some Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) holders with an early 31 December 2024 expiry date to be contacted as part of a UKVI pilot scheme to apply for a UKVI online account in order to convert to a digital immigration status (eVisa).

Read more here

11 March 2024

Graduate visa route review starts

The government asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the Graduate visa route.

14 March 2024

New Skilled Worker rules published

Skilled Worker salary increase rules published, not yet in force

Read more here

14 March 2024

New Immigration Salary List published

Immigration Salary List (shortage occupations) published, not yet in force.

14 March 2024

New family visa income rules published

Family visa income requirement rise to £29,000 rules published, not yet in force.

Read more here

4 April 2024

Skilled Worker salary increases

Skilled Worker salary increase rules become law.

Read more here

4 April 2024

Immigration Salary List becomes law

Immigration Salary List (shortage occupations) becomes law.

6 April 2024

No more sponsor licence renewals

Sponsor licences with an expiry date on or after 6 April 2024 no longer need to be renewed as the licence will have no end date.

Read more here

11 April 2024

Family visa income rules

Rules become law for increase in minimum income requirement for family visas to £29,000.

14 May 2024

Deadline for MAC review of Graduate route

The Migration Advisory Committee’s review of the Graduate visa route should be released by 14 May 2024.

June 2024

Automatic grants of settled status

During the second half of 2024 (exact start date unknown) some people with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will automatically be granted settled status.

3 June 2024

Transition to eVisas for all

All Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) holders with an early 31 December 2024 expiry date should be able to apply for a UKVI online account in order to convert to a digital immigration status (eVisa).

October 2024

Further family visa income rises

At some point (date unknown) between April 2024 and early 2025 the family visa minimum income requirement will rise from £29,000 to around £34,500.

Late 2024

General election

Any change in government following a general election could lead to further immigration law changes.

By 31 December 2024

Transition to eVisas complete

Everyone with a BRP expiring early on 31 December 2024 should have transitioned to an eVisa by the end of the year.

Late 2024

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fully rolled out

At some point in 2024 the government has said the ETA will be rolled out to all other applicable countries (including the US, EU, Canada and Australia among others).

Early 2025

Further family visa income rises

By early 2025 (the exact date is unknown) the minimum income requirement for family visas will increase to at least £38,700.

Early 2025

Ukraine scheme extensions

In early 2025 (exact date unknown) Ukrainians with 3 years’ permission under one of the Ukraine schemes will be able to extend it for a further 18 months. This falls short of the usual 5 years required for settlement and so uncertainty remains.”