Partners

Partners

FORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENTS: On 4 December 2023, the previous Conservative Home Secretary, James Cleverly MP, announced a series of measures with the intention of reducing legal migration to the UK. The measures included, in relation to 'five-year route' Appendix FM applications, the increase of the standard required minimum income threshold from £18,600 to £29,000 for initial applications in Spring 2024. This rise was introduced via changes to the Immigration Rules, from 11 April 2024. There were then to be two additional rises in due course, but the new Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to review these financial requirements. That review has been completed and an announcement about the new financial requirements is expected later in 2025. For further information, see Practice Note: Immigration calendar.

Under the Immigration Rules, the partner of a person in the following categories may apply to join or remain with them in the UK:

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British citizen
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settled person
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person with refugee leave or under the humanitarian protection provisions in the Immigration Rules where the applicant was not part of the sponsoring partner’s family unit prior

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Latest Immigration News

Advocacy groups urge Home Office to delay ETA enforcement for British dual nationals

the3million, British in Europe, and Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA) have written to Parliamentary Under-Secretary Mike Tapp MP requesting postponement of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) enforcement beyond 25 February 2026 and implementation of transitional measures for British dual nationals. From the enforcement date, British citizens holding another nationality will be unable to travel to the UK without a valid UK passport or certificate of entitlement, whereas previously they could use their other nationality passport if not visa-exempt. The organisations propose seven transitional measures, including temporary authorisation costing no more than £16 (matching ETA fees) for dual nationals whose British citizenship can be verified through naturalisation certificates or previous UK passports. They cite Canadian precedent, where similar enforcement was delayed by eight months and special authorisation remains available for dual Canadian citizens. The letter highlights cases where British dual nationals already hold ETAs on non-UK passports and have experienced complex passport renewal issues due to name alignment requirements between different nationality documents.

ILPA blog highlights need for early immigration advice in overseas surrogacy arrangements

Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) has published a blog post by Alexander Finch and Keelin McCarthy examining international surrogacy and the associated immigration and nationality implications. The authors warn that UK nationals and residents are increasingly entering into international surrogacy arrangements without fully understanding the immigration and nationality consequences for any future child or obtaining specialist advice at an early stage. They also note that the Family Court has expressed concern that intended parents often embark on overseas arrangements without appreciating how foreign legal frameworks interact with UK rules on parentage, nationality and immigration.

Migration Observatory examines government immigration and skills policy

The Migration Observatory has published a briefing examining the government's May 2025 policy to link immigration and skills policy more closely. The analysis covers policy changes including restrictions on work visas for low- and middle-skilled jobs not related to the Industrial Strategy, the end of overseas recruitment for care workers in 2025, and eligibility for middle-skilled jobs linked to the Industrial Strategy or critical infrastructure through the Temporary Shortage List (TSL). From mid-2026, employers in industrial strategy sectors will require approved workforce plans assessed by the new Labour Market Evidence Group to maintain visa eligibility for their occupations. The Immigration Skills Charge has increased by 32% to £1,320 per worker per year for large employers and £480 for smaller employers. The briefing finds that work visa policy affects only a small share of labour supply, with main applicants on work visas comprising 17% of the 3.45 million non-EU citizens who received visas since Brexit and retained valid immigration status at end-2024. The analysis identifies significant data gaps preventing comprehensive assessment of migration's impact on the UK's skills base.

Immigration weekly highlights—19 February 2026

Welcome to the 19 February 2026 highlights from the Immigration team, which provides links to key news stories from the last week, as well as a round-up of new and updated content in Immigration.