Applying from overseas

In many cases, nationals of countries other than the UK and Ireland are required to obtain prior permission under the Immigration Rules before they can travel to the UK. This prior permission is often issued in the form of an entry clearance, which can be issued as a vignette (stamp) in a passport, or in some cases as a digital eVisa. The Home Office is also rolling out a separate system of prior permission to travel for visits and short-term stays for Creative Workers by those who require leave to enter but do not require to obtain prior entry clearance (ie non-visa nationals who require leave to enter). This is in the form of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). See: Permission to travel to the UK—overview.

For details of the ETA scheme, and how to make an application, see Practice Note: The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.

Entry clearance should be applied for either in the applicant's home country or another country in which they are lawfully resident, although there are some exceptions to this general rule including applications for an EU Settlement Scheme

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Statement of changes in Immigration Rules, HC 997—analysis

Immigration analysis: the Lexis+® UK Immigration team outlines the main changes set out in HC 997, published on 1 July 2025. The Statement primarily implements the first tranche of significant changes that had been announced in the 12 May 2025 Immigration White Paper ‘Restoring control over the immigration system’, notably raising the standard skill level for Skilled Worker to Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 and closing off entry clearance applications from careworkers and senior careworkers, with a sunset for permitted in-country switches to 22 July 2028. The skill level change has been somewhat tempered by the retention (and slight expansion) of the Immigration Salary List until 31 December 2026 and the creation of a new interim Temporary Shortage List, which will be subject to review and will also be removed by that date. This will enable persons in certain RQF 3–5 occupations to still commence sponsorship as new applicants for a limited period, although they will not be able to bring dependants. However, even with these measures, there will be 111 roles which can no longer be sponsored. There has also been a raft of changes to salary levels in Skilled Worker and various other work routes, which are primarily increases, and are in line with the latest (2024) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data, published by the Office for National Statistics. In another change, which was not anticipated, the government has shut down for new applicants with immediate effect the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

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