The Immigration Rules on calculating ten years long residence changed on 11 April 2024 and there has been some concern about a lack of clarity in how absences from the UK before, during and after that date should be calculated. The Home Office has now updated its Continuous Residence and Long Residence caseworker guidance to clarify the correct approach.

The Home Office has issued a press release confirming that it has started inviting those with physical immigration documents (including biometric residence permits (BRPs)) to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account in order to obtain an eVisa, ie digital proof of their immigration status. As part of the government’s plan to create a ‘contactless border’ and introduce a digital immigration system, the Home Office aims to have all visa holders living in the UK signed up to eVisas by 2025. Invitations will be issued in phases and will open to all BRP holders in Summer 2024.

The Home Office sent an email on 14 July 2025 to sponsors, setting out arrangements for the introduction of changes implementing Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 997 (raising of standard skill threshold to RQF 6, changes affecting care workers and senior care workers, changes to salary thresholds and introduction of the Temporary Shortage List). These arrangements are detailed below.

The Home Office has concluded its consultation on proposed changes to the Code of Practice for biometric registration regulations. The consultation, which ran from 17 July to 8 October 2023, sought feedback on changes to the existing Code, as part of the transition to digital immigration status (eVisas). These changes bring a number of new requirements, including that foreign nationals will need to keep their personal details up to date, and update their facial images every ten years until 70 (or every five years between the ages of 10 and 15). Sanctions will include being denied the ability to create a sharecode which will prove eligibility to access employment, services and travel (subject to at least one prior notification/warnings). In its published response to the consultation, the Home Office states that three common themes where raised during the consultation process: (1) concerns on how the new sanction would be imposed and its impact on vulnerable people, (2) the new Code’s potential impact on people who lack digital skills or do not have access to suitable technology and (3) the circumstances where the other sanctions would be imposed. Following the consultation, the Home Office has amended the draft Code and draft guidance for caseworkers to try and deal with some of these concerns.

The Home Office has responded to correspondence from the3million, British in Europe and the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA), confirming that it will proceed with plans to curtail EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) pre-settled status where holders no longer meet residence requirements. The Home Office rejects calls to delay curtailment, stating that early implementation is necessary to maintain the integrity of the scheme and ensure compliance with the Withdrawal Agreement. It also confirms that curtailment will prioritise individuals with the longest absences from the UK and that safeguards will apply, including caseworker review, proportionality assessments and additional support for vulnerable individuals.

The Home Office has updated its 'Changes to the commercial partner visa application services' page to confirm that visa application centres (VACs) in the following locations will transfer from TLS Contact to VFS Global from 22 October 2024. Persons who had booked an appointment with TLS are still able to attend that appointment, but if they wish to change their appointment, they may need to pay the mandatory user pay (MUP) fee again, then ask TLS to refund the MUP fee.

The Home Office has responded to a parliamentary petition against the planned increase of the minimum income requirement (MIR) for the five-year route for family visa applications from £18,600 to £38,700. According to the response, the government will move forward with the changes but intends to do so in stages beginning in Spring 2024. There will also no longer be a separate child element to the MIR. The Home Secretary announced in December 2023 that the government’s intention to increase the MIR for spouses was to bring it in line with the new minimum general salary threshold for skilled workers.

The Home Office has reported an increase in enforcement activity against illegal working in January 2025, with visits to 828 premises and 609 arrests, marking rises of 48% and 73% respectively compared to the previous year. Between 5 July 2024 and 31 January 2025, illegal working visits and arrests have increased by around 38% compared to the same 12 months in the preceding year. During the same period, the Home Office issued a total of 1,090 civil penalty notices. The press release notes that a significant proportion of enforcement activity in January 2025 took place at restaurants, takeaways and cafes as well as in the food, drink and tobacco industry. It also confirms that, in undertaking this enforcement work, Immigrant Enforcement works with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and other organisations to allow employees to report labour exploitation.

The Home Office has updated its eVisa guidance to reflect that from 12 January 2026, most individuals granted visit visas and certain other visa types will receive both an eVisa and a vignette. Applicants who were issued a valid UK vignette before this date will be able to access their eVisa via their UK Visas and Immigration account. The guidance further states that later in 2026, the Home Office will phase out the issuance of vignettes entirely, with all successful applicants receiving only an eVisa.

The Home Office has confirmed it will end grant funding for EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) support from 31 March 2026, citing reduced application volumes, simplified processes for converting pre‑settled to settled status and automated extensions for pre‑settled status. It notes that around £32.5m in grants since 2019 helped over 560,000 vulnerable individuals, but support needs have declined, with 65% of current applications from repeat applicants. The Home Office will maintain post‑March 2026 support via the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) Resolution Contact Centre, the UKVI EUSS Vulnerability team and Assisted Digital Service. It also notes that planned curtailment of pre‑settled status due to excess absences does not justify continuing grant funding.

In a written statement, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp, has confirmed that the Home Office will further extend the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPES). The statement provides that eligible Ukrainians in the UK will be able to apply for an additional 24 months’ permission to stay, allowing up to 3.5 years under the UPES in addition to time already granted under the Ukraine Schemes. The Minister says the extension will remain fee-free and continue to provide access to work, benefits, healthcare and education, with an expanded 90-day application window before current permission expires. Applicants must already hold UPES permission, be physically present in the UK and have lived continuously in the UK since being granted permission under the Ukraine Schemes, with limited absences of under 12 months (whether continuous or cumulative) permitted. The Minister highlights ongoing collaboration with local authorities, NGOs and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain to ensure applicants are informed of requirements, and notes that UPE permission does not count towards settlement under the Long Residence route, reflecting the Ukrainian Government’s desire for citizens to return when safe. A further statement setting out the long-term policy direction is scheduled to be issued later in 2026.

The Home Office has published a policy paper outlining the framework for the interministerial group (IMG) to enable regular collaboration between the Home Office and the devolved governments of the UK on issues related to safety, security, and migration. The paper details the IMG's role in addressing shared interests, managing common risks, and responding to emerging challenges, policy changes, and legislative developments.