Ten UK Immigration changes to watch out for in 2026
In immigration law, change is the only constant and 2026 is shaping up to be no different. This year is likely to see many of the government’s flagship changes announced in 2025 actually come into effect. Here are ten key developments to watch out for:
Vignette phase out
Paper is out, digital is in. The Home Office’s digital revolution is due to complete this year as it has confirmed that eVisas will now be issued for the few remaining categories still receiving passport vignettes and the latter will be phased out entirely. Anyone who holds a UK visa needs to ensure they have access to it through their UKVI account and that their linked passport and contact details are kept up to date.
Electronic Travel Authorisation enforcement
From 25 February, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme will be fully enforced, meaning that everyone who wishes to travel to the UK must have advance permission in the form of an ETA or an appropriate UK visa (note there are various exemptions, including for British and Irish citizens). Failure to show the required permission may result in significant travel delays or being denied boarding.
Major changes to settlement from April
The government is currently running a public consultation on its controversial planned reforms to the settlement rules, including doubling the qualifying time period from five years to ten in many cases. It plans to start phasing in these changes from April, though exactly what will happen when and who will be affected when is currently unclear. The consultation runs until 12 February and responses can be submitted here. The introduction of the ‘earned settlement’ rules is likely to be the biggest shift we have seen in the UK’s immigration rules since Brexit.
Abolition of the long residence route
Alongside the changes to settlement, we expect the government to close the current ‘long residence’ route which enables someone to apply for settlement in the UK after ten years’ lawful residence in a combination of visa categories. Anyone currently eligible to apply should consider doing so before April.
Changes to salary thresholds in work routes
In December 2025 the Migration Advisory Committee published its report on the recommended salary thresholds for certain work visa routes, including Skilled Worker. The government has not yet responded but it is highly likely that at least some changes will be implemented following this, possibly as part of a significant round of changes to the rules in April. Whether any changes will be broadly positive or negative for employers remains to be seen.
Right to work expansion
As part of its crackdown on illegal working, the government has passed new laws to extend the obligation to carry out a right to work check to ‘non-standard’ employment scenarios, including subcontractors, casual workers and the gig economy. Fines for employing illegal workers can be up to £60,000 per worker and failure to comply can also result in criminal liability for individuals, severe operational disruption and reputational damage to a business. We are currently awaiting publication of a Code of Practice which will set out the new obligations in detail before the expanded regime comes into force, and accompanying Home Office guidance on how to comply. This is a hugely significant change and is likely to affect all businesses to a greater or lesser extent.
New Temporary Shortage List
The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) sets out the occupations below RQF level 6 (i.e. below graduate level) which can still be sponsored for a temporary UK work visa. The MAC is due to publish their second report recommending occupations for inclusion on the list in July and a new version of the TSL is expected before the end of the year. Employers looking to sponsor roles on the current list should ensure they do so as soon as possible as the current list is due to expire on 31 December.
Overhaul of family visas
The government has been reviewing the family visa rules since 2024 and commissioned the MAC to review the minimum income threshold applicable to these routes. A general overhaul was promised in the May 2025 White Paper ‘Restoring control over the immigration system’. The MAC made its recommendations last June but the government has not yet responded. It remains to be seen whether any family visa changes are now on the backburner, or whether they will be rolled up with the changes to settlement. This prolonged uncertainty is particularly unwelcome given the complex and often sensitive nature of these cases and the profound impact on the welfare of children.
Major asylum changes
Another highly controversial set of reforms announced late last year was the overhaul of the UK’s asylum system. Again, the timeframe for implementation of these changes is uncertain but it is expected that we may see at least the first of these in April.
Stricter sponsor compliance
In its May 2025 White Paper ‘Restoring control over the immigration system’ the government suggested further changes to the work visa sponsorship system, including stricter compliance obligations for sponsors and greater flexibility for sponsored workers to change roles, aimed at mitigating exploitation and abuse. Although nothing further has been said on this yet, the government’s crackdown on employer compliance shows no signs of abating and we may well see these changes introduced this year.
Conclusion
Change is likely to touch every aspect of the UK immigration system this year, given the length and breadth of potential reforms in the governmental pipeline. Whilst we know what the headline points are likely to be, the devil is always in the technical detail and the lack of certainty over exactly what will be implemented when makes the road ahead difficult to map out. For the moment, all eyes are on what will happen in April….
