Changes to the UK immigration system implementing the UK government’s plan to cut migration levels and curb abuse of the immigration system will come into effect between March and April 2024.

The Home Office has announced that from 6 April 2024, the requirement to renew a Sponsor License after four years or to pay a renewal fee will be removed. This announcement is in line with the Home Office’s “August 2021 Sponsorship Roadmap”, which indicated the future reform of licensing renewal patterns for sponsored employment routes and the simplification of the Sponsor Migrant System. This is positive news as it reduces the burden on sponsors to maintain their license and removes the additional financial burden.

The Government closed the Tier 1 Investor visa route to all new applicants with immediate effect on Thursday 17 February. The reason for this is stated to be as a result of security concerns with a number of cases being linked to corruption and illegitimately acquired wealth. The Innovator route is to be restructured in order to provide an investment route which effectively supports the UK’s economy.

The UK Government has introduced the NHS COVID Pass. The NHS COVID Pass allows you to show others the details of your COVID-19 vaccine (or vaccines) when travelling. It is a secure way to share your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination records or test COVID-19 status. In England and at places that use the service, you may be asked to demonstrate your COVID-19 status in order to gain entry to a venue or event.

The legislation due to come into effect on 1 July 2021 will change the way employers carry out right to work checks for EEA citizens. The Employers Guidance has been updated to consider the legislation.

From 17 May 2021, the temporary adjustments introduced to the right to work check due to COVID-19 will be ending. When conducting the right to work check, employers must again check the prescribed documents that are set out in the right to work checks: an employer’s guide. Employers can no longer accept scanned copies or photos of the original documents and must be in possession of the original documents when conducting the right to work check.

Despite having removed the advertising requirement from the rules when it revised Tier 2 General into the Skilled Worker category, in its revised Appendix D guidance (on keeping documents), UKVI has now included a requirement to keep records of recruitment.