On Monday 20 July 2026, Andy Burnham was formally appointed the new UK Prime Minister.
We now know that Shabana Mahmood will stay in post as Home Secretary, with her brief including immigration policy. Ms Mahmood was the principal driving force behind the Starmer government’s ‘Earned Settlement’ reforms to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR or permanent residence).
Her initial reaction to the news was, ‘We have begun the work of major reform, to make our streets safer and our immigration system fair for all. Now let’s finish the job.’
Based on this quote and other reports, it seems that the government will pursue reform of the pathways to ILR. There are indications Mr Burnham might water the proposals down, though. Some reports suggest there could in future be two categories of ILR:
- People who are already in the UK and on an immigration route to ILR, they might not be subject to the 10-year baseline, but would not be permitted to claim benefits once they get ILR. There will be a probationary period before access to benefits is permitted.
- People who are not currently on an immigration route leading to ILR might be subject to the full ‘Earned Settlement’ reforms, including the 10-year baseline.
So far, these are just rumours, and only time will tell how the new Prime Minister intends to handle this matter. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and update you as the way forward becomes clearer.
How can we help you?
If you have immediate questions or concerns, please get in touch, and we will be happy to help. We can assist our clients with assessing eligibility for ILR and submitting applications.
Updates to Right to Work guidance
On 1 October 2026, the government will introduce a new Right to Work (RtW) check scheme. This will change who RtW checks need to be carried out on and how these checks are done.
We intend to hold a webinar in September to give our clients a detailed overview of these changes and answer any questions you may have. We will share details on this webinar in the coming weeks, alongside a more detailed breakdown of the changes. In the meantime, here is our high-level overview of the changes:
- Extended Liability – traditionally, RtW checks have only been required by employers on their workers where there is a direct contractual relationship. From 1 October 2026, RtW checks may be required beyond this under the new extended liability scheme. The new scheme applies to online matching services, third-party contracts and substitution situations.
- RtW Digital Verification Service Provider (DVSP) – a RtW DVSP will be able to carry out digital right to work checks on holders of valid British and Irish passports (and Irish passport cards). This expands upon the existing Identity Service Provider (IDSP) framework. RtW DVSPs will also be able to play a role in verifying documents for manual RtW checks and provide facial recognition technology to confirm that a worker is the same person the RtW check was conducted on.
- Avoiding Discrimination – affirmation that employers have a legal duty to both prevent illegal working and not unlawfully discriminate when doing so. Employers must maintain consistent processes regardless of race, nationality, or perceived immigration status. The Home Office will publish an updated code of practice for employers for avoiding unlawful discrimination while preventing illegal working in October 2026. You can find the draft code here.
eVisas all the way
It’s official now! The UK government will no longer be issuing any kind of physical visa and the system is now fully digital, barring the need to provide biometrics.
While this transition has been happening over the last couple of years, as of 1 July 2026, the government has only been issuing eVisas, and there will be no more physical entry clearance vignettes.
Beware impact of corporate transactionson sponsor licences
As the Home Office continues its crackdown on sponsor licence compliance, it is digging into the Companies House history of licenced sponsors to ensure they are complying with their duties.
One critical obligation is to submit a new sponsor licence application when there is a change to the direct owners of the sponsor licence holder (where the new owner does not already hold a sponsor licence). This application should be made within 20 working days of the change of ownership.
Even when the change was to an indirect owner of the sponsor licence holder, a report should be made promptly in the Sponsor Management System.
The Home Office is frequently checking up on sponsors and, where there has been a change in ownership, contacting the sponsor to request that they take specific action to comply with the guidance, normally within a strict 20 working day deadline.
If your organisation has experienced any changes in corporate ownership since becoming a licensed sponsor, please contact us as soon as possible, and we can advise you on whether a new licence application is needed or if any other steps need to be taken.
Global Talent design pathway
Our March 2026 newsletter highlighted the expansion of the Global Talent route to include a new pathway for design professionals. That pathway officially launched on 1 July 2026 and is now open to applications.
It officially falls under Arts and Culture, and applications are assessed by the Design Business Association on behalf of Arts Council England.
To be eligible for endorsement under this route, you need to demonstrate that you have:
- Worked regularly in your field for the last 5 years; and
- Been producing work that is published, distributed, or exhibited internationally.
Designers applying under this pathway must work within a commercial design setting, and/or in the design and production of functional products, services and systems intended for mass production and/or use. This is intended to include graphic designers and product designers, but not UI/ UX designers.
If you have any/are looking to hire migrant workers in design roles and would like to explore this pathway, feel free to contact us, and we can assess their eligibility for endorsement.
Good news for Graduate visa dependants
From 3 August 2026, children born in the UK to a parent with a Graduate visa will be able to apply for a Child Dependant visa, in line with their parent.
It has been very strange that these children have not been able to apply for Child Dependant visas and have been left in limbo. This long overdue amendment thankfully fills that gap.
SMS Multi-Factor Authentication (‘MFA’) trial
The Home Office is currently trialling MFA for the Sponsor Management System (SMS). MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring Level 1 Users to verify their identity using two or more methods before being able to log into their account.
As this is a trial, sponsors are being selected to participate, and Level 1 Users will receive an email confirming that MFA will be enabled on their account.
The Home Office confirmation emails provide guidance on how to use the new MFA system. If you have been selected to participate in the trial and have any questions about accessing the SMS, feel free to reach out to us.