UK Signs Return Agreements With Angola & Namibia, Slaps Visa Sanctions on DR Congo
Ukraine Extends Visa-Free Entry for British Travellers Until January 2026
UK Embassy in Kenya Confirms ETA Will Be Mandatory for Visitors From 25 Feb 2026
Latest News
Record 803 Migrants Reach Kent in Single December Day, Prompting Compliance Concerns for Employers
Official data reveal the busiest December day on record for small-boat arrivals, a metric that often precedes tougher compliance checks on lawful migrants. UK employers should brace for more right-to-work inspections and ensure sponsorship files are audit-ready.
Virgin Atlantic Adds Four Weekly Flights on London Heathrow–Bengaluru Route
From January 2026 Virgin Atlantic will operate 11 instead of seven weekly flights between Heathrow and Bengaluru, improving connectivity for UK tech and finance firms with Indian operations. The extra frequencies offer more flexibility and better onward links to North America.
UK strikes migrant-return deals with Angola and Namibia, imposes visa sanctions on DR Congo
Britain has secured readmission pacts with Angola and Namibia while removing priority visa services for the DRC after Kinshasa refused to take back failed asylum-seekers. The move shows the Home Office’s growing use of visa leverage to secure migrant-return cooperation and could lengthen processing times for Congolese travellers. Companies should expect stricter overstayer enforcement and monitor staff travel to affected countries.
Home Office data show record December small-boat arrivals—803 migrants in a single day
Official figures show 803 Channel migrants landed on 20 December, the largest December one-day total on record. Rising arrivals heighten political pressure for tougher controls and can disrupt freight, travel plans and compliance checks for legitimate business visitors.
Ukraine extends visa-free entry for UK citizens to January 2026
Ukraine has prolonged its 90-day visa-free arrangement for UK nationals until 30 January 2026, maintaining simple entry for business and humanitarian visitors during the country’s recovery phase.
Government proposes 2025 immigration-fee hikes including ETA rise to £16
Draft regulations would raise the ETA fee to £16 and more than double the Certificate of Sponsorship charge to £525, significantly increasing corporate mobility costs in 2025.
Skilled-Worker hourly wage floor to rise to £12.82 from 8 April 2025
From 8 April 2025 the Skilled-Worker minimum wage will climb to £12.82 per hour, forcing sponsors to raise salaries for new certificates and many extension cases. Firms should conduct pay audits and budget accordingly.
UK Visa Application Centres worldwide shifting from TLScontact to VFS Global
As part of a new outsourcing contract, UK visa centres worldwide are moving from TLScontact to VFS Global, promising faster passport collection but reducing the number of enrolment sites. Applicants may need to book at alternative cities during January’s handover period.