UK Home Office confirms full switch to digital visas and ETA enforcement from 25 February 2026
‘No permission, no travel’: Home Office launches global media blitz ahead of ETA enforcement
Zero-migration scenario would shrink UK economy by 3.6 % and blow £37 billion hole in budget, says NIESR
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UK dual citizens urged to carry proof of exemption as full ETA enforcement looms
Fragomen has reminded employers and travellers that from 25 February 2026 the UK’s ETA scheme will be fully enforced. Dual British-Irish citizens—and anyone else claiming an ETA exemption—must present documentary proof at departure or risk being denied boarding. Companies should audit traveller profiles and update policies immediately to avoid last-minute disruptions.
MPs probe 10-year ILR plan’s impact on children and medium-skilled workers
During a Home Affairs Committee hearing on 3 February 2026, experts warned that extending the path to Indefinite Leave to Remain to ten years would raise costs for families and undermine recruitment in shortage sectors. The evidence will feed into the government’s ongoing consultation on settlement reform.
Mortgage lender launches dedicated products for skilled-worker visa holders
Dudley Building Society has unveiled new low-rate mortgage deals open to Skilled Worker visa holders, alongside rate cuts across its wider portfolio. The products ease financing barriers for internationally-assigned staff and suggest mainstream lenders are beginning to view sponsored workers as lower-risk borrowers.
Peers examine reliability of Home Office migration data in Lords evidence session
A Lords committee hearing on 3 February 2026 exposed ongoing weaknesses in Home Office migration statistics, raising doubts about whether major policy reforms can be delivered on solid evidence. Employers were warned that unreliable data increases the risk of abrupt rule changes.
New petition calls for reinstating passport services at UK embassies abroad
A new parliamentary petition launched on 3 February 2026 seeks to return passport issuance to UK embassies, arguing that current offshore applicants face excessive delays. If the campaign gains traction it could reopen a long-running debate about how the UK supports its citizens abroad.