UK Settlement Shake-Up: Implications for HR & Employers
The Home Secretary has launched a formal consultation on a new earned settlement system for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. The consultation proposes moving away from the familiar five-year route to ILR for most workers and their families and replacing it with a ten-year default that can be shortened or lengthened depending on […]
UK Asylum Reforms Published
The Home Office has released details of asylum reforms, outlining the government’s plan to restructure how the UK manages asylum, refugee protection and post-decision enforcement. UK Asylum Reforms The changes replace the current long-term, relatively predictable framework with one built around shorter grants of leave, regular reassessment, conditional support and faster removal processes. […]
Civil Penalty Notice for Illegal Working: HR Guide
Illegal working enforcement has undergone a notable shift in recent years. Employers are facing higher penalties, quicker investigations and more intense scrutiny from Home Office teams that assess right to work compliance through a combination of digital intelligence, data-matching and in-person inspections. The assumption that civil penalties are rare or confined to high-risk sectors no […]
Prevention of Illegal Working Guide 2025
Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, it is unlawful for an employer to employ someone who does not have the legal right to work in the UK, or who is working in breach of the conditions of their immigration permission. Employers in the UK are required by law to comply with the prevention […]
Immigration Skills Charge UK
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a fee imposed on UK employers who sponsor certain categories of migrant workers under the UK’s points-based immigration system. Introduced on 6 April 2017 under the Immigration Skills Charge Regulations 2017 made pursuant to section 70 of the Immigration Act 2014, the ISC was designed to encourage employers to […]
UK Immigration Reforms 2025: What HR Needs to Know
The Home Office has confirmed a new wave of immigration reforms in its latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1333), published on 14 October 2025. These reforms form part of the government’s Plan for Change and will affect how employers, HR teams and recruiters manage international hiring, compliance and workforce planning from […]
Sponsoring under the Skilled Worker Visa: Best Practices
Sponsoring talent under the Skilled Worker visa has become more structured, data-driven and closely monitored by the Home Office. New rules brought in in 2025 now require employers to meet higher salary thresholds, follow tighter eligibility criteria and maintain clear evidence for every stage of the sponsorship process. UKVI now expects sponsors to manage immigration […]
Building a Culture of Sponsor Licence Compliance
For UK employers, a compliant sponsorship framework safeguards business continuity, workforce planning and brand reputation. The Home Office continues to scrutinise sponsor behaviour closely, making it vital to embed robust governance from day one. A proactive approach also supports efficiency, reducing errors, preventing downgrades and protecting your ability to recruit internationally when needed. Below, we […]
Why Employers Should Look Beyond Visa Sponsorship
For employers managing international recruitment, sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route can be resource-intensive and, following the July 2025 threshold increases, restricted in its availability to talent. However, a range of unsponsored or alternative UK work visa routes allow lawful employment of overseas nationals without a sponsor licence. These options can broaden workforce access, reduce […]
UK Visit Visas: Employer Overview
Section A: Overview of UK Visit Visas Employers and HR managers in the UK increasingly encounter situations where overseas nationals require temporary entry to the UK for business or other short-term purposes. Unlike work visas, visit visas are designed for individuals who intend to come to the UK for a limited stay, subject […]