United Kingdom: General Immigration

Subscribe
Accounting law and audit law thought leadership, articles, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as investment immigration, work visas and general immigration issues.
Article
Right To Work Checks: Extended Liability For Organisations From 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, UK right to work obligations will extend far beyond traditional employment relationships to include worker contracts, subcontracting chains, online matching services, and substitution arrangements. With civil penalties reaching £60,000 per illegal worker, organisations across all sectors must now review their contractual supply chains and implement comprehensive compliance frameworks to avoid extended liability for illegal working.
United Kingdom Employment
M
Macfarlanes LLP
Article
Sports: Get Ready For The UK’s New Right To Work Scheme
From 1 October 2026, the UK's right to work scheme will extend beyond traditional employment relationships, potentially making sports clubs liable for compliance even when unaware individuals are working for them. How will these expanded regulations affect sports organizations' procurement, supply chains, and contractual arrangements? What steps should clubs take now to prepare for the new extended liability provisions?
United Kingdom Employment
LS
Lewis Silkin
Article
UKVI Sponsor Licence Compliance: Why Data-Led Enforcement Is Increasing Revocations
UK Visas and Immigration is increasingly using data analytics and intelligence-led monitoring to identify sponsor licence compliance issues before conducting physical audits. With sponsor licence revocations more than doubling to a record 1,948 between July 2024 and June 2025, businesses must understand how UKVI now assesses compliance through HMRC payroll data, SMS activity, and inter-agency intelligence sharing rather than relying solely on surprise visits.
United Kingdom Immigration
LA
Lester Aldridge LLP
Article
Follow-up Right To Work Checks: Maintaining A Statutory Excuse When Using The Employer Checking Service
Employers conducting follow-up right to work checks face specific requirements when using the Employer Checking Service to maintain their statutory excuse against illegal working penalties. Understanding when and how to properly use the ECS, including the critical 'grace period' provisions and common documentation pitfalls, can mean the difference between compliance and facing civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.
United Kingdom Immigration
LS
Lewis Silkin
Article
Right To Work Checks Are Changing: What Organisations Should Do Now
From 1 October 2026, UK right to work verification duties will extend beyond traditional employment to encompass agency workers, contractors, consultants, and platform-based workers throughout supply chains. Organizations must now prepare by mapping their entire workforce, updating contracts, training operational managers, and establishing robust evidence systems to demonstrate compliance before individuals commence work. This expansion requires immediate action across HR, procurement, legal, and operations
United Kingdom Immigration
BT
Brechin Tindal Oatts
Article
Home Office Updates Sponsor Guidance: What The New SMS Security Reforms Mean For UK Sponsors
The Home Office has introduced the most significant changes to the Sponsor Management System since 2020, including mandatory multi-factor authentication and the phased withdrawal of Level 2 User roles. These amendments demonstrate a clear shift toward treating SMS governance as an integral part of sponsor compliance, requiring employers to actively manage system access and internal controls.
United Kingdom Immigration
RC
Richmond Chambers Immigration Barristers
Article
Right To Work Checks From 1 October 2026: Why Immigration Compliance Is Moving Beyond HR
The Home Office is set to implement a revised Code of Practice on preventing illegal working from October 2026, fundamentally reshaping how immigration compliance risk is distributed across modern working arrangements. This expansion extends right to work obligations beyond traditional employment relationships to encompass worker contracts, individual subcontractors, and online matching platforms, while introducing extended liability provisions that may push civil penalty exposure upstream through contractu
United Kingdom Employment
WL
Withers LLP
Article
Can Visitors Work In The UK Without A Visa?
Post-Brexit immigration rules have transformed how European workers can operate in the UK, creating new complexities for employers bringing non-UK workers for short periods. Understanding which business activities visitors can legally perform without sponsorship is crucial for compliance, as the distinction between permitted visitor activities and illegal working has become increasingly nuanced under current UK immigration law.
United Kingdom Immigration
W
Weightmans
See more

Latest Videos

See more