ECAA Extension UK: 2026 Rules, ILR & Refusals
An ECAA Extension allows certain Turkish nationals who were previously granted leave under the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) to extend their permission to stay in the UK to continue operating a business. Although the route closed to new applicants at the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, individuals who already […]
BNO Visa Fees 2026
The British National (Overseas) visa, commonly referred to as the BN(O) visa, provides an immigration route for BN(O) status holders and eligible family members to live, work and study in the United Kingdom. Since its launch in January 2021, the scheme has enabled thousands to relocate under this pathway. What this article is about: This […]
New Entrant Skilled Worker Visa Criteria 2026
Section A: What is a Skilled Worker New Entrant? The Skilled Worker route includes a specific concession for individuals at an early stage of their career, described in the Immigration Rules as “new entrants”. New entrant status affects how salary thresholds are applied, but it does not relax the underlying requirements around job […]
Swiss Service Providers Visa 2026 Status
UK employers engaging Swiss nationals to deliver services in the UK are operating in one of the narrowest, most time-limited and most frequently misunderstood immigration routes still available post-Brexit. The Service Providers from Switzerland route is not a general work visa, not a substitute for sponsorship, and not a flexible business mobility option. It is […]
UK Skilled Worker English Requirement 2026: Tests, Levels & Exemptions
Section A: What is the Skilled Worker English Language Requirement? If you’re applying for the UK Skilled Worker visa, you are required to meet an English language requirement as part of the Immigration Rules. Under the Immigration Rules in force from 8 January 2026, the Skilled Worker English language requirement is set at […]
Shortage Occupation List 2026
Section A: What is the UK’s Shortage Occupation List? Under the UK’s points-based immigration system, most non-UK resident workers are required to apply for a visa to come to the UK to work. The primary route is the Skilled Worker visa, which replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa. For employers looking to sponsor […]
SOC Codes with Salary 2026
Section A: SOC Codes and Salary Thresholds SOC codes form the foundation of the UK’s Skilled Worker visa system. Each code represents a distinct job type and is used by the Home Office to confirm that a role meets the skill and salary level required for sponsorship. The codes are listed in Appendix […]
Skilled Worker Visa Going Rates by Job 2026
One of the eligibility requirements under the Skilled Worker Visa route is that the role being recruited for pays the higher of the relevant minimum salary threshold or a specified percentage of the role’s official ‘going rate’. The going rate is the occupation-specific salary benchmark the Home Office assigns to every Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) […]
Immigration Salary List 2026
Section A: What is the UK Immigration Salary List? The Immigration Salary List (ISL), as set out in Appendix Immigration Salary List, specifies occupations that benefit from lower salary thresholds. The ISL replaced the Shortage Occupation List on 4 April 2024. Recent updates include HC 836 (24 June 2025) and HC 997 (1 […]
UK Domestic Worker Visa Guide 2026
Section A: What is the Domestic Worker Visa? The Overseas Domestic Worker visa allows an individual to accompany their employer to the UK in order to continue providing domestic services in a private household. The route is designed for workers such as housekeepers, cleaners, cooks, chauffeurs, gardeners or carers who have been employed […]