World Immigration News

UK Immigration Updates: Sponsorship Costs and Electronic Travel Authorisation

Release Date: 2025-01-08
Media: Morgan Lewis
Summary: The UK Home Office has announced updates regarding sponsorship costs for Skilled Workers, which will impact employers hiring international talent. From January 8, 2025, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme will become mandatory for non-European nationals, changing the way people travel to the UK. This requires businesses to comply with new administrative requirements to avoid disruption.

A significant change is that, effective December 31, 2024, sponsors are prohibited from passing certain sponsorship costs to Skilled Workers, including the Sponsor Licence Fee and Certificate of Sponsorship Fee. These prohibitions aim to prevent work-related debt and exploitation. Employers can still recover other immigration-related costs, such as visa application fees and Immigration Health Surcharges. Non-compliance may result in the revocation of the sponsor licence.

Employers are advised to review and update immigration and employment policies, contracts, and budgets to ensure compliance. The ETA scheme, effective from January 8, 2025, applies to non-European nationals traveling to the UK for short stays, but does not grant the right to live or work in the UK. From April 2025, all travelers to the UK (except British and Irish citizens) will need either an ETA or an eVisa.

Businesses should also be aware of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will affect British nationals traveling to the Schengen Area starting in 2024.
Tags: United Kingdom

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