20 April 2026 UK Home Office introduces new right-to-work requirements and higher visa fees Between 6 March and 8 April 2026, the UK Home Office introduced a series of updates to sponsor guidance that significantly expand right to work obligations, replace the longstanding "genuine vacancy" test with a new "eligible role" framework, and strengthen sponsor compliance and record-keeping expectations. In parallel, most UK visa application fees increased by approximately 6.5% to 7% from 8 April 2026, raising the overall cost of UK immigration for employers and individuals. The Home Office regularly updates sponsor guidance to reflect evolving immigration policy, enforcement priorities and compliance expectations. The March and April 2026 changes form part of a broader shift toward enhanced sponsor accountability, preventative compliance monitoring and closer scrutiny of employment practices. Separately, routine fee increases have now taken effect across a range of UK work, visitor and settlement routes. A Tax Alert prepared by EY's People Advisory Services, and attached below, provides additional details. Document ID: 2026-0904 |
