Immigration news and updates

Immigration law updates for university staff and visitors.

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is the UK’s new security system which pre-screens visitors prior to travel. It is similar to schemes already in place in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The ETA applies to visitors who do not currently require a visa to visit the UK (non-visa nationals). An ETA provides permission to travel to the UK.

Visitors who currently need a visa to visit the UK cannot apply for an ETA. There is no change for visitors who currently need to apply for a visitor visa to come to the UK (visa nationals). 

Who does not need an ETA

You do not need an ETA if you have any of the following:

  • A British or Irish passport
  • Permission to live, work or study in the UK
  • A valid visa to enter the UK

The ETA is being rolled out in three phases:

Phase one

Currently required: 

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

Phase two

Required from 8 January 2025 (can apply from 27 November 2024): 

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall, Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan (if issued by the competent authority in Taiwan), The Bahamas, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United States, Uruguay

Phase three

Required from 2 April 2025 (can apply from 5 March 2025):

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City

Applying for an ETA

The easiest way to apply for an ETA is using the UK ETA app (if you cannot use the app, you can apply online). 

You will need:

  • The passport you will travel with - not a photocopy or digital passport
  • Access to your emails
  • A credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay

You can find further details on how to apply here:

Guidance on applying for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

How much it costs

An ETA costs £10. You will need an ETA for each person, including children and babies. You will usually receive a decision within 3 working days.

An ETA is linked to your passport and will last for 2 years (unless you renew your passport sooner).

An ETA provides you with permission to travel to the UK. It does not guarantee entry to the UK. If you are coming to the UK as a visitor, you will still need to meet by the normal visitor requirements and should bring with you any required documentation.


The Home Office intends to switch from physical immigration documents (known as BRPs) to an e-visa system by the end of 2024. This is why many BRPs have an expiry date of 31 December 2024 (albeit the permission extends beyond then).

Create an online UKVI account

The Home Office have recently announced that anyone with a BRP can now create an on-line UKVI account. Therefore if you don’t already have an account, please create one on the UKVI page on eVisas:

Online immigration status (eVisa)

Once you have a UKVI account, you can log on and check if your e-visa status is ‘live’. If it is, this means you no longer need to use your BRP (though you are entitled to do so while it’s still valid). You must use the ‘prove my status’ service instead to prove your right to live and work in the UK.  

Staff should be aware that the e-visa will be linked to your passport so it’s very important to update your account if you obtain a new passport.

If, once you log onto the account, you discover that your eVisa is not yet available, the Home Office say they are working on it and they will contact you as/when your account has been updated.You don’t need to do anything else meantime to activate the eVisa.

Keeping up to date

For the most recent updates, please see UKVI’s page on eVisas: 

Online immigration status (eVisa)

Where a BRP expires on 31 December, but the visa is valid beyond this you will have the right to work until your visa expires.  However, the University may not have confirmation of this and where this is the case a share code will be requested through the repeat right to work check process. 

Seeking advice?

If you have any queries in relation to this please raise a Service Request to the HR Helpline: HRHelpline@ed.ac.uk

If you have any questions on your immigration status (other than right to work checks), please contact the Staff Immigration Service:

Contact us | Global (ed.ac.uk)


On 14 March 2024, the Home Office published their intended changes to the minimum income requirement for the Skilled Worker visa route.

The base line salary has increased from £26,200 to £38,700. However, there are additional thresholds for specific situations (such as those with PhDs and ‘new entrants’).

Similarly, the minimum income for those applying to join their settled/British spouses will be raised from £18,600 to £29,000.

Please note the new salary limits for Skilled Worker visas will not come into effect until 4 April 2024; the changes in income for partner visas will come into force on 11 April 2024.

Who do the changes affect?

Anyone who has a Certificate of Sponsorship issued before 4 April 2024 will be able to apply under the old i.e. existing rules and income requirements.

If your Certificate of Sponsorship is issued on 4 April or after, the application will be covered by the new rules. In relation to partner visa applications under Appendix FM, those applying on or after 11 April will be covered by the new rules.

The Staff Immigration Service is working together with the HR Global Mobility team to assess how staff are likely to be impacted. We hope to publish a more detailed legal briefing in the next few days. The HR Global Mobility team will be liaising with HR partners to work in collaboration with colleagues in schools and departments, to resolve any issues which may arise.

Seeking advice?

If you are concerned about the sponsorship of your Skilled Worker visa, please contact HR in your School/Department in the first instance.

If you have any other concerns or queries on how the new rules may affect your immigration status, please contact the Staff Immigration Service.

Contact the Staff Immigration Service


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