Business immigration 2024: what do employers need to know?
19 December 2023
Immigration-related issues are in the news headlines almost every day but what do the government's recent announcements mean in 2024 for employers wanting to recruit talent into the UK or with overseas staff visiting the UK as business visitors?
In this article we outline the most significant changes for 2024, and highlight the areas which employers should keep under review.
Hot on the heels of the increases in visa application fees in October, a further hike for the Immigration Health Surcharge will come into effect from 16 January 2024. The IHS will increase for most applicants from £624 to £1,035 per year of the visa. This government has said that this is to ensure that those coming to the UK make a fair financial contribution to public services including the NHS.
Earlier this month, the Home Secretary announced a package of measures to "deliver the biggest ever reduction in net migration" in Spring 2024. Although, to a certain extent, aimed at the high numbers of dependants coming to the UK with workers on Health and Care Worker visas, the following announcements will be of particular interest to employers:
There are a number of variations to the business visitor rules which will be in force from 31 January. The underlying details are still awaited, however some of the more general provisions include:
Further details on some of the above changes will be published early next year. Between now and then, UK employers should factor the proposed increases into any future recruitment strategies.
For more information on any of the issues raised in this briefing, please speak to your usual Ashurst contact or to any of the people whose contact details are given below.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to.
Readers should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.