What’s Changed Starting January 8, 2026, the UK Government is introducing a tougher English standard for people applying under certain immigration routes. Previously, applicants needed Level B1 English (a “basic user” level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR). The requirement is being raised to B2 level, which is roughly equivalent…

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is introducing new powers to request information from bank accounts connected to benefit payments, under the Eligibility Verification powers in the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. (GOV.UK) Start date: These powers are expected to begin being used from April 2026. (ASAMB) Before that, the government and…

What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)? How Does EES Work in Practice? Here are the main features and what travellers can expect: Aspect What Happens What data is collected Passport/travel document information, a facial image/photo, fingerprint data, plus date and place of entry and exit. (Migration and Home Affairs) When data is collected On first…