Also in the news...
Foreign Office travel advice updates
Latest travel information for British nationals affected by the situation in the Middle East.
Check if you need a UK visa
You may need a visa to come to the UK to visit, study or work.
Apply to use simplified declarations for imports you entered in your records without authorisation
Choose how you’ll make supplementary declarations for goods that you entered into your own records without authorisation.
UKEF backs Leicester sustainable packaging firm in Australian expansion
UK Export Finance announces support for a UK luxury sustainable packaging company to expand into new foreign markets.
Hundreds of new UK jobs as Nigerian companies confirm millions in investment
Hundreds of new UK jobs are set to be created as Nigerian companies scale up their operations, reinforcing Britain's position as a leading global business hub.
New UK visa rules help Aussie businesses and students
Recent changes to the UK's visa rules will make it easier for Australian businesses and students to secure the visas they need.
Changes to UK immigration rules will give greater flexibility to business visitors and businesses that employ international migrants, including Australians.
The changes will also make the UK more attractive to Australian students by allowing them to take up internships after their degree and make it easier for graduate entrepreneurs to take up skilled jobs.
UK immigration Minister Mark Harper announced that:
today’s changes will ensure that the UK continues to attract global talent to work for British businesses and study at our world-class universities. Immigration reform is working… encouraging the brightest and the best to come to the UK.
Some of these changes include:
Changes to the UK business visitor route to allow employees to undertake corporate training in the UK where it is delivered by an external company.
Global organisations can now bring their own auditors to the UK on a business visitor visa, making it easier for them to complete international audits.
Removing the rule which blocked skilled working visa applicants who earn over £152,100 from owning more than 10% of the sponsor business’s shares.
Changes to the general tourist visa now allows tourists to complete short leisure courses in activities such as sailing or horse riding without needing a separate visa.
Individuals on Graduate Entrepreneur visas will be able to switch to a skilled worker visa more easily.
Allowing Tier 4 students who have completed degrees in the UK to switch visa categories to undertake corporate internships which directly relate to their degrees.
Changes to Family Rules, making it easier for British citizens to bring their Australian spouses and children to the UK by allowing greater flexibility in meeting the financial threshold
Expanding the ‘Tier 1 Exceptional Talent’ visa category to artists with exceptional promise.
New temporary routes specifically for the families of Commonwealth Games athletes.