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Important changes to EUSS Settlement rules, and to the ETA Scheme

On 24 June 2025, the Home Office published changes to the Immigration Rules which may affect staff members with pre-settled status under the EUSS scheme. There were also changes to the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) scheme, which may impact visitors.

EUSS scheme

The Home Office have changed the definition of ‘continuous residence’ for those applying for settled status (also known as ‘permanent residence’). The new definition states that an applicant will meet the requirement for continuous residence if they can show they spent at least 30 months in the UK within the most recent 60-month period. These can be any 30 months (i.e. the time spent in the UK does not have to be consecutive).

These changes will apply to cases considered automatically by the Home Office, as well as where a pre-settled status holder applies for settled status.

Not only is this a more straightforward and more generous allowance when it comes to absences, but it also means that those who were previously refused settled status on 'absence' grounds may now qualify under the new rules.

The changes took effect on 16 July and will apply to both existing and new applications.

ETA scheme

As of 16 July 2025, the ETA requirement will apply to travellers from Ireland to the UK.  

Labour has published a White Paper with proposed changes to the UK Immigration Rules. 

You can read more about the proposals here:

We understand staff and their family will be concerned at some of the proposed changes contained in the White Paper (including the suggested increase to qualifying times for ILR/settlement).

Please note that the paper is not a legally binding document, rather it’s a statement of what the government may do in future. The suggested changes are not part of UK law yet – the government will need to go through the correct procedure in Parliament first, before they will have any legal impact. Moreover, it’s likely that the actual Rules, once published, will include further detail which will help us understand how individual staff will be impacted.

In the meantime, the Immigration Rules remain the same – including the 5 year route to settlement for Skilled Worker – and we will continue to advise staff based on the current law.

• This means that from now on, Colombian nationals coming to the UK for up to 6 months as a visitor must apply for a visa in advance of travel (not an ETA)
• This change comes into effect today (26 November) at 3pm
• There is a transitional arrangement in place over the next 28 days to minimise disruption to existing travel plans: those who hold a confirmed booking to the UK made before 15:00 GMT on 26 November, where arrival to the UK is no later than 15:00 GMT on 24 December 2024, will not need a visa to enter.
• For more details see the Statement of Changes and Explanatory memo:

If anyone is aware of a visit to the University that may be impacted by these changes, please contact the Staff Immigration Service: 

Contact the Staff Immigration Service

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:

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:

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: 

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