UK Immigration: Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules of 26 November 2024

At a Glance

• Citizens of Colombia must now apply and be approved for a Visitor visa prior to seeking entry to the United Kingdom. Colombian nationals will be removed from the ETA scheme going forward.
• Ukrainian nationals and their family members residing in the UK under a Ukraine scheme will be able to apply for an additional 18 months’ permission to stay under the new Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme. The UPE will replace the Ukraine Extension Scheme (UES).
• The permission to travel (PTT) letter scheme for Ukrainian nationals intending to come to the UK is ending. This is to guarantee fairness for new applicants from Ukraine.
• The UK government confirms Ukrainian nationals cannot use their time in the UK, under the Ukraine schemes, as a qualifying period to stay or settle in the UK under the Long Residence route.

On 26 November 2024, the UK government released its Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules. Key changes relevant to some of our clients are summarised below:

Introduction of a Visa Requirement for Nationals of Colombia

• The requirement to hold a Visitor visa for short-term visits to the UK has been reinstated for Colombian nationals, who must now successfully apply for a Visitor visa prior to seeking entry into the United Kingdom. This requirement was implemented on 26 November 2024.
• Colombia will now be removed from the list for the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme.
• There will be a four-week transition period for those who made travel bookings on or before 3pm GMT on 26 November 2024; these individuals will be permitted to enter the UK without a Visitor visa. This transition period will end on 24 December 2024.
• The visa requirement was lifted in November 2022; however, it has now been reinstated due to an increase in activities the government considers to be undesirable, including an increase in asylum claims and individuals engaging in activities that are not permitted by the Immigration Rules for Visitors.
• Colombian nationals transiting through the UK must apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa if they will be changing flights in the UK but will not be going through UK border control. Those who will go through UK border control but depart within 48 hours must apply for a Visitor in Transit visa.

Changes to the Ukraine Settlement Schemes

Numerous changes are being introduced to the Ukraine settlement schemes that were implemented to assist Ukrainians in fleeing the fallout from the invasion of Russia.

• The first change relates to the introduction of the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme. This new scheme was announced on 18 February 2024 and will be launched on 4 February 2025. Under this new scheme, Ukrainian nationals who have been living in the UK under the Ukraine scheme will be eligible to apply for an additional 18 months’ stay. Individuals who entered on the Ukraine scheme but changed their immigration status may also be eligible.
• The second change follows the introduction of the UPE scheme, which will now replace the Ukraine Extension Scheme (UES) route for children born to Ukrainian parents to get permission to stay in the UK. The intention is to have one route for all Ukrainians to use, which will help quell confusion. The UES route for UK-born Ukrainian children will close at 9am on 4 February 2025, and the UPE will open the same day.
• The third change is the end of the permission to travel (PTT) letters scheme. The PTT scheme allowed some individuals to travel to the UK quickly, without express permission to enter, to escape the war. The PTT scheme is set to end on 13 February 2025, and individuals who hold a PTT but have not left Ukraine will be given 90 days’ notice to travel to the UK. The aim is to guarantee fairness for new applicants to the Ukraine schemes.
• Lastly, the government reiterated its stance that individuals staying on the Ukraine schemes cannot use their time in the UK under the schemes to qualify for settlement, including through the Long Residence route.