Start-up

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The Start-up route was introduced into the Immigration Rules on 29 March 2019. Together with the Innovator route, it replaced the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) categories. Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) applications were still accepted until 6 July 2019, so there was a brief period of overlap between the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) and Start-up routes. The Innovator Founder route replaced the Innovator route from 13 April 2023.

The

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Latest Immigration News

Migration Observatory publishes briefing on UK migrant distribution patterns

The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has published a briefing analysing migrant distribution across UK regions. The briefing shows that London hosts the highest concentration of migrants at 40% of its population, with non-EU migrants now outnumbering EU migrants in all regions except Northern Ireland. All regions of the UK have experienced rising net international migration since 2021. The analysis reveals family migration as the predominant category across most regions, while documenting post-Brexit shifts in workforce composition and student enrolments. The briefing also notes rising net international migration across all UK regions since 2021, with uneven distribution of asylum seekers and refugees across the UK.

MiCLU calls for Section 59 repeal in new Border Security Bill

The Migrant and Refugee Children's Legal Unit (MiCLU) and other human rights organisations are advocating for the repeal of Section 59 of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (the IMA) through an amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently before Parliament. Section 59 extends inadmissibility rules to claims from Albania, India, and Georgia, and broadens powers to reject human rights claims from EEA nationals. MiCLU argues this violates UK obligations under the Refugee Convention, European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT).

IMA welcomes Border Security Bill amendments to clarify EU citizens' rights

The Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements (IMA) has welcomed amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill tabled by the government in Parliament on 10 March 2025. The amendments would bring in a new clause which aims to resolve uncertainty between EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status and Withdrawal Agreement rights by ensuring equal treatment for most EUSS status holders, eliminating the need to prove historical EU free movement compliance from 2020. According to the IMA, the changes exclude Zambrano and Surinder Singh route cases, but explicit confirmation is needed from the government as to whether other persons granted EUSS status on the basis of ‘derivative rights’ will be covered (as the proposed new clause just refers to persons granted status as relevant nationals and family members of relevant nationals). The IMA had previously raised concerns about potential future complications for citizens needing to demonstrate their original qualification under free movement rules.

IPPR warns of restrictive changes and proposed changes to UK citizenship and ILR pathways

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has analysed two announcements on changes/proposed changes to UK immigration policy made in March 2025, by the two largest parties. The Conservative opposition has proposed extending the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) qualifying period to ten years for all migrants and introducing a ‘net contribution’ requirement. The Labour government has updated Home Office caseworker guidance to permanently bar irregular arrivals from obtaining British citizenship. IPPR warns these policies/proposed policies could increase administrative burdens and create long-term exclusion for settled migrants.

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