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The United Kingdom will open the new Graduate route on July 1 for international students who want to live and work in the U.K. after completing their studies.
Key Points:
Additional Information: The U.K. is introducing the Graduate route as part of its switch to a points-based immigration system following the end of free movement between the U.K. and EU on Jan. 1, 2021. The new route is also part of the government’s efforts to increase the number of international higher education students to 600,000 by 2030.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States, which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
The German government has removed Ireland and the United Kingdom from Germany’s list of COVID-19 “virus variant” areas, lifting travel bans had been in place since January. Officials reclassified both Ireland and the United Kingdom as “risk areas.”
Analysis & Comments: The removal of Ireland and the United Kingdom from the “virus variant” list will ease travel for some, but a number of restrictions and health protocols remain in place.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
Italian authorities have extended restrictions on travel from Brazil and the United Kingdom and tightened rules on travel from Japan. The changes will remain in effect until at least April 6.
Additional Information: Italy has also extended “COVID tested” flights to Italy from the United States. Travel from the United States remains restricted, but those who are permitted to travel to Italy can avoid quarantine upon arrival by taking a “COVID tested” flight and presenting results of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 48 hours before departure. Authorities are looking to expand “COVID tested” flights to arrivals from other countries, but for now they are only available for those traveling to Italy from select airports in the U.S. (Atlanta, Newark and New York) and Germany (Frankfurt and Munich).
Analysis & Comments: Business travelers should expect travel to Italy from Brazil, Japan and the United Kingdom to be strictly limited until at least April 6. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
The United Kingdom is now requiring all outbound international travelers to carry a new form that states that their trip is permitted under the country’s COVID-19 lockdown rules.
Additional Information: The new form is one of several travel-related requirements the U.K. government has put in place to slow COVID-19 transmission. Earlier this year, U.K. officials introduced a pre-departure testing requirement for all international arrivals. They have also established a “red list” of countries with high transmission rates; travelers arriving from these countries must isolate at a government-approved facility for 10 days upon arrival. All international arrivals must also take a COVID-19 test 72 hours before departure and on the second and eighth day of their isolation period after arriving in the U.K.
Analysis & Comments: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.
The U.K. government has announced new plans to modernize the country’s immigration system to “attract and retain the most highly-skilled, globally mobile talent.” The plans are detailed in a budget plan submitted to the House of Commons last week and focus on attracting global talent in academia, science, research and technology.
Among other proposals, the budget calls on the government to:
Analysis & Comments: Employers will welcome the steps being taken to ensure that the U.K. can attract and retain the most highly skilled, globally mobile talent from around the world. Employers will also welcome the steps being taken to modernize the immigration sponsorship system and will wait with interest for the roadmap due to be published in the summer. Deloitte will continue to follow developments related to the budget proposal, and will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
The United Kingdom has launched a smartphone application (App) for the Hong Kong British Nationals Overseas/BN(O) visa.
Background: The App is being made available to BN(O)s after the U.K. opened a new BN(O) visa category for Hong Kong BN(O) status holders on Jan. 31, 2021.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”)
IMPACT – HIGH
The U.K. government has announced that beginning Feb. 15 travelers arriving in England from 33 “red list” countries will be required to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. All travelers arriving in Scotland will be required to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. Additional testing requirements have also been introduced. Key Points:
Background: Previously, the U.K. government banned visitors from entering England who have been in “red list” countries in the 10 days before traveling to the U.K. The new measures mark a tightening of restrictions in light of reported new variants of COVID-19.
Analysis & Comments: The response to COVID-19 continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.
The United Kingdom has banned entry to the U.K. for visitors arriving from Burundi, Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates in an effort to limit the spread of a new COVID-19 variant. These three countries have been added to the Home Office’s “red list” of more than 30 countries from which visitors are not permitted to travel to the U.K.
Additional Information: People who have been in or transited through the “red list” countries in the last 10 days are not permitted to travel to the U.K. As for travelers from Burundi, Rwanda and the UAE, this does not include British, Irish nationals and third-country nationals with residence rights (for instance a Skilled Worker visa), who will be able to enter the U.K. but must self-isolate for 10 days and cannot use the Test to Release Scheme.
The full “red list” is as follows: Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania. United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The U.K. government previously barred entry to visitors from most South American countries and Portugal in mid-January 2021.
Analysis & Comments: Employees located in the countries listed above who need to travel to the U.K. may want to discuss their travel plans with a Deloitte professional. While visiting the U.K. from these countries is not permitted, British and Irish nationals and those holding a valid U.K. residence visa or work permit may still be permitted to travel. Travelers should also regularly check with their travel provider or airline in anticipation of any potential disruption to flights. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.
The United Kingdom’s Home Office is once again allowing applicants for certain visas (including Skilled Worker, Intra Company and Student visas) and Indefinite Leave to Remain decisions to pay for faster decisions on their applications.
Key Points
Additional Information: In some cases, decisions may be delayed if additional information from the applicant is needed. Applicants should receive a biometric residence permit seven to 10 days after their decision.
Analysis & Comments: Individuals interested in an expedited decision should contact their Deloitte professional to check if their visa is eligible for the service and to gather the required documentation for a successful, faster decision.
IMPACT – MEDIUM
The Home Office has introduced a new concession for individuals whose leave in the U.K. expired while they were abroad and unable to return because of COVID-19.
Analysis & Comments: Individuals who may be eligible for the new concession are encouraged to complete the form, as described above, and to contact Deloitte if they need assistance. The U.K.’s response to COVID-19 continues to evolve. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in the U.K. and other countries.