UK Home Office Updates: New Sponsor Duties, Entry Changes for Dual Citizens, and Fee Increases

In March 2026, the UK Home Office updated key guidance, introducing a new sponsor compliance duty, amended requirements for dual citizens entering the UK, and increased processing fees.

WORKER RIGHTS AND WELFARE

The Home Office expects sponsors to ensure and promote the workplace-related welfare of sponsored workers and ensure that they understand their employment rights, including but not limited to:

• Entitlement to national minimum wage
• Compliance with the Working Time Regulations
• Pension auto-enrolment and opt-outs
• Entitlement to statutory leave and pay
• Health and safety
• Trade union membership, participation in union activities, and the rights of trade union representatives
• Equality Act duties
• How to raise grievances

Sponsors have always been required to comply with UK law, including employment law. The Home Office has now clarified that sponsored workers, including those already in the UK, must be informed of their employment law rights.

From 6 March 2026, as part of their record-keeping duties sponsors are also required to retain documentary evidence demonstrating that this information has been provided.

For workers sponsored on or after 6 March 2026, sponsors should retain clear documentary evidence, such as copies of written information provided to workers or records of training or awareness sessions delivered.

While the underlying obligation to inform workers of their rights applied prior to 6 March 2026, the requirement to retain evidence is new. For the period before this date, the Home Office will accept that the duty has been met where the sponsor can demonstrate that adequate HR systems or processes were in place which would have ensured that the relevant information was provided to sponsored workers.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR DUAL CITIZENS

Further to our previous LawFlash, full enforcement of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme was effective from 25 February 2026. Updated guidance on the entry requirements for dual British nationals confirm that individuals who obtained British citizenship after settling in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme may enter the UK using their non-UK passport or an EEA or Swiss national identity card.

The Home Office has also issued temporary operational guidance to carriers allowing them to accept an expired UK passport (issued in 1989 or later) alongside a valid passport from an ETA-eligible nationality, where biographic details match.

Dual citizens should still be sure to apply for a UK passport or Certificate of Entitlement to ensure that they can continue to travel to the UK once this concession is removed.

Travelers should be aware that these updates are subject to carrier discretion.

INCREASED PROCESSING FEES

The Home Office has announced increases to application costs effective from 8 April. The most notable fee increases are set out below.

WHAT CAN EMPLOYERS DO NOW

• Audit HR systems and processes: For workers sponsored from 6 March 2026, sponsors should ensure that documentary evidence is retained confirming that sponsored workers have been informed of their employment rights. Sponsors should review and ensure that adequate HR systems or processes are in place to meet this requirement.
• Review travel documents for dual British nationals: Communicate the updated guidance to relevant employees, highlighting the increased flexibility for British dual nationals when entering the UK.
• Budgeting: Sponsors should familiarise themselves with and factor in the increased application costs into budgeting, talent pipelines, and sponsorship strategies.