Skilled Workers Get 6-Month Grace Period in Immigration Overhaul

The UK Home Office and Chancellor John Healey unveiled targeted immigration policy updates on October 28, 2026, as part of Budget 2026. UK employers and higher education institutions face revised sponsorship frameworks designed to ease recruitment bottlenecks while maintaining compliance standards.

Six-Month Window Granted to Find New Sponsors

Sponsored employees facing job changes now have six months to secure a new sponsor, up from the previous 60-day limit. The policy package preserves the two-year graduate visa route for compliant universities, expands the High Potential Individual scheme, and introduces tax relief on sponsorship fees for eligible businesses.

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