News and communications

The first ballot for this year’s YMS will open in January

• Updated: 18 December 2023

UKVI is moving all visa fee payments for visa applications to online platforms as the capability to pay for a visa in the visa application centre discontinues.

• Updated: 3 April 2023

From 16 January 2023, those applying for a UK visa in Sydney, Australia, will have the option of paying to get a faster decision on their application.

• Updated: 25 January 2023

The first ballot for this year’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) will open in January

• Updated: 4 January 2022

The second ballot for this year’s Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) will open in July.

• Updated: 21 June 2021

UK and India have signed an ambitious new migration partnership, which will see both countries benefit from a new scheme for Indian and British professionals.

• Updated: 4 May 2021

On 15 February 2021, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) announced extension of the Super Priority visa service (SPV) to eight more cities in India.

• Updated: 23 February 2021

The first ballot for this 2021 Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) will open in January.

• Updated: 18 December 2020

Now the UK Government has delivered on its promise to get Brexit done, we can take back control of our borders and introduce a points-based immigration system.

• Updated: 19 February 2020

UK Visas and Immigration have today announced plans to make the UK visa process for Bangladeshis safer, more modern and more efficient by introducing the option to use card and online transactions to pay for a UK visa applic…

• Updated: 17 December 2019

The second ballot for the Youth Mobility Scheme 2019 for the Taiwanese youth will be opened in July 2019.

• Updated: 17 June 2019

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes sat down with technology companies and start-ups to discuss the future immigration system

• Updated: 13 June 2019

China was responsible for a massive quarter of UK visas issued globally last year, according to the latest quarterly report on Immigration Statistics published by the Home Office.

• Updated: 18 March 2019

From 18 February to 1 March 2019, the Hong Kong Labour Department will be accepting applications for Certificates of Sponsorship for the Youth Mobility Scheme.

• Updated: 25 January 2019

The Youth Mobility Scheme 2019 for Taiwanese youth will be opened in January 2019.

• Updated: 3 December 2018

Hugh Ind has been appointed as the new Director General of Immigration Enforcement, the Home Office announced today (18 July).

• Updated: 18 July 2017

Border Force’s Chief Operating Officer to take over as head of Immigration Enforcement.

• Updated: 6 January 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government