International Immigration Lawyers Network Quarterly Newsletter

ISSUE 3 - NOVEMBER 2026

Welcome to the third edition of the International Immigration Lawyers Network Newsletter. We are pleased to bring you another curated selection of insights from across our network, reflecting the fast moving nature of global immigration law and policy.

This edition opens with two timely contributions from Mishcon de Reya, examining the UK Government’s response to the earned settlement consultation and the expanded right to work regime that took effect on 1 October 2026. Together, these pieces provide valuable perspective on the direction of settlement in the UK, and what these changes may mean for migrants and employers alike. We also include Mishcon’s analysis of benefit in kind and pay parity risks for sponsored workers, highlighting why immigration, tax and employment considerations must be viewed together.

Looking beyond the UK, EER Middle East offers a clear and practical guide to workforce mobility in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, highlighting jurisdictional differences, nationalisation requirements, family eligibility and realistic onboarding timelines for employers. Finally, we are pleased to feature the first edition of Mishcon Private’s Private Perspectives, alongside an article on why the right place to live matters as much as the right passport, exploring residency and contingency planning for individuals and families facing growing political and regulatory uncertainty.

We hope this edition provides useful insights and practical guidance, and we thank our contributors for sharing their expertise with the ILN community.

Fran Rance

Fran Rance
Legal Director, Knowledge Lawyer, Mishcon de Reya LLP

UK earned settlement reforms
On 2 November 2026, the UK Government published its response to the earned settlement consultation, which closed in February 2026. The response confirms the Government’s intention to make major changes to the ways in which applicants qualify for settlement.Read our high-level summary of the announced policy changes. Note that these are not requirements which are already in force and detailed Immigration Rules and technical guidance are still to follow.
10 November 2026
UK right to work checks: what changes on 1 October 2026
The UK’s right-to-work regime changed in a way that affects far more businesses than many realise. As of 1 October 2026, compliance obligations extend well beyond traditional employees to recruitment agencies, staffing businesses, and any organisation that uses contractors, agency workers, platform-based workers and or subcontracting arrangements to get work done. For the recruitment sector,
10 November 2026
UAE & Saudi Arabia Immigration: Five Considerations for International Employers Onboarding Employees in 2026
As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia continue to attract international investment and talent, both markets present significant opportunities for businesses looking to establish or expand their presence in the Middle East. However, while both countries offer established pathways for employing and relocating foreign nationals, their immigration frameworks, regulatory requirements and employment practices differ considerably. Here, EER Middle East outlines five key considerations for international employers navigating immigration and workforce mobility in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in 2026.
10 November 2026
Sponsored workers: navigating benefit-in-kind and pay parity risks
As visa sponsorship rules tighten and immigration salary thresholds affect whether individuals can be sponsored to work in the UK, employers face two related risks. Paying immigration costs may create an unexpected benefit-in-kind ("BIK") tax liability, and may create or expose differences in pay between employees performing the same role.
10 November 2026
Planning for uncertainty: Why the right place to live matters as much as the right passport
For much of the last decade, when a client arrived at our offices and we asked for a copy of their passport, the standard response was: "Which one?" That reflex is changing. The advice underpinning a genuine plan B looks very different today from how it looked ten years ago.
10 November 2026
Private Perspectives: Issue 1
Welcome to the first edition of Private Perspectives, a new publication bringing together insights and commentary from across Mishcon Private and the wider firm on the issues shaping wealth, business, reputation and legacy.
10 November 2026
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