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Immigration policy in the United Kingdom defines the immigration status of all natural persons entering and remaining in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the rights derived from such status. The current legal framework for UK immigration policy was formed by the Immigration Act 1971. The Government of the United Kingdom sets and updates the UK Immigration Rules by virtue of this act (with the approval of Parliament). British nationality law, which determines who holds British nationality, is separate to UK immigration law, however UK immigration law defines the immigration rights of all British nationals.

History
The current UK immigration system was shaped by 100 years of significant changes to the UK's international relationships, notably independence of Southern Ireland (1922), decolonisation of the British Empire (1945-1997), entry in to the European Economic Community (1973) and exit from the European Union (2020). Thus, it makes special provisions for many groups of people with historical ties to the United Kingdom. Such groups include Irish citizens, British nationals without right of abode in the UK, Commonwealth citizens with ancestral connections to the UK, and European citizens and dependants with ties to the UK before 2020.

Although Britain is considered one of the world's most open and tolerant countries, public opposition to high net migration and concern over its impact on public services has also had significant influence on UK immigration policy. Immigration controls were tightened significantly under Home Secretary (and later Prime Minister) Theresa May. Numbers of non-EU skilled workers entering the UK were capped, international students lost automatic rights to work after graduating, an immigration health surcharge was introduced and elderly parents found it difficult to join family in the UK. The decade of tightening immigration controls in the 2010s culminated in the end of freedom of movement with the EU in 2020.

Since 2020, the UK government has once again pursued a policy to make immigration more appealing for international students and skilled workers. University students can once again work freely in the UK after graduation, and skilled workers are no longer subject to a cap or a resident labour market test.

Immigration control
Immigration control is the ability of the UK Government to deny a person entry to the UK or to detain and deport a person from the UK. Immigration control is carried out when a foreign person lacks permission to enter or remain in the UK for their intended purpose, or when a foreign person is convicted of a criminal offence.

Right of abode
International law recognises the right to enter one's own country. In British law, such a person is defined as holding right of abode in the United Kingdom. A person with right of abode is exempt from immigration control. All British citizens have right of abode. Other types of British nationality that exist for people with strong ties to current and former overseas territories (e.g. Hong Kong) do not automatically include right of abode in the UK. On the other hand, Commonwealth citizens with strong ties to the UK were granted right of abode in the UK during the decolonisation process.

Leave
Leave is permission to enter or remain in the UK, subject to certain conditions. Conditions placed on an individual's leave to remain may include restrictions on study and employment, restrictions on the length of stay and restrictions on access to public funds (welfare). Anyone exempt from immigration control (e.g. right of abode holders, diplomats and allied and Commonwealth armed forces) does not require leave.

Illegal entry
Anyone entering or remaining in the UK without valid leave for their intended purpose or a valid exemption from immigration control is defined as an illegal entrant by the Immigration Act 1971.

Overview
The Immigration Act 1971 defines six types of immigration status: The Immigration Rules further differentiate between long-term residents (with limited leave valid for 6 months to 6 years) and visitors (up to 6 months).
 * Right of abode (ROA)
 * Irish citizen
 * Leave to remain (Known as leave to enter when granted outside the UK)
 * Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) / Indefinite leave to enter (ILE)
 * Limited leave to remain (LLR) / Limited leave to enter (LLE)
 * Exempt from immigration control (EXM) (e.g. foreign diplomats and allied armed forces)
 * Illegal entrant

UK law associates an individual's immigration status with rights such as residence, work, study, voting and access to public services. When a person also has refugee status, humanitarian protection or is an asylum seeker, they may be afforded additional rights under the UK's international obligations.

The following table gives an overview of the rights associated with each type of UK immigration status:

Limited leave to remain
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Exempt from immigration control
People who are exempt from immigration control in the UK cannot be denied entry to the UK or otherwise detained for deportation by an immigration officer. There are three groups of people who are exempt from immigration control: those with diplomatic immunity, allied and Commonwealth armed forces and individuals with the right of abode.

Innovator route
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Spouse/Partner route
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Discretionary leave to remain (DLR)
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Leave outside the rules (LOTR)
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Old article
, however the British Nationality Act 1981 defines certain nationals as British citizens based on their status under the Immigration Act 1971.

are the areas of modern British policy concerned with the immigration system of the United Kingdom—primarily, who has the right to visit or stay in the UK. British immigration policy is under the purview of UK Visas and Immigration.

With its exit from the European Union, the UK is set to undergo a broad reform to its immigration system, putting an end to free movement and introducing a points-based system, due to take affect on 1 January 2021.

Electronic documentation
In the wake of Brexit, the British Government introduced a wide, multi-year programme of change, led by the Home Office, to transform the operation of the UK's border and immigration system. Following the first phase of this initiative which will take place in 2021, further improvements to the system in the longer term include the introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorisation system. The United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorities (ETA) is planned as an electronic system that will be used to pre-check migrants travelling to the UK.

Citizens of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates in the Arabian peninsula can obtain an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) online to enter the United Kingdom, which is only valid for one entry each. An EVW authorisation enables its holder to visit and/or study in the UK for up to 6 months without a visa, and must be obtained each time an eligible person wishes to enter/re-enter the UK for such purpose. An EVW is only valid for one entry, and a new EVW must be obtained each time an eligible person wishes to enter the UK to visit and/or study for up to 6 months without a visa. The EVW is also valid for visits to Ireland for up to 90 days once a holder has cleared immigration in the United Kingdom.

Points-based system and sponsorship
Exiting the European Union on 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom moved to end free movement and introduce an Immigration Bill for a points-based system. Under the new British points-based system—due to take affect on 1 January 2021—there will be a single immigration policy applied to anyone who wishes to live and work in the UK. This would be the first phase of a wider multi-year programme of change, led by the Home Office, to transform the operation of the British border and immigration system—including sponsorship.

Under the new system, persons require 70 points to enable them to work in the UK.

Sponsorship
In order to be eligible to apply under certain categories of the points-based system, the applicant must have a sponsor which is on the UKBA register of sponsors. The register of sponsors lists all organisations that the UK Border Agency has licensed to employ migrant workers or sponsor migrant students. On 31 March 2009, the register of sponsors replaced the register of education and training providers published by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (and previously by the Department for Education and Skills). During 2018, many NHS trusts found that applications for certificates of sponsorship for doctors and nurses were refused, leaving them to rely on locum staff.

For employers sponsoring skilled migrants under the new 2021 system, the visa process would be streamlined to reduce the time it takes to bring a migrant into the UK by up to 8 weeks. The Government intends to further reduce this through additional enhancements to the system.

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) & Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
This category is intended for entrepreneurs who want to set up or take over an existing business (or businesses) in the UK. This route requires entrepreneurs to be actively involved in running of their businesses either as company directors or as self-employed. Entrepreneurs are allowed to be employed and work only in the businesses they are involved with.

Successful applicants are granted with three years of initial leave to remain and those applying must have access to at least £200,000. Under certain circumstances, the applicants can apply if they have access to only £50,000. The funds can be shared by up to two people where they can apply as an entrepreneurial team. The initial leave will be further extended by two years if the applicants demonstrate that they have invested the funds in their business (or businesses) and created at least two full-time positions that existed for at least 12 months during the three-year initial period.

To prevent abuse of the route, all the applicants are subject to a Genuine Entrepreneur Test in which they must demonstrate the credibility and genuineness of their business (or businesses). In some cases, the applicants could be interviewed or asked to submit extra evidence.

After 5 years of leave on Tier 1 Entrepreneur, the applicants could potentially apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. The route allows the most successful entrepreneurs to apply for settlement within the first three-year under the Accelerated Route if they demonstrate that their business generated a turnover of at least £5m or created 10 full-time jobs for 10 people lasting 12 months or more.

International students are no longer able to apply for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route within the UK. Instead a separate route under Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) exists in which international graduates who have been officially endorsed by either the Department for International Trade (DIT) or a British higher education institution (HEI) can apply to remain in the UK to pursue their business ventures.

On 7 March 2019, the government published immigration rule changes to close the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) routes to initial applications on 6 April 2019 and 6 July 2019 respectively. These two routes will be replaced by two new visa categories namely 'Start-up' and 'Innovator' visas.

Tier 1 (Investor)
The Investor subcategory is for those who wish to invest capital in the United Kingdom. In November 2014 the investment thresholds were increased to; £2,000,000, £5,000,000 or £10,000,000. The difference between the thresholds is the amount of time it takes a migrant to be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain. With the £2,000,000 threshold it is 5 years, with the £5,000,000 threshold it is 3 years and with the £10,000,000 threshold it is 2 years. The funds must be invested in either share capital in British companies or in British bonds.

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
The Exceptional Talent sub-category is for those who are recognised or have potential to be recognized as exceptionally talented leaders in the fields of science, the humanities, engineering, medicine, digital technology or the arts. This visa is issued for an initial maximum period of five years and four months.

Tier 2
Tier 2 covers skilled workers with a job offer from a UK-based employer and was introduced in November 2008. It replaced the provisions for work permit employment, ministers of religion; airport-based operational ground staff, overseas qualified nurse or midwife, student union sabbatical posts, seafarers, named researchers, Jewish agency employees, and overseas representatives (news media).