Georgia Changes Residence-Permit and Related Immigration Rules

What changed

The UK Home Secretary has announced that, from 15 October 2026, Eritrean VIPs and government officials will no longer have fast-track access to UK visas. This action, along with new travel restrictions for Eritrean diplomats in the UK, is aimed at Eritrea because it is not cooperating with the return of its nationals who are in the UK without permission. The Home Secretary has also threatened a complete ban on visas for all Eritrean citizens if Eritrea does not quickly improve its cooperation on returns.

What changed

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has put forward a proposed rule that would make it a requirement for rail carriers to send electronic advance traveller information for all people, including crew and passengers, who are arriving in or leaving the United States by train. This requirement would also extend to rail carriers having to send advance notices of arrival or departure for the trains themselves. The aim of this proposal is to improve security and to make legitimate international rail travel smoother, addressing a current gap in national security for rail travel. You must send any comments on this proposed rule by 14 December 2026.

What changed

The UK Home Office has closed the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) travel permit route, which previously helped people with settled or pre-settled status return to the UK when they were abroad and could not update their immigration account to reflect a change in their passport or travel document. The Home Office's official guidance page records an update on 15 October 2026. Its update note says the guidance was changed to reflect the closure of the EUSS travel permit following Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 584, published on 3 September 2026.

What changed

The UK Home Office and Border Force have started to introduce a new contactless eGate system in stages at UK airports, which began on 6 October 2026. This technological improvement lets eligible passengers clear border control using facial recognition. This means they no longer need to physically place their passport on the eGate reader for the first checks. The goal is to make arrivals quicker and smoother while still keeping border security strong. East Midlands Airport is the first to use this system, initially for British citizens, and it will be rolled out more widely to other airports and eligible nationalities in the coming months.