UK Updates Country Policy and Information Note on Modern Slavery in China

What changed

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have finished their 2026 Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs Dialogue, confirming they will work more closely together on managing migration, justice matters, and serious organised crime. This meeting, held in London on 6 October 2026, builds on earlier agreements. It focuses on shared goals to effectively manage migration and strengthen border systems. Key outcomes include new programmes for checking visa applications, practical cooperation, and working together judicially to tackle organised immigration crime and help with returns. An expert legal meeting is also planned to discuss sentencing for organised immigration crime. This strategic alignment will affect government agencies, legal professionals, and anyone involved in migration between the two countries.

What changed

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is temporarily expanding its accommodation capacity for asylum seekers in Switzerland, effective from mid-November 2026. This change involves the reactivation of the civil defence facility in Niederscherli (BE) and allows for increased density within existing federal asylum centres, in response to a seasonal, slight increase in asylum applications. The measure aims to ensure adequate housing while the overall number of applications remains below previous year figures. The facility in Niederscherli will be decommissioned once application numbers decline.

What changed

The Swedish Migration Agency has extended its recommendation to pause the assessment of protection grounds for individuals seeking asylum from Iran and Lebanon. This measure, initially introduced in January and March, will now remain in effect until at least 12 February 2027. The continued pause is due to the volatile and complex situation in both nations, which prevents a reliable forward-looking assessment of protection needs. Consequently, rejection decisions for international protection applications from these countries will not be made during this period.

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.