The Immigration (Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode in the United Kingdom) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Citation, commencement and extent1.
(1)
These Regulations may be cited as the Immigration (Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode in the United Kingdom) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 26th February 2026.
(2)
These Regulations extend to the United Kingdom.
Amendments to the Immigration (Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode in the United Kingdom) Regulations 20062.
Amendment to regulation 23.
In regulation 2 (interpretation)—
(a)
omit the definitions of “Governor”
and “High Commissioner”
;
(b)
““digital certificate of entitlement” means an online record issued under regulation 7(1)(b) of these Regulations.
“linked” means that the digital certificate of entitlement is connected to the passport or travel document via an online UK Visas and Immigration account.
“online UK Visas and Immigration account” means an online account maintained by the Secretary of State for the Home Department that, for the purpose of these Regulations, allows individuals to digitally access, manage and share confirmation that they hold the right of abode.”.
Amendment to regulation 34.
“Authority to whom an application must be made3.
An application for a certificate of entitlement must be made—
(a)
if the applicant is in any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, to the Lieutenant-Governor or the Secretary of State for the Home Department; or
(b)
in any other case, to the Secretary of State for the Home Department.”.
Amendment to regulation 55.
In regulation 5 (form of application), at the beginning of paragraph (c) insert
. “is in date, has not been cancelled or reported lost or stolen and”
Amendment to regulation 66.
In regulation 6 (issue of certificate of entitlement), paragraph (b)(iii), after “a certificate of entitlement”, insert “unless the circumstances in regulation 7(2) apply”
.
Amendment to regulation 77.
“Issue of certificate of entitlement7.
(1)
A certificate of entitlement may be issued as the Secretary of State for the Home Department considers appropriate—
(a)
by means of being affixed to the passport or travel document of the applicant; or
(b)
by the creation of a digital record that can be linked to the passport or travel document of the applicant via an online UK Visas and Immigration account.
(2)
Where a person holds a valid certificate of entitlement of the form described in regulation 7(1)(a) which was issued before 26th February 2026, the Secretary of State for the Home Department may, without application, issue that person with a corresponding digital certificate of entitlement under regulation 7(1)(b).
(3)
Where a digital certificate of entitlement is issued, it must be linked to a valid passport or travel document.
(4)
A digital certificate of entitlement has effect only in relation to the passport or travel document to which it is linked.”.
Amendment to regulation 88.
“Expiry and revocation of certificate of entitlement8.
(1)
A certificate of entitlement issued under regulation 7(1)(a) shall cease to have effect on the expiry of the passport or travel document to which it is affixed.
(2)
A digital certificate which is not linked as described in regulation 7(3) shall cease to have effect.
(3)
A person who has been issued with a digital certificate of entitlement must keep the information provided in connection with that certificate up to date.
(4)
For the purposes of paragraph (3), a person who has been issued with a digital certificate of entitlement must update the photograph connected with it—
(a)
at intervals of not more than 5 years while the person is under the age of 16;
(b)
at intervals of not more than 10 years while the person is 16 or older, until the person is 70 or older or becomes a British Citizen.
(5)
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a digital certificate of entitlement may resume effect where the person later links the certificate to a valid passport or travel document, unless it has been revoked under regulation 9.”.
Amendment to regulation 99.
In regulation 9 (expiry and revocation of certificate of entitlement)—
(a)
at the end of paragraph (b)(iii) insert
.“, except where a digital certificate of entitlement has been issued to the person in accordance with regulation 7(2) of these Regulations”
(b)
at the end of paragraph (c), omit “or”
.
(c)
at the end of paragraph (d), substitute
for “.”
“; or”
.
(d)
“(e)
is a person who has not kept the information provided in connection with the digital certificate of entitlement up to date in accordance with the requirements in regulation 8(3).”.
These Regulations amend the Immigration (Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode in the United Kingdom) Regulations 2006 (“the 2006 Regulations”) (S.I. 2006/3145) principally to make necessary changes to enable the issuing and revoking of digital certificates of entitlement.
Regulation 4 substitutes a new regulation 3 in the 2006 Regulations to clarify the authority to which an application for a Certificate of Entitlement must be submitted, which is to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, except if the applicant is in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and then an application can alternatively be made to the Lieutenant-General.
Regulations 6 to 9 make amendments to the 2006 Regulations to enable the issuing of digital certificates of entitlement. These Regulations also set out the obligations on certificate holders to update information connected to these certificates and provide a power to revoke the certificate if such information is not kept up to date.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.