The Home Office has changed the immigration rules with effect from 26 March 2026 to allow asylum seeking doctors, nurses and other skilled professionals to work.
The change follows a high court challenge brought by two specialist doctors who were prevented from working in their specialist fields in the NHS.
Becky Hart, solicitor at Bhatt Murphy, acting for the doctors said: “Our clients, two highly qualified doctors, were prohibited from working in their shortage specialities in the NHS for over a year. We are glad the secretary of state has finally agreed to amend her policy to expand the jobs those claiming asylum can work in to include doctors, nurses, and other skilled occupations. This case highlights how nonsensical and harmful it is both for the individuals and society to ban work for people seeking asylum who wish and are able to work”.
Read the Guardian article here.
Becky Hart at Bhatt Murphy acts for the doctors instructing Stephanie Harrison KC and Isaac Ricca-Richardson at Garden Court Chambers.
