This article was first published in Free Movement, 6 October 2026 R (on the application of Akinyemi) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] EWHC 2388 (Admin) is the second reported decision on the operation of section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981, brought into force in 2022. The claimant, who was born in the UK and has an extensive record of offending, challenged the refusal to register him as British on several grounds, but did not succeed on any of th

For many migrants in the UK, obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) feels like the finish line. After years of visa applications, rising fees, paperwork, and uncertainty, settlement finally provides stability and the right to live and work in the UK without restriction. But stopping at ILR may leave people more exposed than they realise. In the latest episode of our podcast, Constantine Law partners Alex Finch and Rebecca Tester explore one increasingly important question

The Liberal Democrats have urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to delay new border controls that could prevent British dual nationals from entering the UK. From 25 February 2026, dual citizens must present a valid or expired British passport, or a £589 certificate of entitlement (which takes 8 weeks to obtain), or risk being denied boarding. Families report cancelled trips to see dying relatives and attend funerals, while others fear being stranded abroad. Commenting to The