COVID-19 Exceptional Assurance will no longer be available after 30 November 2022, UK Home Office has confirmed.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK Government introduced a temporary provision called ‘Exceptional Assurance’ for migrants who could not leave the UK due to the impact of the pandemic. The provision provided short-term protection against any negative consequences of overstaying in the UK, where returning to your home country was not possible before visa expiry.

The provision was introduced by the Home Office on 24th March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.The provision was only intended to be temporary while travel restrictions were on-going around the world. Those with exceptional assurance were, however, able to continue to work, study, or rent until the restrictions keeping them in the UK were lifted.

Exceptional assurance did not provide an extension of leave for those who wanted to stay longer in the UK. As the Home Office explained, "Exceptional assurance does not grant you leave. It is a means to protect those who are unable to leave the UK due to COVID-19 restrictions and not to facilitate travel other than to return home".

The provision has been extended several times since its initial introduction due to the ongoingnature of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Home office has announced the end of it.With the end of this provision, it is important that you make arrangements to leave the UK or make an in-time immigration application if your current leave is coming to an end.