Immigration expert reports must comply with Immigration Tribunal Practice Direction 2024, the Adam Pipe October 2025 expert report guide, and Ikarian Reefer [1993] independence principles. This guide summarises key requirements for solicitors instructing expert evidence.
Practice Direction paragraphs 9.2 and 9.3 establish a default 20-page limit for expert reports unless tribunal permission is granted. Strategic instruction focusing on specific numbered questions improves report quality within this constraint.
Reports must include the expert's qualifications, materials reviewed, methodology, dated source list, analysis tied to claimed facts, clearly labelled opinion, assumptions and limitations, and a statement of truth where required.
Experts owe a paramount duty to the tribunal — independent, objective, and unbiased. Reports that read as advocacy damage both expert credibility and the client's case. CPR Part 35 principles apply by analogy in tribunal proceedings.
Late expert reports risk refusal under Rule 15 or reduced weight. Instruct experts early — standard turnaround is 2 to 3 weeks. See our full report standards pillar page for comprehensive guidance.